Page 10
Hylan, or any of his associates who
have been striving to bring about a solution of the traction
problem, to attend.
Those conversant with state and city
politics interpret this action of the Governor as a deliberate
affront, a throwing down of the gauntlet to Hearst and Hylan.
"The war is on,"members of
Tammany Hall asserted.
Quarrel Gradually Grows
The present split in the ranks of the
Democratic party here has been of gradual growth. No love has
ever been lost between Smith and Hylan. It has been no secret
that while Smith was at City Hall as President of the Board of
Aldermen he held the Mayor in little esteem. For some time now
neither has spoken willingly to the other.
Tammany by yesterday's open break
has been placed in a somewhat delicate position. Scores of the
members of the wigwam are holding office under the Hylan
administration. The war is going to make things decidedly
uncomfortable for them
Smith's chief ally, Murphy, has
been unwilling, it is understood, to bring matters to an open
break. Younger men in Tammany Hall, who see in the Governor the
future leader of the organization, have been eager for some
time to begin hostilities against Hylan and Hearst. Now
that these have started, Murphy
will unquestionably support Smith. Hearst will, as undoubtedly
ally himself with the Mayor.
Hearst Support Lukewarm
During Smith's campaign for Governor
the Hearst organs were only lukewarm in their support of him.
They actually joined his banner only after a Hearst
representative had obtained a mild endorsement from Smith of
the Hearst plan for the municipal ownership of all public
utilities.
The Legislature completed its
first session without any display of enthusiasm on the part of
the Governor for Hearst's pet idea. Meanwhile the Hearst papers
were outspoken in their approval of the Hylan admin-
istration., and the Mayor and the publisher were on intimate
terms.
The clouds began to gather when
Governor Smith, disregarding the protests of Hearst, appointed
Robert E. Luce to the Supreme Court bench. Immediately the
Hearst papers opened fire on the Governor with editor- ial and
cartoon, censuring him for the appointment of a former attorney
for the New York Central, and follow- ing up this attack by
lampooning him as a friend of the Milk Trust and the slayer of
babies of the poor who had been deprived of their milk.
Terms of Agreement
On Which Strike Ends
THE TERMS of the agreement under which
the Interborough employes returned to work are:
A flat 25 per cent increase on wages
paid August 1, 1919.
All other demands including that for an
additional 25 per cent wage increase, to be discussed with
officers of the company, and, in the event of failure of such
nego- tiations, to be submitted to arbitration.
All brotherhood employes to be restored
to their posts and to retain their seniority in service.
______________
Smith-Hylan
War Blazes
From Strike
______________
Open Conflict Now On
Between the Governor,
Backed by Murphy, and
Mayor, Aided by Hearst
Between the Governor,
Backed by Murphy, and
Mayor, Aided by Hearst
______________
War between Governor Smith and Mayor
Hylan, which has been brewing for some time, was declared
yesterday. Behind the Governor stands Charles F. Murphy and
most of the rank and file of Tammany Hall. William R. Hearst is
Hylan's ally.
Governor Smith took the step which
constituted a tacit declaration of hostilities. He went to the
Public Service Commission yesterday and conferred with
Commissioner Lewis Nixon on some way to bring about a
settlement of the Interborough strike. He did not ask Mayor
Library of Congress
©2003 The Composing Stack Inc.
©2003 Gregory J. Christiano
Updated January 20 , 2003