New-York tribune., 1911-11-24
Gaynor IntimateS to Business
Men of Long Island City He
Won't Be Candidate
for e-eIeCtl0n.
TELLS OF STRIFE IN OFFICE
Saws steinway Tunnel Is What
People of Queens Want-No
Use of New Subways
Starting in Cornfields'
He Declares.


,ravor Gavnor intimated strongly 10
the Long Island City Business Men AS
sociation last night that he would not oe
q candidate for reelection as Mayor ANU
indeed. that he would not again he
candidate for any office.
Nobody will ever have a chance 10
vote for me again" he said
The Mayor was speaking at the annual
dinner Of the association in Long Island
CITY. and when he made this statement
be was referring 10 remark of John r.
calvin. the presiding officer, In intro
ducing the Mayor. Some people have
70 stumble over thing to see it," said
Mr.. Calvin. but the Mayor. with his
practical mind saw the injustice of the
tolls on the East River bridges and abol-
ished them"
The greensboro Bridge is the great
est thing in history or in fact on this
earth" said the Mayor. 1T is grand
thing. Mr.. Calvin spoke Of my abolish
ing the tolls on the bridges. This is the
second time any one has ever said that
10 me in the way of compliment. The
tolls were a great hardship. But after
abolished them / never heard anything
about it until a man named Patterson
wrote me a letter about three weeks
afterward, thanking me. I never heard
from any Of the boards Of trade or the
teamsters or the teamsters' association.
7 suppose O'Keeffe turning to Bridge
Commissioner O'Keeffe. who sat next the
Mayor and the whole lot Of them would
Just as leave vote against il tomorrow
If they had the chance.
But that's all right. Nobody will ever
have a chance TO vote for me again, so 1
speak for O'Keeffe"
Gives Praise to Connolly.
The Mayor also took advantage of the
opportunity to say some excellent words
Of praise about Borough President Con-
molly. who was Mr.. Gaynor's champion
in the Board Of Estimate yesterday.
This came as the windup to some unpal-
atable descriptions Of the citizenry Of
Queens. coupled with praise for former
Borough President Gresser.
when I came into office en- honest old
German. Lawrence Gresser, was elected
Borough President" he said. with the
aid of the good citizens Gresser re-
moved every corrupt head OF a depart
mentor every undesirable one-and
they were superseded with honest and
competent men. Yet Gresser was re-
warded by being dismissed by the Gov
ernor.
"The removal embarrassed me very
much. 1t could hardly have embarrassed
me more if it had been planned. But
he has been succeeded, contrary to the
hopes and expectations Of many, by a
Young man who promises not only to
give good government but to measure
up 10 the highest standard Of efficiency.
Il refer to Maurice Connolly your
Borough President He made fine
magistrate and l think he will make
good Borough President. He is a fine
young man"
Getting around to the subject Of rapid
transit the Mayor said that Queens was
a great end widespreading borough. "The
Steinway tunnel is the thing you want
he continued. 1t was one of the first
things I put my mind on when l became
Mayor. but the obstacles have multiplied
and there it is ready for use and practi-
calIy abandoned. Why? l don't know
except that great bodies move slowly
and the Public Service Commission is
stm Matching ON it. They keep sending
me new route every week. and keep
sending back. For Gods sake, build one
route before YOU send me another They
are route makers.
Objects to Cornfield Routes.
The Board of Estimate is not re-
sponsible for the Steinway tunnel |
am only one i'm the Board Of Estimate,
but don't complain. If the people OF
New York want to elect Mayor and
surround him by others to quarrel with
him. that is their business. To be PLAIN
Il they are fools enough to do that. they
should elect Barnard and not me- or they
should have elected Calvin and Moore.
However. ! ann not complaining. am
not quarrelling. ] nave kept the peace
and 1 intend TO do it,
But you don't want a new route to
start in q cornGeld and end in Central
Park or some place else you don't want
70 20. DO you think We are going TO
build subways through vacant fields anl
open places before the trunks are built2
That is foolish. We will build the trunks
first and connect you with them by the
Steinway tunnel. You can all vote
against me if YOU want 20, but 1 am not
In the business Of making new routes