New-York tribune., 1913-08-21
MURPHY Up IN AIR
OVER GAYNOR RIDDLE
Tammany Boss Trying to De-
termine if Another than the
Mayor Can Fill Bill.
ECONOMY HIS PLATFORM
Aim of Tiger Cohorts Will Be
to Divert Attention from
Scandals in Police
Department.

Charles F. Murphy had not selected bis
candidate for Mayor last night. 1t is safe
To say that he will not make his choice
until about three minutes before the city
designating committee meets on Saturday
afternoon. But while the boss has his
| ear 10 the ground and is trying. with the
aid OF a few advisers, to determine Just
what chance the Tiger would have if II
turned Mayor Gaynor down and nominat-
ed a straight Tammany man. he has a
committee working upon beautiful
handmade platform
1t was said last night that Mr.. murphy
had sent an emissary TO sound William
B. Ellison. former Corporation Counsel,
, on his willingness to head the Tammany
ticket in case Mayor Gaynor should be
turned down. II was not believed. how
ever. that Ellison would consent 10 run
against Mr.. Mitchell. who for many years
had been his protege. and whom he
brought into public life.
The best Information was that Chair
man Mccall OF the Public Service Com
mission would be drafted for Mayor in
case Mayor Gaynor was not renominated.
It is believed that Justice Victor J. Dow
ling would not consent 10 run.
Murphy has promised to name Chair
man Mccall for Chief Judge OF the Court
Of Appeals. It is said. and the latter VIII
give this up to run for Mayor only with
the greatest reluctance.
The platform committee. which met al
the Office OF Senator James A. Foley yes
tcrday afternoon. started out by drawing
up a strong plank on city economy. IL
will be the aim of the Tammany organiza-
ton 10 divert as much ttention as possible
from the Police Department scandals. as
IL believes that economy will be strong
issue. and 10 that end IL will play up
the idea as strongly as possible.
The platform will include a declaration
that Tammany is I'm favor of reform
i'm the Police Department and that
whatever has been dug up by District At
torncv whitman has been inherited from
past administrations. II will make some
difference with the police plank as TO
whether Mayor Gaynor IS renominated
or repudiatcd For that reason alterna-
tive planks will be- drawn.
Speaking Of economy. there was Up
last night that Murphy was thinking
strongly Of naming Allan Robinson for
Controller He is president Of the Allied
Real Estate Interests. and II connected
with the city Economy League. The
league has been urging the selection OF
business men for the Board oi Estimate
and IL rs believed that the nomination -
Robinson might secure the support oi me
rcnl estate and other business men. Roo-
ert T.. Dowling. president u the city IN
yestlnc Company. is also talked Of for
Controller
These suggestions of course. arc based
ON the supposition that Mayor Gaynor is
70 bc reuomlnatcd. II he is not the Con
trolIer will have TO come from Brooklyn
and may be former Controller Herman \.
Metz.
Justice Joseph +. Moss. Of the Municipal
Court. wants a nomination for the Cen
eral Sessions bench. II he does not get IL
he may be named for District Attorney.
Ia that connection IL WAS said yesterday
that Tammany men had suggested the
nossihility Of naming Frank Moss, Assist
ant District Attorney. and Republican,
for District Attorney There IS no doubt
that Tammauy would like TO have Dis
trIct Attorney whitman accept Tam
many nomination for his present post 1t
has been suggested that the next best
thing 10 IKE the sting out Of the police
issue would be TO name Moss. Mr.. whit
mans chief aid in the prosecutions.
Mr.. Murphy. after seeing his district
leaders at Tammany Hall for two hours
Yesterday. repeated that nothing had
be.n settled as 20 the city ticket.
MAYOR Gaynor was stil hiding in the
woodpilc. lie does not intend to receive
to-day the delegation from the Gaynor
fusion and nominating committee inc
members Of which plan 10 tell him they
are going TO name him Independently X
Ross Appleton. chairman, had no excuse
10 offer except that his associates wanted
90 uait and see what all the nominating
bodies do in the way Of choosing candl-
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