New-York tribune., 1918-05-03


recently said that the strongest recon-
mendation for man whom the Mayor
contemplated appointing to public
Office was to be generally attacked
"The more man is kicked and
condemned the stronger the Mayor
is for him." said the official; "that's
his way"
The comment was made in regard to
the appointment Of Joseph A. Solovei
as Assistant Corporation Counsel in
charge of the Bureau of Street Open
ings in Brooklyn, which was vigorously
opposed and criticised. The comment
was not made in spirit Of criticism
of the Mayor, but to illustrate his ex-
treme loyalty to his friends despite
what the public may think of them.
Mayor Appoints Relatives
That the Mayor has "stuck to his
fricnds' in the matter of city patron
age Is clearly shown in the long list
Of personal appointments he has made.
He has even gone further than mere
friendship and given lucrative posi-
tions to several of his relatives and to
friends of his relatives There are
about forty such positions, ranging
from commissionerships to stenog-
raphers, among the Mayors appoint
ments, which are generally credited to
personal favor. The salaries of the
incumbents aggregate nearly 100000
a wear. And that is probably not all
of them.
The charge was recently made that
the Mayor was trying TO make .1amlly
party" out of all the city departments.
Local political leaders, however, see an
effort to build up q political organiza-
ton of his own in the city government
which, when perfected, would be use
full to his own political advancement
and that of W. R. Hearst.
Tammany Leaders Worried
Tammany leaders are beginning to
look with concern upon the strides the
Mayor is making in that direction.
There is little outspoken criticism of
the Mayors personal appointments In
Tammany circles because the Tammany
organization has been pretty we'll taken
care Of in patronage. Mr.. Murphy re-
Gently expressed his satisfaction with
the Hylan administration so far. New
ertheless, the anxiety among the Tam
many leaders is growing.
There isn't Tammany leader at this
time, including Chief Murphy, whom
the political observers would credit
with q real desire to see Mr.. Hearst
cratic ticket this fall. There are no
leaders among them, Judging from the
comment of those who have openly ex-
pressed their convictions, who bs.ieve
that Mr.. Hearst could be elected Gov
crnor. Yet the shadow of the Hearst
candidacy, fostered by IIearst-Hylan
machine, hangs over them.
The fact that to all appearances Mr..
Murphy and Mayor Hylan are satisfied
more ominous. The Tammany leaders
find it hard TO credit "The Chief" with
any warm political affection for Hearst.
They admit that if any Murphy Hearst
Hylan combination should come out of
the future in the state situation it
would be clear case of Hearst being
thrust upon the organization. The in
dications that the Mayor is intrendh-
ing himself in the city government pre-
paratory to fight for Hearst for Gov
ernor, while placating the organization
WIN good snare OIL city appointments,
is most disquieting to those leaders
who don't want to swallow Hearst.
There is always in the background
the possibility Of an open split be-
tween the Mayor and Leader Murphy.
If that should come what chance has
Tammany Of clecting its own candidate
in the face of strongly organized
local Hearst-Hylan machine? That is
II question some of the Tammany Lead
ers are asking. Tfc continued policy
OF "personal apps. ,tments" by the