New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-28
OSBORN WARNS
BOSS" M'COOEY
Reform Chairman Says
Kings Committee Is Too
Close to Tammany.
PARTY WELFARE WORK
URGED IN TALK
Suggestions for Improvement OF
ORGANIZATION to Come Up at
Another COnfab.

William Church Osborn, the reform
chairman OF the Democratic State Com
mttee. had a heart-to-heart talk yester-
day with John r. McCooey, boss OF tho
Kings County organization. He told him
that the organization there was too much
of a close corporation, that 1t was not re-
sponsive to public sentiment and that the
general impression was that it was close
~ affiliated with the Tsmmany crowd.
He told the Kings County leader that
there ought to be an improvement and he
would see him again within short time
T, find out what he purposed. so far as
is known Mr.. osborn has no appoint
ment with Charles +. Murphy TO tell him
there must be an improvement In the or
ganization here.
Mr.. McCooey had with him James d.
Bell. chairman of the general committee
William Allaire Shortt. secretary OF the
committed was also at the meeting,
which was held at state headquarters. In
West 3ith ct.
Mr.. Osborn had this to say last night
about the conference.
MIR. McCooey spoke OF the opportunity
for fortifying the party in connection with
the election OF delegates 10 the constitu-
tionaI convention by bringing in elements
not now in close touch with the organiza-
ton.
in connection With this I called the at
tention Of Mr. Mccooey TO two things ar
fecting the situation in Brooklyn. one
was the feeling on the part OF large pro-
portion OF the voters that the organiza-
ton IS too close on district lines and that
there Is not sufficient recognition or the
elements which do not take active part IN
local politics. but are interested In the
welfare OF the party In the Borough OF
Brooklyn as a whole.
Another thing TO which | called the
attention OF Mr. McCooey Is that a con-
siderable number of people In Brooklyn
have the feeling that the organization
there is closely affiliated with the Demo-
cratic organization in New York County.
"T asked Mr.. McCooey what steps he
proposed 10 take to meet these suggestions
on the part OF the voters. told him that
the direct primary law had brought about
an entirely different condition OF affairs
pointed out that II the organization shouio
attempt TO select a ticket and put u
through In such way that the general
public would look upon 1t simply as an
organization ticket damned through, the
public would punish tho party at the
polls.
81 asked Mr.. McCooey to think over
these suggestions and meet me for another
conference in ten DAYS or fortnight"
Mr.. McCooev. when asked about his
conference with the State Chairman, said:
ale talked about the constitutional con-
vent,on and how we would select our
candidates"
Didn't Mr.. Osborn saw anything about
the way the organization was conducted
Mr. McCooev was asked.
ooh" replied the Kings County leader,
ne said he thought It would be a good
thing II we could broaden out the organi-
zation so as to take IN all Democrats.
told him that our organization had been
broadened out for some time and that the
primary law means new deal all
around"
Mr.. McCooey since he succeeded Patrick
/ IL hCCdFleli d' ica"S'' III A'''' i'''' -"
looked upon as the alter ego OF Charles
+. Murphy number Of movements have
been started to put him out. but have
never amounted to anything After the
/ defeat of Judge Mccall for Mayor another
movement was started TO put McCooey
out.
Recently, however McCooey got Gov
ernor Glynn 10 reappoint Thomas f..
Byrnes as a State Tax Commissioner and
! to appoint John i. Hylan and Robert H.
Roy as county judges. This weakened the
opposition and little has been heard OF
/ Il for some time.