New-York tribune., 1918-08-08
Failure of Subway I'll" Sys-
tenn Laid to Absence of
Competent Men
Tells of Polls "Plot"
Sees in Candidacy of Heacock
Attempt to "Shelve"
Schoeneck


for the Republican nomination for Gov
ernor against Governor Whitman, made
double -barrelled attack on the Gov
ernor yesterday.
Mr.. Lewis charged the Public Service
Commission with incompetency, assert
ING that the present commission IS
merely political machine; that the
work is left to subordinates, resulting
~ confusion and confessed failure.
Commenting on the entrance of Seth G..
Heacock. Of llon, into the primary fight
.s a. candidate for Lieutenant Governor,
the Attorney General said it looked to
him as if the Governor was getting
ready to throw over Edward Schoeneck,
the Whitman candidate.
The amentable conditions disclosed
when the Public Service Commission
undertook to put the H system into
operation served to emphasize and
drive home TO the public the complete
generalization of the commission for
the First District" said MIR. Lewis.
Governor Whitman had his oppor-
pie of New York City. He had it
within his power to form a commission
which would have been found to be
the equal of the Hughes Commission.
He did not do it. He needed men VINO
could deliver votes in the primaries,
men who could be devoted to his per-
sonal fortunes. One or two of his ap-
pointments were ideal. The present
commission, however, is merely a po-
litical machine. The chief object of
the members appears to be to promote
= - re
idential aspirations. The subway con-
struction work has been left to sub
orinates. and has not received the at
tention which its Importance demanded.
The result has been confusion, dis
comfort and confessed failure.
The people of New York City who
have been discommoded and subjected
10 more or less physical injury have
Governor Whitman's ambitions tor re-
nomination and ultimate election to the
Presidency to thank for such discom-
fort and injury. Politics and business
do not 90 we'll together. In the Whit
man administration Politics is su-
preme.
When Governor Whitman's attention
vas called to the attack by the Attor
ney General. he said:
''The members of the present COM
mission were appointed long after the
plans for the H system were adopted.
Judge Mccall was chairman of the
Board when the plans were adopted
and contracts let. The present COM
mission had nothing to do with the de-
signing of the plans"
When the statement Of Mr.. Lewis
was brought to the attention of F. j. H.
Kracke, Public Service Commissioner,
Mr.. Kracke said:
The value and effectiveness OF the
work have been doing by devoting my
time and thought unreservedly to the
duties OF the Public Service Comrnis
sion | shall leave to others than Mr..
Lewis or myself to determine. But
do deeply deplore the fact that Mr..
Lewis, who has a reputation as care
ful and pains-aking lawyer, should de-
part from the safe method of basing
his statements on actual facts.
The candidate from Rochester has
made cheap and silly attempt to cap
talize, for his own personal political
benefit New York City's great transit
problem. TO the relief and solution Of
which every newspaper reporter who
follows the work of the commission
knows have been giving my tine day
and night. Is it the imminence of de-
teat that makes the gentleman from
Rochester play the demagogue
NoliuleHtlHg on the cOmpllcdtlOn or
the Republican situation by the en-
trance Of ex-senator Seth G. Hea-
cock into the primary fight, the Attor-
ney General said:
The morning papers speak Of a
threatened break in the Whitman
slate and refer to the filing of primary
petitions by former Senator Heacocx
i DO not regard this as an attack
on the Whitman slate. 1t looks to
NE more like the dark lantern meth
DDS of the Whitman machine. Months
ago 1t was understood in Albany that
CHAIRMAN Glynn suggested to Lieuten-
ant Governor Schoeneck that because
OF his German name his candidacy
might be embarrassing to the Cover
nor. Schoenck could not see the point.
When the Lieutenant Governor an
nounced his candidacy for renomina-
ton he announced that he would sup
port Governor Whitman. The Cover
nor, Of course. did not dare to repudi-
ate Schoeneck, fearing the loss of the
support OF Schoenck's friends, partic-
Wariy in Onondaga County.
The antagonism of Glynn toward
Ss,choeneck is greater than his courage.
ne does not dare attack Schoeneck
openly, but, employing his usual sub
terranean method, he doubtless has
induced Heacock to become a candi-
date. .