Connecticut western news., 1916-08-17
NEW TAMNANY
 CHIEF IN 1917
Murphy to Retire as Leader
 After City Election.
WAGNER MAY SUCCEED HIM

Wiswam Chief Wants Either Senator or Sheriff Smith ito Take His Place
 When He Quits After Fifteen Years
 as Leader of the Noted Political
 Organization. @
 q Charles F. Murphy will voluntarily apdicate as ruler of Tammany hall after the .mayoralty election of 1917. F Reports that he intended to retire from leadership have been current be fore, but they have never come in such definite form as they come now from the lips Of his friends.
 According to these statements, the sman who for the last fifteen years has wielded the scepter in Tammany hall through good and evil fortune without any one ever seriously disputing his leadership is determined in all events to retire on Dec. 31, 1917. It is the fond hope of the Tammany chieftain that by that time he will have added to the list of, his political achievements al straight out Tammany victory in a. New York city mayoralty campaign.
 Wants to Win City.
 For some time Murphys friends have 2 observed that his interest in up state politics has been tagging. At, the Dem ocratic state conference at Saratoga he watched or participated in proceedings with an absorbed air.
 All his thoughts now are on next years contest in New York city, in which the mayoralty and the rich city patronage are the stakes. He is dc termined to come off victorious in that fight at any cost. but win or lose he will relinquish his leadership at the end of next year, according to his friends
 Since Murphy made up his mind to retire, 1t has been noticed that he has cutNaway from practically all of his- old political cronies in the Tammany organization and surrounded himself < with young men. At Saratoga he was hanked by Sheriff Alfred F. Smith and Senator Robert F.. Wagner, both of whom have made enviable records in the legislature under most trying cir cumstances, and are looked upon with great deal Sof popular favor among the voters It is supposed that when
 
 mantle will fall on Sheriff Smith.
 Sheriff Smith is not seeking this posi-. ton of power with its heavy responsi- bilities. According to his. friends. he z would much prefer to run for mayor next year. But his popularity with the rank and file of Tammany as well as with the district leaders, it is believed may force him into leadership for which he is regarded as exceptionally we'll qualified. Senator Wagner maybe made leader if Smith refuses.
 Sheriff His Successor.
 As far as Murphy is concerned. the Saratoga conference was an unbossed one. although the Tammany leader ' played his cards so cleverly that with the possible exception of the head of the ticket the names on the slate that came out of the secret conferences were acceptable to- the organization.
 The final hours of the conference when afteY the slate had been made up all the counties were allowed to sspeak their mind freely with regard to candidates, according to all the in- fiuential leaders in the Democratic df- ganization, were well spent because it made everybody who sat in it go away happy. .
 As far as surface Indications go everything Is harmonious within the state organization, and there is every Q prospect of harmonious work for the ticket.