New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-15
WILSON PICKS W|TTPENN
TO SUCCEED KRACKE
Ex-Mayor of Jersey City Offered
Post of Naval Officer
for This Port.
REWARD FOR SACRIFICE
President Shows Appreciation
of Loyalty Shown in Recent
Governorship Campaign
Recommended by Redfield.

Ex-Mayor II. Otto Wittpenn, of Jersey
City, has been offered the appointment
of Naval officer Of the Port of New York
by the President. and while Mr.. Wittpenn
said last night that he still had the oner
under consideration, it was reasonably
certain that he would accept the $S,oOo
year plum. According to reports from
Washington, the President will SEND the
name of the former Jersey City Mayor 10
the Senate on Monday Mr.. Wittpenn VIII
succeed f. J. II. Kracke, whose reslsha-
ton as Naval officer was accepted ny INC
Secretary OF the Treasury yesterday
The appointment is made by the Presl-
dent on the recommendation OF Secretary
Redfeld Of the Commerce Department.
with the concurrence of Senator OGor-
man, and has been usually looked upon Us
piece OF federal patronage that pelohseu
TO Brooklyn II is believed, however thd'
Joseph p. Tumuty. secretary to the Pres
ident. succeeded in convincing the Sec
rotary OF Commerce, himself Brooklyn
man, and Senator O'Gorman that the
appointment OF Mayor Wittpenn was nee
essary for the good OF the service.
The Presidents selection OF Mr. WITT
penn did not come as a surprise 10 MI
Wittpenn's friends in New Jersey Tor II
has been generally understood that the
President has been anxious to reward the
former Jersey City Mayor for his loyal
~ I'm getting out of the primary contest
-. nomination for Gov
ernor last September. thus leaving a clear
field TO James +. Fielder.
Mr.. Wittpenn is the leader OF the Pro-
gressive Democrats OF Hudson count!
and has been loyal supporter OF Fresl-
dent Wilson from the time he entered pol
tiles. He has always been able TO de-
liver the goods" when called upon ana
much OF the progressive legislation that
passed the Legislature during Mr. VIII
sons term as Governor would nave hau
hard road had ii not been for Mr.. VIII
penis assistance.
The former Jersey City Mayor firmly
believed that he would have the backing
Of the President in the contest Tor the
Democratic nomination for Governor last
fan. and il was a grievous disappolht-
ment 20 him when the President asked
him 10 withdraw In favor OF Mr.. Fielder
Mr. Wittpenn is about forty years DID,
and has been active as an independent
Democrat in Jersey City for the last ten
or twelve years. Asked about the offer OF
the President last night, he said:
II have been offered the position OF
Naval officer OF the Port of New York
and / have the offer under consideration.
shall ascertain what the duties OF tho
Office are and shall announce my de-
clsion In a short time"
The statement OF Mr.. Wlttpenn that he
Is considering the Presidents offer arises
from his Discrimination to accept the post
II II will interfere with his private bust
ness interests and political future. 1t Is
understood that he would like 10 succeed
Mr.. Fielder as Governor OF New Jersey,
and that consequently he wants TO con-
tinue his interest in the Democratic poll
t,,s OF Hudson County. In fact. II the
former Jersey City Mayor were to quit
now things Democratic in Hudson would
become more or less chaotic.
II ia generally understood, however,
that the duties OF Naval officer are not
SO onerous as TO interfere either with
Mr. Wittpenn's business interests or his
political ambition.
Mr.. Kracke received letter from Will
lam McAdoo, Secretary OF the Treasury,
accepting his resignation as Naval Of
flcer. which was forwarded TO Washing
ton before Mayor-elect Mitchell left the
H.. ,o, pap,p,a Assurances il Is said
have been given to Mr.. kracke's friends
Congressman William NJ. Calder, among
others-that the retiring Naval Officer
will have a place in the Mitchell admins
trotiOn