The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-10-24

The Republicans never give Flynn trouble. The Republican county chairman has bsen since 1910 the $6 ,000 Commissioner of Records for the Bronx Surrogate's Court, a po- sition from which he could be busted at any time Boss Flynn chose. Republican candidates. never take many votes from Hymns designees. When the American Laborites or City Fusionists or independent Democrats combine with Republi- cans elsewhere to beat Tammany, Bronx Republicans usually have their own slate, which splits the arl- ti-Flynn vote and permits his can- didateS to win.
 KEEPS FREE
 FROM SCANDAL
 No hint of personal scandal ever has besmirched Boss Flynn. The Seabury investigation left Flynn un- scathed.
 Nevertheless, he has grown pow erful and wealthy. He has delivered the Bronx to Tammany, and Tam many has delivered the jobs to Flynn.
 Out of this set-up Flynn has profited and Tammany has profit ed. Nevertheless, Boss Flynn did break at long last from Tammany domination.
 In 1892 Tammany backed Al Smith for president. Flynn was smarter. For almost four years he had been secretary of state for Franklin D: Roosevelt at $12000 a year. The duties. seldom required more than a day week. He never even pretended that they took more than three.
 Every Monday night he came down to the Bronx. He spent Tues day, Wednesday and Thursday at county headquarters and was back in Albany Friday. He had been sig ing up the situation. He backed Roosevelt.
 This split was only on the pres idency. Notwithstanding the sor- did disclosures of the Seabury in- vestigation, Boss Flynn did not sever his working connections on local matters at that time.
 Reform groups twice tried to per- suade Joseph V. Mckee. Flynn's pal for whom he had obtained the luc- rative aldermanic presidency, to run for mayor. Twice Flynn declined to split with Tammany, even to back his buddy and obtain the mayoralty for his borough. Mckee refused to run, and took $50.000 year bank ing job.
 Fiorello La Guardia was nominat- ed by the reform groups and began making monkey out of Tammany's puppet mayor, John P. O'Brien. Every political straw showed that Tammany was impotent and that La Guardia, an established liberal of proven integrity and courage, would win.
 FLYNN TURNS
 REFORMER
 Then, and only then = when the Tigers fangs were drawn and his claws cut to the quick = did Boss Flynn become Reformer Edward Joe seph Flynn.
 His courage became leonine, his audacity supreme. He badgered Me- Kee into running for mayor. He ob- tained the discreet but effective support of President Roosevelt.
 It was his chance to become boss of New York City, and he grabbed 1t. By coincidence. if it was that, his friend the president had made him regional public works admin istrator for New York, New eJrsey and Pennsylvania, in charge of work relief projects under the first s. 300, ,0000 900 program. By coincidence, if again it was that, positions in the emergency relief structure were not filled until Administrator Flynn knew how applicants stood on Hymns blitzkrieg against Tammarly.
 With all the presidents help, Mo- Kee lost. That was too bad. But Boss Flynn won, and that was good. Out of the apparent fiasco he emerged dictator of Democratic poi- itics in New York, dispenser extra ordinary of federal patronage. breaker and maker Of county lead- CTS.
 Throughout the length and breadth of New York state there isl no county leader who is not Ed