New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-08
President StunS Tammany by
Nominating His Own Choice
for the Best Federal
Office in New York.
O'GORMAN CLAIMS CREDIT
Senator Indorses Appointment
and Washington Politicians
Think It Means He Will Here
after Be Independent of
Murphy's Organization.
From The Tribune Bureau. /

From The Tribune Bureau.1
Washington, May president Will
son settled the controversy over the
colectorship Of the Port of New York
to-day, and incidentally stunned the
organization men in his party, by send
ing to the Senate the nomination Of
John Purroy Mitchell. president of the
Board Of Aldermen of New York City,
for that post.
Mr.. Mitchell has been the Presidents
personal choice for the place from the
I first, although he showed a Willingness
10 yield his personal preference until
: he found that the Secretary OF the
Treasury and the Democratic Senator
willing TO come 10 an agreement. Then
he decided TO name his own candidate.
The President went to the Capitol to-
day and told Senator'S Root and O'Gor-
man OF his intention. asking IL they
had any serious objection TO offer. Mr.
Root had none and Mr.. O'Gorman at
least made it clear that he would not
oppose Mr.. Mitchels confirmation.
AS recently as last night Secretary
McAdoo told friends he did not know
who would be named. but that he was
quite certain no nomination would be
sent i'm to-day. Senator OGorman
said last night that. while he did not
know who would be named, he was
convinced the selection would be made
from the seven names submitted by
him. and he believed the choice lay
between Messrs. Churchill and Purdy
and Judge Rooney. He added that he
had declined TO submit any additional
name.
After the President had informed
the New York Senator of his purpose
To reject all Of the seven names sub
mitted by him and to name his own
man. Senator O'Gorman intimated
! that Mr.. Mitchell was his suggestion
as a compromise candidate and that
he was gratified that MI McAdoo
man. Mr.. Polk, had been rejected. II
| was. he said "a pleasant solution of
a mild conflict" adding: THE nation
and the cause OF good government
ought to be congratulated on the ap-
pointment."
TO the regular party men in Con-
gress the appointment came as a dis
tinct surprise. and to the Tammany
men as a most unwelcome one.
Sends in the Nomination.
As soon as the President returned
| from the Capitol he ordered Mr..
Mitchers nomination sent to the Sen
ate and then dictated the following
telegram 10 the nominee:
Il am with great pleasure sending to
| the Senate your nomination as Col
lector Of the Port Of New York ! sin
cerey trust that YOU will serve public
interest by accepting the appoint
ment."
! 1t is expected that Mr.. Mitchell will
/ ported to the White House a month
/ ago that he had declared he was not a
/ candidate for the Democratic nomina-
| ton for Mayor Of New York, the pos
sbility of such a desire on his part
/ being regarded as the only bar TO his
! acceptance of the Collectorship.
1t was stated in The Tribune on
April Is that Mr.. Mitchell or dark
horse would he appointed as Collector
Mr.. Polk subsequently appearing as
the dark horse. The statement was
! based on information from a source
close TO President Wilson, who from
the outset as announced by The Trib-
une on March T.. has favored Mr..
Mitchell over all other candidates, al
though out of Difference 10 Senator
O'Gorman and Secretary McAdoo he
gave them the opportunity jointly TO
select a suitable candidate.
When the President arrived at the
Capitol The junior Senator from New
York was coseted with him for upward
of a quarter of an hour. a much longer
time than was required for the Presi-
dents consultation with any of the
other Senators on the question of ap-
pontments When. some time later.
the nomination Of Mr. Mitchell was sent
in, Mr.. O'Gorman was the first to ex-
press his satisfaction.
O'Gorman Takes Credit
Senator OGorman made i, obvious
by his expression of approval that he
took TO himself credit for being the
first TO suggest the appointment OF Mr..
Mitchell. and that he did so without
consulting the wishes of Secretary Nc
Adoo. Mr.. OGorman proudly intimated
that although circumstances might
point 10 the fact that Mitchell VAS the
personal choice of the President and
had been under consideration since a
few DAYS after the Inauguration, he
had. none the less won his tilt with the
President and Secretary McAdoo.
No effort was made by Senator
O'Gorman TO minimize the fact tha-
the Mitchell appointment might be in
tcrpreted as a final and open break