New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-02
Mayor Won't
Deny Ordering
Elks Lined Up
Hylan Silent ON CoIgan's
Charge He Was Ousted for
Refusing TO Campaign for
Hearst Among B. p. o. e.
Jolt Stuns City Hall
ENJOYS After Knights of Co.
lumbus and Masonic Votes,
Says the Deposed Official

secretary before leaving City Hall
last night that he would not discuss
the charges made by George A. Colgan
that he had been removed from Office
because he declined to obey the Mayors
order that he organize the Elks of the
state for William Randolph Hearst
for Governor.
Mr.. Colgan, who was Deputy Com
missioner of Markets until he was sup
planted on Thursday last by Edward
/. OLoughlin, editor of the Brooklyn
section Of Hearst's Evening Journal"
also charged that Mayor Hylan was
trying to organize FOR Mr.. Hearst the
Catholics of the state through the
Knights of Columbus and the non
Catholics through the Masons and
other fraternal orders.
Dares Hylan to Deny 1t
mayor Hylan," said Mr.. Colgan,
will not dare to deny my charges"
Mr.. Colgan's statement was issued
from his Offices at 90 William Street,
where, with his son, George A. Colgan
jr., he occupies an entire floor in the
transaction of an insurance business
at is reported in political circles y
Mr.. Colgan was informed, chat what
cauesd Mayor Hylan to remove you
was your statement that you would cut
off your right hand rather than do
anything which would hurt ZAP Smith"
Il did say that l would cut off my
right hand before I would hurt 'Al'
Smith, either by campaigning for Mr.
Hearst or any other act hostile to
Smith," said Mr.. Colgan. 81 have no
doubt that that was carried to the
Mayor. said it so that the City Hall
would not have any Misunderstanding
as to where I stood"
The Colgan charges stunned the
Mayors official family. 1t was said by
Democratic politicians who know what
is going on that the serious accusations
made by Mr.. Colgan are nothing COM
pared to others that soon will be made
public.
1t has been common gossip among
the leaders of the Elks in the state for
some time that Mr. Colgan, who is
prominent in the order, had refused to
organize the fraternity for Mr.. Hearst
There was considerable resentment
among the Elks that any one in the
Hearst-Hylan organization would try
to turn the B. P. 0. Z. into an annex
of the Hearst-Hylan political machine
Bent Was Hylan's Envoy
Mr.. Colgan charged that the Mayors
friend and confidant, Francis P. Bent
who formerly represented the Mayors
home district in the Board of Alder
men, had told him that the Mayor
wanted him to organize the Elks of the
state for Mr., Hearst.
Mr.. Colgan's charges were contained
In statement which he made public
after reading Mayor Hylan's denial
that he had used pressure on city
employees to work for Mr.. Hearst. Mr.
Colgan's statement follows:
"Mayor Hylan in a statement is
quoted in to-day's newspapers as fol
lows:
"tFalse assertions are being made
in hostile newspapers that pressure has
been put upon municipal officials to
favor one candidate or another for
the Governorship or to refrain from
following their own inclinations. A
no time have | exercised personal OF
official pressure or caused threats OIL
intimations to be made for the pur-
pose Of influencing or controlling tht
judgment of any municipal official on
behalf of any candidate for the Gov
ernorship.'
1.-THE Mayor is either In error o,
forgetful. On Wednesday, June Z
1922, I was requested through his rep
resentative, Francis P. Bent, director in
the Board Of Estimate, to call at his
Office in the Municipal Building. l did
After 1 met Mr.. Bent he sad
"'The Mayor has requested me to ask
you to take man along with you ano
go up through the state visiting every
Elk lodge in the interest of William R
Hearst. l know you are prominent in
Brooklyn Lodge, No. %. I want 6
copy of the roster of Brooklyn lodge
and all the other lodges in the state
All your expenses will be paid and youl
time and salary in the market depart.
ment will go on
Refused Point Blank
VI stated to Mr.. Bent:
will not be party to this re
quest because I could not and would
not use the order Of Elks for any such
purpose. I have never done so anc
would not do 80. Also always pay my
own expenses on any trip ever take.
"Mr. Bent replied:
This same request is being made
of others in the Masonic Order, the
Moose and the Knights Of Columbus II
favor of Mr.. Hearst
81 replied:
az don't care what others may do
/ could not be party to such request.
"Mr. Bent then said:
Won't you consider the matte,
further?'
II replied:
"'I'll sleep on IT,
"Mr. Bent then said:
"'It would be to your interest IL you
do not ignore the Mayors request"
Mr.. Bent had private conference
with Mayor Hylan yesterday.
Bent Says It's Untrue
"The Mayor. asked me if I had seer
the Colgan statement he said. "a
told him I had. I also told him thai
there was not word of truth in IT,
Mr.. Bent, in addition to being direc