New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-23
Col. House Fails to In
duce Minority Lead
er to Accept.
WILSON SENDS
NAME TO SENATE
Politicians See Move to
Placate Hyphen Vote in
Nomination.

The campaign sop from the Wilson
Administration TO Tsmmany Hall in
the appointment yesterday OF Senator
Robert F. Wagner as Postmaster OF
New York came too late. Senator
Wagner irrcvocably refused the Office.
II was the first federal place that
President Wilson had seen fit to offer,
and Tammany refuses TO be placated
at this late hour by place OF such
small political significance.
In fact, it is known that the local
Democratic organization is opposed 70
any particularly conspicuous Tam
many man taking the postmastership.
The President could not have selected
a more conspicuous one. The patron
AGE OF the Office is practically nil, as
there are only two or three exempt
nlaces omen for appointments, and the
salary is $4,000, with $4,000 added as
custodian of the Federal Building.
The postmastership was offered to
Senator Wagner two weeks ago, and he
turned il down at that time.
Colonel f.. VI. House, President
Wilson'S close adviser, on FRIDAY
called on Senator Wagner and told
him that the President wanted him to
reconsider his refusad Of the post
mastership. Senator Wagner again
said that he could not accept the
appointment.
Surprise for Wagner.
When he learned yesterday that his
name had been sent to the Senate
Senator Wagner said:
81 am greatly surprised, and 1t is
impossible for me TO accept. While
appreciate the appointment as a
great compliment, the place is entirely
outside of the lines of my ambitions
I have enjoyed the turmoil Of legisia-
tive give and take and the chance to
assist in putting through important
legislation. and the administration OF
purely routine affairs, though impor-
tant, would not appeal to me-.
The sending Of Senator wagner
name TO the Senate, over his protest,
created two distinct impressions yes
terday among Tammany men. First, 4
appeared that President Wilson wished
TO make it appear that he was offering
Tammany a "big job" and, second,
that in handing it to prominent Tam
many man of German descent he was
making a play for the German vote
Senator Wagner, who was born IN Ba-
varia. is particularly well liked among
the German Democrats, who have be-
come more or less estranged from
party affiliations by the attitude Of the
president on the whole German ques-
ton.
The Washington Administration has
been looking for some time for a Ger
man who would be satisfactory TO the
local organization for .he appointment.
When this became known recently sew
eral receptive candidates Of German
extraction got into the limelight.
Among them were William +. Grell,
former Sheriff, and William Sohmer,
former State Controller IL is under
stood that the chances Of either OF
these men getting the appointment arc
decidedly slim.
Johnson Still in Race.
Tammany has not definitely Endorsed
any candidate for the place. Charles
+. Murphy has persistently refused TO
consider the post seriously from Tam
many point of view. The matter is
said to have been left entirely in the
hands of Senator James A. O'Gorman,
who has been urging the candidacy OF
Joseph Johnson, former Fire Commits
sioner. While Johnson has never been
directly approved by Mr., Murphy, other
influential members of Tammany Hall
have signified that he would be ac-
ceptable to the organization. johnson
has never given up hope that he might
Continued on page o. column