New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-15
[AMMANY SAYS POLK
IS TIGER FOLLOWER
But Lawyer Mentioned as Sue.
cessor to Loeb Denies
Such AffIIiatlOn.
ENROLLED AS DEMOCRAT
Washington Believes Mitchell
Still To Be Leading Candidate
for Collectorship-Poss
bility IF Dark Horse

IOI OOllcCJOiS Hi p-I OSSl-
bility IF Dark Horse"
Frank Lyon Polk. prominently men
TONED as the next Collector of the Port
OF New York. is a well known lawyer Of
mis- city and has held several positions in
public life. He was president of the Mu-
@icipal Civil Service Commission and has
tccn a member Of the Board OF Educa
ion for two years.
In politics Mr.. Polk is an independent
Democrat With tie announcement of his
selection for the dictatorship Tammany
round itself again in the position OF ward
ing off what was generally regarded as
another slap al it OF the part Of PreSi-
dent Wilson. The Wigwam Immediately
laid claim TO Mr.. POLK q regula: mem
Oer Of the organization. on the strength
Of the assertion that he appeared to he
enrolled in the Tammany General Com
mittee.
II his name appeared in the membership
OF that committee. Nj. Polk said. he krew
nothing Of it. There are Goo mon listed
in this manner, and as Ions as a man is
enrolled as a Democrat NOBODY seems to
consider ii necessary % inform him of
The special honor
Not a Member OF Tammany.
- am not member OF Tammany Hall
and have never been allied with II" said
Mr. Pork yesterday. Il am enrolled as
a Democrat. and / suppose ! may lie
called member Of the organization DIN
that account because the organization
fathers all Democrats. However. | have
never worked with Tammany in any
way"
In Tammanys eager endeavor to claim
MIR. Polk the assertion was made bs
George L. Donnellan, leader of the 9th
District. where Mr.. Polk lives. that he
rad contributed to the campaign funds Of
the district When told about this Mr.
Folk said
The only time ever contributed 10
general Tammsny fund was in 1903. IN a
Presidential year, when aided in the
effort to elect a Democratic President
When Mayor Mcclellan appointed him
10 the Civil Service Commission it was al
4 time when the Mayor was waeiug
spii tied war on Tammany Hail. lie was
later elected president of that body and
his work attracted attention through bis
strong adherence to the principles Of the
merit system in government
Mr.. Polk Joined the Democratic League,
en- organization opposed to Charles T.
Murphy, in 1909, and was member of tho
executive committee of that organization
until the end of 1910.
Since his retirement from the Board of
Education in 1910. Mr. Polk has taken an
active interest i'm public affairs through
the Bureau of Municipal Research, OF
which he is director and treasurer.
1t is known that William G. McAdoo,
Secretary Of the Treasury, is FRIEND
and admirer OF Mr.. Polk. II was SAID
vest .rday that IT was MI McAdoo who
lad suggested Mr. Polk FOR the appoint
ment TO the Coilectofship 10 President
Wilson.
Somebody presented my name to the
President. | don't know VINO II was
said Mr. Polk. but want 10 gay that |
did not seek the place. and never wrote
q letter on the subject.
1t would be too early 10 discuss my
policies in connection with the admins
tration of customs | don't as yet know
what they will be. though | can say in
general way that mine will be business
administration. without fear or favor,
The salary or the Collector is $1,000
year.
Mr. Polk comes OF distinguished
Southern family. the same as that OF
President Polk. though the relationship
between him ard the former President
is very distant Leonidas Polk, the
Fighting Bishop" who was killed in the
civn War battle OF Kenesaw Mountain.
vas his grandfather. His father is Dr..
William NJ Polk. president Of the New
York Academy Of Medicine.
Though OF Southern descent Mr.. Polk
WAS born i'm New York in 1871, and out
Size OF his college years has been almost
constantly a resident of this city. He is
a graduate OF the Yale class of 81 and
later studied law at Columbia University,
being admitted 10 the bar in 1897. He is
q member of the law firm of Alexander.
Watriss & Polk. Of No. 81 Nassau street;
president Of the Steynis Ozone Company.
vice-president Of tie Buffalo Brake Beam
Company and director of the Hartman
National Bank.
In the war win Spain MT Iok "ds
member of Squadron A. He was made
captain and later served as assistant
auartermaster on the staff Of General
Ernst in Porto Rico. He became mem
ber OF the Board OF Education in 1896 and
Of the Civil Service Commission in 1871.
He is Interested in charities, especially
the Hospital Saturday and Sunday Asso-
cation. Of which he is secretary and trus-
tee. He is also trustee OF several hospi-
tails
Nj. Polk married in 1895 Miss Elizabeth
:. Potter, daughter of Mr. and Mis-. James
Potter, Of Philadelphia Mr.. and Mrs.
Polk and their three children live at No.
l2e East 36th street.