New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-24


Murphy Says Hylan May Talk
Mr.. Murphy Of Tammany says 1t Is
ridiculous" to assume that Judge Hylan
has been ordered by the organization to
keep his mouth shut. According to the
chief, the candidate is perfectly free to
meet Mayor Mitchell in debate on the pol
icies of city government, to answer heck
lers who want to know what his own per-
sonal ideas on various subjects are, even
to reply to the questions of prying political
reporters.
But Judge Hylan doesn't. His embargo
on reporters, save those Of the Hearst
papers and the "Staats-Zetung," still Is
in effect. He refuses to debate municipal
ownership, the Black Diamond Automobile
Company, Goslin and other interesting
topics with Mayor Mitchell. A seeker after
information was elected from one OF MS
meetings the other night.
Thus, so far as the public Is aware,
Judge Hylap's political ideas are confined
to the canned speeches which he reads
r,isstatements In which have been proved
from the records-and whatever an OBJ
server can CLEAN from the movies for
which he recently posed at the headquar-
ters Of the League Of Garment Manufact-
urers. who have raised $4,000 to elect
him. These are the same garment manu-
facturers who objected so vigorously to
Mavor Mitchels endeavor to settle the long
and disastrous garment strike several
months age, when the workers had been
locked out and some Of them were on the
verge Of starvation.
This city does not take kindly to dumb
candidates. There Is feeling among the
voters that a man who seeks their suf-
fraee ought to have some ideas of his own
and express them. The historic proof OF
that occurred In the campaign OF 1901,
when Croker, after fishing around FOR
long time to catch Tammany candidate,
finally chose Edward NJ. Shepard, thereto
fore an outspoken critic Of Tammany and
the conditions which the Van Wyck ad-
ministration had produced here. lmme-
diately after his nomination Mr. Shepard
became dumb, save for platform utterances
He refused to discuss police scandals and
the red lights. He refused to say whether
he would keep Devery as head of the po-
lice. He refused to talk about the asphalt
trust. He refused, in meeting reporters,
to answer any questions which had polit-
ical bearing.
When Mr.. Shepard was nominated the
word was passed to "Big Tim" Sullivan and
other East Side Tammany district leaders
interested in the gambling house and
brothel graft that he was "all right" For
that reason they consented to his nomina-
ton, and "Big Tim" was publicly scornful
of any who insisted that Mr.. Shepard's pre-
vious record was such that Tammany could
not expect to deliver him. Mr.. Shepards
silence on the important issues of that
campaign aided in maintaining the Tam
MANY leaders confidence that he was "all
right"
Mr.. Shepard was an infinitely bigger
man than Judge Hylan, his qualifications
for Mayor infinitely greater and more gen
erallv recognized. But his du'nbness did
for him.
Judge Hylan won't say whether he will
retain Mr.. Woods, the Police Commissioner
who has made graft-free department.
He won't say whether his patriotism will
be of the Hearst Bruckner brand or the
American brand. He won't say how he
would, or could, reduce the badget. He
won't even go to places where he might
have to meet interrogators.
If the voters of this city refused to have
the mute Shepard, with Croker behind him,
can they accept the mute Hylan, with
Hearst and Murphy behind him? Is dumb
ness now qualification for Office?
Murphy has removed the gag. Is Judge
Hylan now willing to meet the campaign
issues?