The sun., 1919-09-29
TAMMANY WILL
FIGHT HYLAN ON
BOWLING PLACE
Borough Presidents Two
Votes Would Be Check on
Hearst Coterie.
SILENCE IN THE WIGWAM
Gov. Smith Expected to Take
Hand in Naming Right
Man for Vacancy.

The election Of President Of the
Borough OF Manhattan to succeed the
late Frank L. Bowling is likely to de-
velop into an acrimonious fight that
win leave no room for speculation
about the width and depth of the split
between Tammany and William Ran
dolph Hearst.
The President OF the Borough OF
Manhattan has two votes on the Board
OF Estimate and Apportionment. Mr..
Dowling's use Of these two votes was
often such as to act as a balance to
the Hearst Hyian combination. He
enA Robert l.. Moran, President Of the
Beard Of Aldermen, who has three
votes on the Board of Estimate, made
the latter board safe for Tammany
Democracy whenever the Mayor and
Comptroller Craig. each equipped with
three votes, seemed prone to run away
with things.
But IL the Hearst-Hylan forces can
slect an amenable successor to Mr..
Bowling there will be eight sure votes
to figure upon in traction and other
fights where before there were but six.
Board Of Estimate.
The likelihood Of Just such a fight
may explain the utter silence with which
Tammany leaders are meeting all ques-
tons regarding Mr.. Dowling's successor.
II 10 Just possible that there are politi-
clans in Fourteenth street who know
who will succeed Mr.. Bowling. and there
may be some Manhattan members of the
Board of Aldermen who know for whom
Z they Will vote when they meet for that
purpose at the end of this or the be-
ginning O. next week. Ordinarily there
are a dozen names in the air when such
mid-term vacancies are to be filed. But
yesterday rumors and booms were
noticeably absent.
Question of Tammany's Faith.
Despite the fact that the Mayor has
been most conciliatory of late in his
attitude toward Tammany Hall, it is
considerable question whether his favors
have reestablished him to the extent
that Tammany leaders implicitly trust
him. The uncertainty Of Mr.. Hearst
always and the undeniable affection of the
Mayor for the publisher-politician is not
likely to inspire Tammany leaders trust
mgiy to deposit two erstwhile regular
votes In the hands of Hearst and Hylan.
1t may develop of course that no fight
will ensue (; that things will be fixed up
nicely and unity. peace and concord will
reign in triumvirate solidity. Put
Mayor Hylan's frequent impulses toward
Mr.. Hearst have not ELECTED prolonged
phaara from Ero,trtaanfh
Ever since Tammany Hall rejected
Judge Newburger and Hearst rallied to
the Justices aid, Tammany has been as
surfing the citizens that all Is peace
within its fold and that Mr. Hearst was
not really angry. But the perverse Mr..
Hearst's editorial columns and news
stories discount the sincerity OF these
assurances Mr.. Hearst still haunts
banners Of political independence and
any misfortune that can befall Tam
many is so much grist to his mill.
Certainly Gov. Smith. who doesn't
come very far from the real leadership
OF Tammany Hall, has no love for the
Hearst Hylan faction. The Governor,
friend of Public Service Commissioner
Nixon. who abolished free transfers and
fsvors increased traction fares where
running expenses demand them, is not
going to applaud the election of
Hearst-Hylan borough president And
It may be accepted as certain that the
eight and ten cent fare forces within
Tammany Hall are not going to invite
defeat.
May he a Fight for Control.
Aside from the traction question the
election OF Mr.. Dowling's successor may
resolve itself into an out ana out night
for control. 1t may be the advance
guard sidrmish in a general fight for
the majority vote of the Board of Esti-
mate between Hearst and Tammany,
with Mayor Hylan running true to form.
Mr.. Bowling will be buried tomorrow
morning. Albert f. Hull, secretary Of
the Borough of Manhattan and a per-
sonal as well as political friend of Mr.
Bowling, is in active charge of tine flu
neral. Mr.. Hull, while not seriously
considered for the Borough Presidency,
probably knows more about that involved
Office than any other man In Manhattan.
Around at Frank Goodwin's club in
West Twenty-fifth street. last night,
there was some brief talk about Hulrs
prospects. but II was the overwhelming
between you and me- opinion that Mr..
Hulrs chances were wholly negligible
Michael F. Loughman, COMMISSIONS OF
Public Works and ex officio acting Bor-
ough President, L. conceded no chance
also.
Whether Representative Thomas r.
Smith would consider the Job is entirely
conjectural and apparently unlikely. The
possibility OF the place leading to the
Mayoralty Is thought to be the only in
ducement that would cause Mr. Smith to
entertain the idea