The Washington herald., 1912-09-15
MURRAY NAY BE
ASKED TO RESIGN
Republican Leaders Urge President
Taft to Dispense with Comp
troller Of the Currency.
AT ODDS WITH MacvEAGH
AND FRIENDLY TO ROOSEVELT
Chairman Hilles Said to Have Rec
commended Removal Because of
Alleged Political Disloyalty.

Lawrence o. Murray, Of New York.
Comptroller Of the Currency, an intimate
friend-of Col. Roosevelt. may be asked
by president Taft to vacate his Office.
Republican leaders have been urging the
President for three weeks to dispense
with the services OF Comptroller Murray.
Dissatisfaction on the part of Secretary
Macveagh and other Treasury officials
with Mr.. Murray's administration Of the
office. and alleged dIsoyalty Ito the Re
publican party. are the reasons that
have been given the President Why Mr..
Murray should be asked to resign. The
opinion is expressed in official circles in
Washington that Comptroller Murray's
name will not much longer remain on the
Federal pay roll.
1t was learned here yesterday that
Charles Dewey Hilles. chairman of the
Republican National Committee, recent
ly has discussed the case Of Mr.. Murray
with President Taft. Chairman Hilles,
who has taken the position that political
disloyalty by Presidential appointees
shall be summarily punished. has made
1t clear to the President that 1t is his
opinion that Mr.! Murray's connection
with the administration should be sew
cred.
Preparation of Textbook Refused.
While Mr.. Murray's presence in the
administration has long been distastefui
to certain Republican leaders. the pres
cnt attack on the Comptroller was pro-
voked by an act that Chairman Hilles
and others believe amounts to a declara-
tion OF hostility to the candidacy OF
President Taft for reelection. Some
weeks ago. It was learned yesterday.
men representing the Republican Nation
al Committee asked Mr.. Murray to pre-
pare a chapter for the party textbook
discussing questions of finance and set
ting forth the accomplishments Of the
Comptroller branch of the Treasury De-
partment under the administration OF
Mr. Taft.
Mr.. Murray failed to comply with the
request. His friends explained that he
did not do so. for the reason that he
was indisposed to place himself in a po-
sition where, he might be charged with
taking sides in the Presidential cam
psign.
Friends Of President Taft in Washing
ton insist that Mr.. Murray's failure TO
contribute a chapter to the party text
book was not prompted by a desire 10
hold aloof from the campaign. They
charge that Mr.. Murray is Bull Moose.
and that as such he should be forced 10
retire from the public service.
Adopted Bourne's Recommendation.
There is another count in the indict-
ment Of Mr.. Murray as a sympathizer
with the National Progressive party.
Some weeks ago a bank examiner was
appointed in Oregon. He was named on
the RECOMMENDATION OF Senator Jonathan
Bourne. Mr.. Bourne has been on the
outs with President Taft for more than
two years. In the last session Of Con-
gress. Senator Bourne delivered a speech.
in which he criticised President TAFT In
bitter terms Recently Senator Bourne
issued a statement in which he an
nounced that he would support Col.
Roosevelt in this campaign.
There has been bad feeling between
certain officials of the TreaSury Depart
ment and Comptroller Murray for several
months. 1t grew out of the episode that
followed the resignation OF A. Piatt An
drew from the Office of Assistant Secre-
tary. In his letter of resignation Mr..
Andrew severely denounced Secretary
MacVeagh, charging. among other things.
that he was incompetent. He named a
number Of Treasury officials, whom he
said entertained the same view. among
them Comptroller Mcrray. All OF those
mentioned by Mr.. Andrew, as holding a
poor opinion of Secretary MacVeagh's
administrative ability. with the exception
of Comptroller Murray, afterward wrote
letters denying the views imputed to
them by Mr.. Andrew. 1t is presumed
that the Comptroller refused to write
such a letter. as Secretary MacVeagh
Immediately upon the publication of the
Andrew charges called upon the officials
designated to state their respective opin-
ions Of the case.
Mr.. Murray first entered the public
service as Assistant Secretary Of Com
merca and Labor by appointment Of
President Roosevelt. AS Mr.. Murray was
a Democrat, the selection aroused a good
deal Of criticism. In the Roosevelt ad-
Mr.. Murray was a prom
inent figure in Washington. He was
frequent social caller at the White House
and was a member Of the Tennis Cab
met" A year or so before the expira-
tion of the Roosevelt term William B.
Ridgely, Of Illinois. retired from the
office of Comptroller. Mr.. Murray was
named his successor
Under the law. the Comptroller of the
Currency is in large measure free from