New-York tribune., 1922-08-01
Pair in Auto Trailed
George Colgan to Ex-
Governors Home and
Official Was Ousted
Pay Roll TRAITORS"
All Being Watched
Mayor Pleads Innocence,
but Editors Friend Is
Rushed Into the Job

lnOIouBHly OIEdhlltu pPs osoNNHi
with secret agents u every department
Of the city government, was said last
night to have been largely responsible
for the sudden removal OF George a.
Colgan. friend and political supporter
Of Ex-Governor Alfred L. Smith, as
Deputy Commissioner OF Markets.
Two Of the spies trailed Mr.. Colgan
and a friend, prominent Brooklyn
physician, to the summer home Of ex-
Governor Smith, at Sea Girt, last
Wednesday night. Both Mr.. Colgan
and his companion observed the spies
as they pursued them In a big blacs
automobile from Mr.. Coigan's home, in
Jay. Street. Brooklyn. Attempts 20
shake OF the trailing car failed, and
when the Colgan car came TO a stop in
front OF the Smith home the SPY car
stopped dead a short distance behind.
Mr.. Cogan's friends said yesterday
that this visit 10 Mr.. Smiths house, as
much as his refusal to campaign up
state on behalf OF William Randolph
Hearst, was responsible for the orders
which Topped Of Mr. COlgan's official
head.
other "Treasonable" Leaders
Friends of both Mr.. Smith and Mr..
Colgan said yesterday that the appoint
ment Of Edward 7. 0Loughlin, editor
Of the Brooklyn section Of Hearst's
Evening Journal" was intended 20
emphasize that IL was the intention Of
Mayor Hylan 10 remove oil appointive
city employees who dared TO oppose the
editor politicians gubernatorial ambi-
tions.
II was said yesterday that the reports
OF the political spies Il the Hearst
Hylan machine revealed that a vast
number Of the DerlJcratie leaCers who
are holding jobs under Mayor Hylan
had also been guilty of the high crime
of working for Nr. Smiths nomination.
The dismissal OF Mr.. Colgan created
such a sentiment OF revolt among the
important Democrats holding office in
the city administration that friends OF
Mayor Hylan yesterdaT persuaded him
that he ought 10 take some steps 20
prevent the revolt from assuming
threatening proportions.
Hylan's Denial Vague
Mayor Hylan accordingly Issued a
statement in which he said:
AT no time have exercised per.
sonal or official pressure or used
threats or intimidation for the pur-
pose Of influencing or controlling the
Judgment Of any municipal official on
behalf Of my candidate for the Gov
ern norship."
Nowhere In his statement Ni5 she
Mayor mention Mr.. Colgan's mime, or
directly refer TO the case. Most q the
declarations Of Mr.. Hylan were &C The
effect that newspapers hostile &c him
and Mr.. Hearst were trying 20 create
division in the Democratic party.
Market Commissioner 0Malley m1de
public q copy Of his letter firing NJ.
Colgan. II read:
Pursuant 10 our conversation, ! re-
rret exceedingly that your personal
business is Of such nature as TO take
up a great deal Of your time which
YOU ought TO give to the city's business
and that, therefore, your connection
will cease at the close Of business this
day"
This letter caused considerable
amusement, as most Of Mayor Hylan's
cfOnleS WHOU Ht UlaNtu va VIZ - '
pay roll-including departmental heads
are in private business. And others
are devoting their time 20 campaigning
here and upstate for Mr.. Hearst.
Others Have Private Business
II is only a short time since Fire
Commissioner Thomas j. brennan
opened a real estate Office. But Mr.
brennan did not come out against Mr..
Hearst, as did Mr.. Colgan. Dock Com
missioner John II. Delaney is in the
glass manufacturing business. Murray
Hubert, president Of the Board OF
Aldermen, who acts as Mayor when
Mr.. Hylan goes TO Palm Beach, opened
a law Office after he was sworn in as
the second ranking official OF the city.
Borough President Edward Riegelmann
also opened private law office re-
| Gently.
Buffalo papers which reached this
city yesterday showed that somebody
is paying for full page and half page
advertisements urging the nomination
Of Mr.. Hearst. The appeal is signed
by "The Executive Committee for the
Nomination Of William Randolph
! Hearst"
Just who or what the organization
in question Is no one in this c'.y could
say yesterday.