New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-06
CoIIectorship Possible Reward
for Attacking Tammany and
Defying 0'Gorman.
NO OFFICIAL MOVE YET
Secretary McAdoo in Denying
Polk Is Candidate Says APP
pointment Has Not Come
Up for Discussion.
From The Tribune Bureau.l

Washington. Nov. 5.-There is much
speculation here over the successor to
John Purroy Mitchell as Collector of the
Port of New York. Interest centres
mainly upon Dudley Field Malone, Third
Assistant Secretary Of State. who dened
Tammany and assailed Representative
Fitzgerald In a speech in the interest OF
Mr.. Mitchell.
Secretary McAdoo issued a statement
tonight denying a report that FRANK H.
Polk was a candidate for the place wheh
the President was considering successor
to Mr.. Loeb. Mr.. McAdoo makes 1t clear
that Polk was his choice and that he TOOK
the initiative in bringing his name before
the President The choice OF successor
TO Mr.. Mitchell has not been considered
by the Secretary of the Treasury. Inc
statement from the Treasury Department
follows:
Secretary McAdoo said tonight that
reports To tie effect that Frank L. foiK'
OF New York. was "A candidate for Collec-
tor Of the Customs at New York or that
his friends were pressing him for that
position are entirely erroneous. Mr. POLK
has never at any time been a candidate
for the office The Secretary said that
MIR Polk has been asked by him last
spring Il he would accept the position II
it were offered to him, but that he mad
never at any time lifted finger to obtain
IT, The Secretary said that 1t had not
yet been decided when successor To Mr.
Mitchell would be appointed. The subject
has not yet been taken up
rhe President has been silent about
the holiness of young Mr.. Malone III
possibly Drawing the displeasure Of his
father-in-law. Senator O'Gorman. who
was forced 10 declare himself in favor
OF Mccall after his son-in-law had come
out in the open, but IL Is no secret that
the Malone stock went up many points
around the White House as result OF
his boldness. II is argued here that
Senator O'Gorman could oppose the
nomination of his son-in-law with little
grace. even II he were disposed to take
such course, and for that reason the
President would be spared the embar-
rassment attending the situation before
tho appointment of Mr. Mitchell.
Several politicians close TO the adj
ministration argue that Mr.. Malone
actually made "a bad break" in assail-
ing Representative Fitzgerald. chairman
OF the House Appropriations Committee,
and that II would be for the best inter-
est oC the Department of State for Presi-
dent Wilson 10 find another berth for
Mr.. Malon". They think that Mr.. Fitz-
gerald would try TO revenge himself on
the Third Assistant Secretary OF State
at the expense OF the department
The hearty indorserpent of Mr. .Malope
by Mr. Mitchell. as set forth in news
paper dispatches, IS an added asset to
the formers boom for Collector of the
Port. and Mr. Malone stands ia favor
able light.
Senator O'Gorman was entirely nom
commttal to-day when he was asked
about the Collectorshlp. taking refuge be-
hind the statement that currency legis-
lation is absorbing all OF his attention.
II is generally understood that the Sena-
tor from New York is not lending the
eight OF his influence either to advance
or check the political aspirations OF his
son-in-law.
priority OF claim to the acquaIntanceship
OF President Wilson and introduced Sena-
tor OGorman to him. II Is not to be ex-
pected that Mr.. OGorman will lay any
obstacles in the way of the appointment
OF Mr.. Malone II the President should
name him. but il Is not TO be doubted that
he would feel much freer to support the
candidacy OF another.
The situation is even more complex
than II was at the time the question Of
the New York Collcctorship first came up.
Secretary McAdoo wanted Frank L. Polk,
as his statement tonight indicates Sena-
tor DGornan lsid before the President a
list OF six names OF Democrats who
had performed valiant party service
When II came TO an issue between the
Senator from New York and the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury the former said that
he must have a hand In the selection OF
a Collector and that he woald never CON
sent to the appointment Of one concerning
V HON he had not been consulted. In the
erd II was Mitchell, Senator O'Gorman
apparently being as much pleased with
tho choice as the President himself.
Whether the downfall OF 1ammany and
Senator OGorman's support OF Mccall
will give the Secretary OF the Treasury
q freer field this time remains TO be seen.
There is also some doubt that Mr.. Nc
Adoo viii, IL left to his choice, select Mr.