New-York tribune., 1917-12-23
Declares City Democracy
Leader Urged Him to
Support Mitchell
Also Promised Him
Political Office
Charles Steckler Admits
Rowing Commission to Win
Over Disgruntled Men

Sworn charges that $4,000 was Of
fered to a former active worker in
Tammany Hall if he would sign a pa
per renouncing STammany and join the
City Democracy are being investigated
by District Attorney Swami. The man
who made the affidavit is lawyer, and
he entered his complaint at the time
the offer of money was made. The
District Attorney says he has not yet
obtained the mans consent 10 the use
of his name. but he expects to do so
in few days.
Mr.. Swami said the lawyers affidavit
was proof enough to establish a prima
facie case of a violation Of teh election
laws. The corrobOration, he said. would
be furnished in the form Of circum-
stantial evidence. II was not neces-
sary, he said, to have at actual passage
of money.
According to the affidavit, the lawyer
was approached by man who was
prominent in managing the City De
mocracy. He was told that he had been
shabbily used by Tammany, and if he
would come out publicly for Mayor
Mitchell ne would have no trouble get
ting an appointment as city magistrate
or 70 the Special Sessions bench. The
lawyer said he would think it over.
"Ill send two men to see you who
will take care Of the practical arrange
ments," the City Democracy organizer
said, according to the lawyer. The two
men did call on him, the lawyer said,
and they handed him a statement OF
his renunciation and denunciaaion of
Tammany, which he was TO sign. The
lawyer said while he was studying the
paper one Of the men produced roll
of bills and began peeling them off in
denominations Of 81 900 until he had
counted off five.
These" he said. according to the affi-
dayit, "are yours if you will sign"
Reported to District Attorney
The lawyer said he would have 10
give the proposition little more de-
liberation, and on leaving the two men
he went straight TO District Attorney
Swami, who advised him to arrange for
another meeting and to try 10 have
some of his friends shadow him as wit
The meeting was arranged on q GER
tain corner, the lawyer says, but as
soon as the talk began the two men
kept moving along until they had towed
the lawyer around the corner into the
next block. The lawyer said he tried to
signal his watchers TO follow and in
doing so he probably ruined the trap,
for they had no sooner got out of sight
before the man who held the roll at the
previous meeting observed that he be
lieved they were being watched and
therefore they'd better cal the thing
off for the present.
The lawyer told Mr. Swami that he
then went back to the City Democracy
organizer and told him that money had
been offered to him and that he re-
sented that fact.
Don't talk to me about such things
as that | don't know anything about
it. Didn't | tell you that | didn't have
anything to do with the practical ar
rangements," the organizer said, ac-
cordng TO the affidavit.
Mr.. Swami said last night that he
had questioned the City Democracy
leader about the alleged transactions,
and he admitted having talked with the
lawyer and having taken him TO City
Hall. The lawyer said that at the City
Hall he was told that anything that
-- said was "all right" As to the
charges about the showing of $1,000
bills, the City Democracy leader said
he knew nothing about them.
Arthur James, representative Of the
Metro-Film Company, who is said TO
have received $4,000 for propaganda
work for Mayor Mitchell, was ques-
toned yesterday. but the examination
went over until Monday.
Charles Steckler, who resigned from
the Courthouse Board on Thursday,
after receiving a subpoena to visit the
District Attorneys Office. was ques-
toned at length yesterday by District
Attorney Swami and by Assistant Dis
trict Attorneys Black and Kilroe. He
said he had been in politics for thirty
eight years, and was Tammany
leader until he had falling out with
"Boss" Croker. lie said he had sort
of rowing commission from the City
Democracy TO enroll Tammany men
who were on the ragged edge with the
Wigwam He said he did it voluntarily
and without expectation OF reward.
81 often said TO myself that | was
a fool to get back into politics" Steck-
Ter told Mr.. Black, because there is
nothing on earth | can get politically"
"You got something under Gaynor,
didn't you? ~ he was asked.
"My God! That was an honorary
position Courthouse Board)."
How much did IL pay?"
81 think we got $4,000 allowed for
two months by the Appellate Division;
then after that we haven't got a cent
for the last two or three years"
Admits Having a Claim
"But you have claim
"Well-but that was not politics"
"Can you tell me how the so-cAlled
'revolts' from the regular Democratic
organization in New York County were
manipulated by the City Democracy ?"
asked Mr.. Kilroe.
There wasn't any revolt TO be ma
nipuiated. II was a case of lot OF
men who were Tammany Hall men on
the outside the pale Of the organiza-
tion because they became dissatisfied
for some reason or other with the lead
ers, but who were not opposed 20 the
organization. They weren't in sympa-
thy with Tammany district leaders and
wanted to organize and defeat those
leaders"
Steckler said he told Luther b. Little,
the first Mitchell manager, that it would
require 1000 TO organize every AS
sembly District in Manhattan with
headquarters and all overhead ex-
nenSes He said Martin W. Littleton