San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-14
Mayor RACE
Reported Harrigan Dissatis-
fled With Part Of Blacks
Lineup.
FEEL OUT" EMPLOYEES
Names of Some of Street De-
partment Removed From
Payroll.
Feel OUT" EMPLOYEES

Mayor o. B. Black, if he stands for
reelection as San Antonio's chief ex-
ccutive next spring, must change his
present lineup if he expects to re-
ceive the solid support of the employees
in the street department This was
indicated Saturday when il was learned
that City Engineer u. ID. Harrigan and
those employees who are directly under
him, will not support the mayor if he
persists in lining up with certain fac
lion which is now supporting him. In
fact, it is reported that the city en-
gineer's views have been made known
to the mayor.
1t is further reported that the city
engineer does not approve of keeping
certain men on the pay roll either in the
executive or street department who are
not essential to the proper operation of
these departments. The city engineer,
it is reported, believes there are a num-
Der of these men now on the pay rolls.
The chief objection of the city en-
gineer, however, it is understood, is TO
the mayors lining up with certain men
who, he claims have been a handicap to
the city's chief executive during his en-
tire term OF office. MIR. Harrigan be-
lieyes, it is understood, that such action
would mean the mayors defeat. The
city engineer also is understood to en-
terrain the same attitude toward Street
Commissioner William o. Rieden.
Feeling Out" Employees.
One incident which is said to have
occurred only recently, indicates the
tense situation which faces the Black
faction in the city administration. The
mayor, it is said, has become convinced
during the last few weeks that he is
very strong politically and that he can
win easily. At the same time, however,
he would strengthen that strength. With
this end in view, it has become the GUS
tom to feel out" the various employees
in order to ascertain how they stand.
Are your for the mayor" is said TO
be the question most frequently asked
at the city hall rowadays. And This
question, it is reported, is not always
answered in the affirmative.
For the city engineer, by his close at
tention 10 business and his refusal to
be dictated to by political advisers, has
made quite a number of friends in the
street department. These men, natur-
ally, ask, what is his lineup" and
"is he in sympathy with the city en-
gineer?"
IF he is not" many are reported
to have said, I'VE are not with him,
but are with Mr.. Harrigan."
Two such replies are said to have
reached the mayors ears. Forthwith
the men are said to have been stricken
from the pay roll. One Of these men,
according TO reports, went direct to the
mayor for an explanation. The mayor
at first, it is said, disclaimed any
knowledge of the case.
But the pay roll bears the inscrip-
ton in red ink" the man is said to
have reminded the mayor, left off by
orders of the mayor
The mayor is said to have suddenly
remembered, and remembered further
that the men "had been employed with
out his consent" The city engineer is
understood to have arranged for the
men to get their money.
Rieden Much Perturbed.
Commissioner Rieden is said to have
become very much perturbed over the
be subservient to the will of the mayor,
yet does not care to risk losing the
support of the city engineer. For this
reason he has refrained from pub
licly announcing where he stands in
the matter
So far Mr.. Harrigan has refrained
from disclosing his views with regard
to the mayoralty race. 1t is known that
he is not now considering running, but
it is also known that if the mayor at
tempts to ride into office on the achieve
mcnts of the street department, that the
city engineer may take a hand and let
the public know who is actually respon-
sible for the work that has been done
in that department. 1t is known fur
Their that a number Of influential men
are urging the city engineer to make
the race. So far he is understood TO
have turned a deaf ear to these solicita-
tons.
One man, strong politically, is said
TO have informed the mayor that he
only on three conditions, first, that he