New-York tribune., 1920-02-12
Murphy Opens
Fight to Depose
Leader Hines
District Deputy's Supporter,
Bernard F. Plunkett, Is
Asked to Resign S3, 900
Place ON Commission
Other Friends See Danger
Quarrel Between Boss and
Aid Embittered by Chiefs
Costly Business Deal

The campaign Of Charles f. Murphy.
leader of Tammany Hall, to oust Lieu
tenant James J. Hines from the Tam
many leadership of the 11th Assembly
District, in West Harlem, has begun.
This fight is sure to be bitter and, while
q district affair now, it may prove
costly to Mr.. Murphy in the councils
Of Che executive committee of Tammanv
Hail.. Not only has Hines, who served
as lieutenant in the motor corps dur
irg the war, many friends in and out
of the district, but it is understood that
the present attack on his leadership by
Mr.. Murphy is a personal and CONNER
cial fight and not altogether political,
like some other efforts by the "boss" to
depose district leaders.
When Lieutenant Hines was in good
standing in Fourteenth Street he was
eompeten. COB getter' for his con-
stituents. Just now it is doubtful if
he could get for man even street
cleaning job. his patronage has been
cut of, and political decapitation has
begun among his supporters who oc-
cupy public berths. One case is that Of
Bernard +. Plunkett, assistant secretary
OF the Public Service Commission, a
$S,600 a year place. Plunkett, who is
chairman of the general committee of
the 11th Assembly District and a stanch
adherent Of Hines, has been notified by
John H. Delaney, Transit Construction
commissioners that his resignation will
pc acceptable. February l5 has been
hxed as good time for him to quit
Plunkett Withholds Resignation
Plunkett has not yet submitted his
resignation, and when he does it is not
likely that the document will be avail
able TO the general public Whatever
explanation was made by his superior
Plunkett was not told that his support
OF lines was responsible for the re-
quest that he get out.
John B. Cumiskey, until recently q
process server III the office of District
Attorney Swami and also g Hines man.
was. advised that his resignation would
be acceptable Cumiskey resigned.
The public jobs are the strength of
a leader when he is in favor and his
weakness when he falls under the dis
pleasure of the powers. In the case
OF Hines, while his enemies are aim
ing. at mis- weak spot just now, it is
declared that his supporters are in the
majority in his district and public Jobs
or no, they will stand by him in the
contest with Boss Murphy. There
are many others of his constituents
who still hold lucrative jobs One of
these is Edwin P. Kilroe, Assistant Dis
trlct Attorney.
Thus far Mr.. Murphy has not indi-
Gated his choice as successor to
lines on the Tammany executive COM
mittee from the 11th District,
Business Dea! Breaks Relations
Hines and his friends foresaw the
present situation before the last cleo
ton. The enmity between Mr.. Murphy
and Lieutenant Hines is the outgrowth
ori tie 100000 suit brought against
the Tammany "boss" and others by
Louis n. Hartog in connection with a
partnership in the manufacture of a
compound in which Mr.. Murphy made
an unsatisfactory investment The &C
ton concerns an alleged corner on glu-
cose, which Mr.. Hartog asserts that
Mr.. Murphy. and some associates OBJ
tanned to the plaintiffs great damage
Mr.: Murphy has made a general de-
NAL and has brought counter suit to
recover what he invested.
Mr.. Hartog is friend of Lieutenant
Hines. 1t was the latter who intro
duced Hartog to Murphy In the con-
troversy that resulted from the CO.
partnership. Hines stood by his friend
and against his political chieftain
That is the personal element that en-
ters into the fight on Hines.
II wouldn't stand for friend of
mine getting the worst of a deal if I
could help it," Hines is quoted as say
ing.