New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-06
t ak Of
City Hall

There is suspicion abroad that the
advice which the late Patrick keenan,
gave Bill Kennel has been given also
10 County Judge Hylan. That IS TO
say, twenty-odd years ago. when BIZ
first became tho Mayors police guar
dian. Keenan, told him TO mind his own
business and keep his mouth shut And
Bill listened TO him.
But he knew far better than TO 1910"
this sage counsel literally. what
keenan, really meant 20 suggest was
that Bill should mind his own business
while seeming 20 mind every ono else s.
and that he should talk his head OF
while saying nothing. Kennel AZ
least. has 80 interpreted the advice, ana
in consequence he has retained ms
lob all these years, pleasing an ne
cranks with whom he has come IN on
cial contact, including the many ar
fcrent gentlemen elected 20 employ NM
UvIan. on the other hand. appears
io have taken the advice literally tic
has actually promised 70 say nothing
for publication, whether fresh plucked
from his garden Of Oratcry or canned
until after the primaries practlcaliy
three weeks of churlish silence. while
the lovly and downtrodden c,amor for
words Of comfort from their champion.
The situation demands talk; even
Murphy is yielding TO inc pressure
and exhibiting a loquacious turn. ana
what must Secretary Tom smith oe
thinking Of the leader Of tho Cause
Tom. who has talked freely and frankly
d nj
revealing an organization secret or
treading on a friendly corn? - .,
The fact is that Iiylau'5 political
training has been neglected. lie had
been talking unwise.y, he 'ound, IN
the brief period between the date Of
his designation for Mayor and that Of
Hearst's declination to run against
him. And now, i'm something OF d
panic. feeling the savage criticism OF
his more experienced supporters. he
has gone TO the opposite extreme. FROM
A whole-souled advocacy Of the s6th
street cross town car line extension
TO complete silence il an ominous jump.
To tread the wine press OF popular
sentiment and not stub ones toe IS no
mean art. Hylan has been stumbling
/. began with his reply TO the question
put to him in Saratoga within day Of
his designation: Are you pacliist?'
The Judge said he didn't wish 10 COM
nit himself.
A dsy or 50 later, when he had come
back to the city to receive congratula-
tons and reporters, he was asked II he
was willing 70 remain q candidate Tor
Manor on the same ticket with Repre-
sentative Bruckner, who voted against
, the tabling of the McLemore resolution
/ in Congress Bruckner is the Demo-
cratic candidate for Borough President
of The Rrory. The judge said: Come
/ back at 2 o'clock for your answer
/ In both these instances he spilled the
/ beans through excessive caution. NO
politician with the training Of regu-
/ lar would have committed such an er-
I ror. This was a display Of the rankest
/ smateursh form.
/ And then, 10 cap the climax, he made
public the ruling that all questions
thereafter must be submitted 70 him
in writing at 2 certain hour IN the
forenoon. 20 be answered by him IN
privacy and At leisure. 1t was like sit
ting down 20 skate.
The result was. of course. that no
reporter submitted questions. The
business Of getting out newspapers can
not wait on such formalities, unless the
oracle to be consulted has something
epcchal on his mind. And certainly no
one felt that such was true OF Judge
Hylan. He was neglected, and he may
have become FESTIVE. Al any rate, he
{ began issuing statements Of his own &C
cord ending with the one IN which he
champoned the residents Of Gorkvi.le
against the property owners Of the
West Side
This latter statement or letter had 20
do with the proposed extension Of the
crosstown surface line in Eighty-siXth
Street as far west a Broadway. Hearst
has been a consistent opponent OF the
proposal. So has Charles J.. Craig,
Hylan's running mate for Controller on
the Tammauy ticket, who has acted as
counsel for the West End Association.
II ready answers should have been re-
turned TO the first two questions quoted
above. here, on the other hand, was a
case for caution; or 50, at least, II
would appear to the average political
observer Yet Hylan, without apparent
" informing himself Of the history OF
the car line controversy fastened 20
put himself on record against his most
powerful supporter and against one or
the most important of his political col
leagues.
And now comes silence. utter and
Uncomfortable. It may be that it con-
stitutes the only remedy IN such an
acute case. II may be. after all, that
in this instance Pat keenan's classic
warning was given with literal intent.