New-York tribune., 1913-09-08
DUEL
Fusion Leader and Fire Com.
missioner Cross Swords.
LETTER TO Chief FIGURES
Gaynor Manager Terms 1t
Folly to Spring Such a
Thing at This Time.

Norman Hapgood. chairman OF the
Committee OF l07. took a rap at Fire Com
missioner Joseph johnson in a statement
issued yesterday by the committee. whcn
cites one OF the famous letters TO Muir
ply when the Tammany boss was re-
cuperating In Mount Clemens. Mich.
from the exertion OF electing Gaynor
Mayor I'm 1899
III Tammany elects Mccall as Mayor
Murphy will make up a list Of men who
are TO receive appointive places said
Hapgoods statement This was un-
doubtedly made a part Of the understand
ing when Judge Mccall was nominated at
the Delmonico conference.
NO one knows better than Fire Com
missioner Johnson. who is managing Gay
nor's campaign. how appointive positions
under a Tammany Mayor have 10 be OBJ
tanned Johnson. Ike other men to "hom
Mayor Gaynor referred IN his yirile anti
Tammany statement as having no visible
means OF support except politics has
been supportinc himself out OF the public
payroll for many years. In 1893 he worked
in the election FOR Tammany. just as
Gaynor did
Hapgood's statement calls attention TO
Johnson's letter 10 Murphy. which vas
sent under date OF November l5. 1879 Ins
letter reads:
Dear Chief: In reply 10 my letter ask
ing an appointive place have received
nice letter from Judge Gsynor. asking me
10 wait little while until he is rested.
am going ahead getting letters Of recon-
mendation as matter of form, whlch
YOU can see when YOU return. ! feel tnat
I shall be greatly embarrassed here aoou,
January !. know that ] shall be o. h.
with the Judge II YOU put me on your iis'
Johnson's embarrassment referred 10
the situation In the Finance Department
when Prendergast was 10 succeed Metz
under whom Johnson had been serving.
When Commissioner Johnson saw the
aapsood statement last night he dictated
a reply. in which he passed quickly from
a defence OF himself 10 an attack upon
Mitchell based on the fact that Mitchell
had a Tammany district leader. Edward
BOYLE. in his office when he was presi-
dent OF the Board Of Aldermen. lie also
made a passing Ming at the fact that
Mitchell had been close friend OF eN-
Senator William II. Reynolds.
Johnson's statement In reply To Hap
good follows:
What folly II IL TO spring such letter
AZ this tinsl What does Mr.. Hapgood eN-
pect 10 make out of II, when everybody
I'm New York knows that ! was a sup
porter OF Charles #. Murphy up to the
time of his Welding to the fat heads In
his organization in nominating MCCALL
During the three years and "A half that
Mr. Mitchell was President Of the Board
Of Aldermen his confidential agent and
handy man was Tammany District Leader
Boyle.
Il hope that | have saved some of the
numerous requests transmitted by Mitchell
through BOYLE relating TO the Fire De-
partment-some OF them utterly without
merit and contemplate in their disre-
ghrd for the good of the fire service II
! am not mistaken, ! have some corre-
spondence begging for favors from Mitchell
himself Hapgood as campaign logiciar
is wonder. He sets out by proving that
Murphy is everything bad and yet he at
tack. me because have seen NJ TO repu-
diate Murphy.
"Hapgood sooner or later has got TO
line I'D either with or against us IN our
Hght against Tammany Hall. ! should
think that former Senator Reynolds
Mitchels chief financial hacker, who Is a
seasoned and oldtime politician, would
take hold OF these people and guide them
out Of their forest OF boomerangs.