The sun., 1917-04-04
MAYORS TRIAL
PROVES FARCE
Senate Gets Little Satisfac-
tiOn and Is Eager
to End 1t.
WAGNER OPPOSES A VOTE
Republican Majority Would
Shelvc Inquiry Except for
senatorial Courtesy"
WAGNER OPPOSES A VOTE

ALBANY, April SIT was a farming
old timer from the southern tier who
said tonight after the first day Of the
Senates trial of Mayor John Purroy
Mitchell for accusing Senator Robert +.
Wagner OF aiding and comforting the
Kaiser that the whole business re-
minded him of the time he caught a boy
in his apple orchard. reached for tho
lads collar with spanking intent, sud-
denly found the boys coat limp in his
hand and the boy Logging 1t to safety
with cries OF glee.
Probably there has been no more farci-
iature than the inquiry which to-day
consumed many hours of time that the
Senate knew it was wasting and I'D not
want to sQuander and that Mayor
Mitchell knew. he was wasting while he
chafed under the necessity. Nothing
whatever has come of it except a vast
amount Of running around Robin Hood s
barn, and nobody expects anything will
come Of 1t.
1t seems to be the plan. mechanically
arranged. to carry on the palaver an
other day or two and then deliver to the
offended Senator Wagner a vote Of con-
fdence In his integrity. Nobody thinks
for moment the Senate has found
cause to order Mayor Mitchell to durance
in the Albany County jail for the rest
Of the session and nobody believes for n
moment the Senate would have the
spunk in the present state Of public
opinion to deal severely with the Mayor
even II cause were found.
Republicans Mech Embarrassed.
The fact is the Republican majority
10 embarra ssed and aweary OF the fix It
permitted itself to get into and would
shelve the inquiry In an hour except
for that thing known as Senatorial
courtesy and the fear that somebody
would think the scrappy Mayor had
whipped IL in a stand up fight.
In its main aspects the inquiry was
amusing. Whenever the Senate reached
= Mr.. Mitchers collar. thinking they
had him sure he was out of the coat and
away, but presently they found him
standing a little piece down the road
indulging in provocative language.
lhereupon the Senate numbered in pur-
suit once more. again reached for his
collar and again Stripped the wind. This
sort Of thing went on from noon until
p. NJ, with three hours recess. while
Charles f. Hughes. Martin w. Littleton
and former Senator Harvey ID. Hinman
smiled amiably in Mayor Mitchers cor
ner and Samuel Cntermyer and lstdor
Kresel squrmed and glowcred In Sena-
or Wagner's corner.
IN other words. Mayor Mitchell used
up 10000 or 10000 words of testimony
by saying he never meant to charge that
Senator Wagner was guilty OF treason.
but that he did mean. and will stand
by the accusation. that Wagner In op-
posing the Rockaway Point fortiflcation
legislation acted more in the inter-
csts OF Germany than the interests OF the
United States. and by saying that he
certainly did not mean to accuse the
Senator Of being a traitor to the United
States but that the Senator's activity
n opposing the fortifcation bill was a
hindrsnce to the United states army
AT the very time II was hustling to
defend New York city from the Ger
mans. and then by saying that Of course
he did not know what motive Senator
Wagner had in mind when Wagner op-
posed the bill. but what Wagner did
was to help Germany and not America.
And so it went all afternoon. Now they
Construe IL ss Apology.
wagner's partisans and most OF the
Senators are eager to assume that the
Mayors qualified statements before the
Senate amounted virtually to an apol-
ogy. but the Mayors partisans and the
Mayor himself decline to have II that
way. They maintain Mayor Mitchell is
apologiZing for nothing that was said
about Wagner, that he never will and
that the Senate can do what It jolly
we'll pleases II II does not like the form
o. words the Mayor uses
In the meantime the Senate is looking
for some way out of the mess, . some
way 70 let go. The man who can sug-
Sest the quickest and most accepta BILE
method Of losing Mayor Mitchell will
confer distinct obligation upon the
Senate
IN all OF the redundant and repe;i-
ronal testimony. on direct examination
and on cross-eNamnat!on. the only es-
sAnt!al facts that stood out clearly fro,a
ne tangle OF words included Mayor
Mifchels proof that United States army
experts had urged Senator Wagner not
70 obstruct the desired legislation at
the time that Wagner, as the Mayor
maintains. was busily obstruct.ng.
'H'5 NdS tHc strongest point VI sup
port offered by Mayor Mitchell in justif-
cation OF his charge that Wagner was
working for Germany rather than the
United States. and It was a point that
made a distinct impression.
Also there was the fact that Mayor
Mitchell In seeking to speed real estate
transfers from the city to the Rockawa
PacAc Corporation. owner OF desired
tracts at Rockaway Point. was acting
virtually FOR the United States Govern
'Aen' and that he was trying TO save
none for the city by making a deal
approved by United States army ex.
perts lie regarded Wagners opposition
a. some what Teutonic uader these De
e...ar circumstances.
But Ee fatly informed the Senate he
u not mean 10 say Wagner was 4
I".9r lie disagreed with tile Senafr'a
Confined 0n FiIl pooe