New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-28
Didn't Ask Job for GaHney.

vice Commission; that | urged the
naming of T. ]. McManus for Labor
Commissioner, a Mr.. Meyers for State
Architect, a man from Brooklyn for
Hospital Commissioner and James Z.
Gaffney for Highway Commissioner.
"As a matter of fact. we did not talk
about legislation. AS to the appoint
ments to the I'd District Public Ser
vice Commission, the Governor said
that Mr.. Palmer was an old friend,
that at Syracuse, after his nomina ton,
he promised to make him chairman of
the commission. He said he intended
appointing some man from Buffalo for
the other position on the commission.
I'VE discussed no other positions or
appointments at all l did not then,
or at any other time, directly or in
directly recommend for any position
the names Of Messrs. McManus. Mey-
ers, Gaffney or the unnamed man
from Brooklyn.
Didn't Say Gaffney or War.
MIR Sulzer refers TO the Washing
ton conference on March 3, and says
that | followed him into the hall as
he was leaving and mentioned Mr..
Gaffney and that | said: 1T will be
Gaffney or war" 1 denied this in a
statement months ago. At that time
SulZer told the newspapers a mutual
friend carried the message from me
be remembered that l challenged
Sulzer TO name the bearer of the al
legged message. He has failed to do
so.
The expression. 1t will be Gaffney
or war was coined by Sulzer himself.
His own statement proves he is lying,
for in one part he claims that | told
him it would be Gaffney or war while
in another place he says somebody else
told him.
MIR. Sulzer says there was a confer
ence on March Is, that was indignant
at the removal of Mr. Scott, the Super
intendent Of Prisons, that he proposed
the appointment Of John Mitchell as
Labor Commissioner and that l OPP
posed it and insisted on Mr.. McManus.
There was not word said that night
about Colonel Scott. We did discuss
the Labor Commissionership. Sulzer
said Mr. Mitchell was his choice. l
said | didn't know Mr.. Mitchell, put
that the Senator from his district OBJ
jected because he was not Democrat,
was not enrolled and did not vote. I
remarked that there were enough COM
petent Democrats to select from in the
state. 1 had no candidate. Mr.. Nc
Manus's name was not mentioned then
or at any other time.
MIR. Sulzer claims that I suggested
he names of Mr.. George J. Gillespie
and Michael ]. Mulqueen for the Su-
preme Court vacancies. All that was
said about judiciary appointments was
by the Governor. and that was to the
effect that the Bar Association had
asked him to submit the names Of all
candidates for approval Many names
were suggested TO me for recommen-
dation TO the Governor. Friends Of
Messrs. Mulqueen, Gillespie. Weeks and
Philbin, and many others. spoke to me
In their behalf.
Il advised all to send their applica-
tons and Endorsements directly TO the
Governor / did not indorse any can
didates nor attempt to influence in any
way the appointments of the Governor
in regard 20 judiciary positions.
Denies Threat to Disgrace Him.
He further charges that l threatened
to wreck his administration, TO disgrace
him and that l demanded the calling off
Of Mr.. Blake. who was investigating the
state prisons This is absolutely false.
Neither Mr.. Blake nor the subject of
prisons was mentioned at all. Mr.. Blake
did not begin his prison Investigations I'M
Ill after the meeting referred TO.
Mir. Sulzer asserts that I often sent
emissaries to demand that he do certain
things and to threaten him IL he refused.
He claims that Judge Mccall was one Of
the 'emissaries.' l never asked Judge Nc
Call 10 meet him or to take any message
10 Governor Sulzer. on the contrary. Mr..
Sulzer asked Judge Mccall TO invite me
10 the conference mentioned.
Mr.. Sulzer claims that / prevented the
LEGISLATURE from making appropriations
OF the usual contingency fund 10 pay the
expenses Of the Investigations by the
Governor The records of the last Legis-
lature refute the charge. In January an
appropriation of $4,000 was made for in
vestlgations. This was $4,000 more than
ever was appropriated before in any one
year.
"He says that at a conference in my
home on April 10 he requested me not
10 interfere with the trial of Stilwel In
the Senate. and claims that / said l
would stand by Stillwell This Is an in
famous lie Stilwelrs name was not men
toned. Mr.. Sulzer came to my house
after midnight. He requested the confer
ence over the telephone When he came in
ne began at once to assure me he was my
best friend. and asked me not to take his
direct primary bill and said 1t would
strengthen and not weaken the organiza-
ton.
Regarding Stilwell. the claim is made
by Mr. Sulzer that twenty-seven of the
Senators who voted against him voted for
stilwerl The official record shows the
correct number to be twenty.