New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-24
A SHARP REPLY TO HEWITT
PURRoY AND CROKER ON PERNICIoUs AC-
TIyITY.r
sECEssIoNs FROM THE COUNTY DEMOCRACY
INCREASING RAPIDLY-MR HEwIrTs oITI'

sEoEssIoNs FROM THE COUNTY DEMOCRACY
INCREASING RAPIDLY-MR HEwIrTs oITI.
zENs HAVE DIFFICULTY IN GETTING
UP MAssMEETING.
The letter of Mayor Hewitt taking Fire Com
missioners Croker and Purroy to task for " Of
fensve partisanshipr and "pernicious activity
in supporting Grant for Mayor and opposing the
present incumbent of the Mayors chair which
was given in full in yesterdays Tribune, has met
with sharp and spicy reply. The accused com
missioners sent Mr.. Hewitt the following ictter
last evening:
New.York. Oct 2s 1888.
Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, Mayor.
Dear Sir: The Fire Commissioners have directed 'he
respectful acknowledgements Of their receipt To-Day Oh
your letter OF October 90. 1888, which had previously
appeared in the newspapers OF this city
A thorough investigation OF the complaint made by MI
Thurbcr has been ordered made by the Chief OF the
Fire Department. personally and 1t reveals any violation
whatever the important rule governing the action OF
the uniformed force. which. as you state the fre com-
mlssioners promulgated months ago. or OF any
rule. charges will be preferred and proper
action thereon will be promptly taken
As TO your adverse criticisms in regard 10 the particl
patton Of Mr. Purroy and Mr. Croker, as citizens In
nominating convention the Fire Commissioners respectfully
submit that they somewhat surprised at the views now
expressed them by you but they will give these views
all consideration TO which they may be entitled ana
WILL II able to conscientcusly concur in your opinions
communicate further with you.
From the fact however in October. 1885, at the
house Hon. Edward Cooper you approvingly re-
ccived from Purroy then President OF the Board OF
Fire Commlssoncrs), acting chairman OF subcommit
tee County Democracy Convention the nomihauo"
for the ONCE which you now hold that at apou. .no ~
you thankfully accepted from Mr. Croker theh Fire |onr
missioner and rcappolnd by YOU and Others the
Tammany nomination the Office that last fa you
yourself while Mayor performed such vigorous ana CT
fectve work against the citizens nominee Tor Distcr
Attarney, Mr. DE Lanccy Nlcoll ana that during TINS
very month you again accepted your denomination
from County Democracy Convention made up OF Police
Justices Civil Justices Commissioners Of Police Public
Works Cleaning Accounts and other city depart
mentsfrom all these facts and others now not necessary
10 mention, the Fire Commissioners fell innocently INTO
the mistake imagining that you considered that political
activity very essential to the proper performance OF
the duties OF all American citizens Very respectfully
HENRY d. PURROY,
RICHARD CROKER, r
Commissioners New.York Fire Department
Those Republicans who imagine that the race
is btwecn Mayor Hewitt and Sheriff Grant, ana
who think of turning from Colonel Erhardt to
Mr. Hewitt because they think their own nominee
has no chance would do well to make a fresh OBJ
servation and calculate anew the bearings OF the
canvass The rapid dsintegration of the County
Democracy and the dcScrtion Of Mr. Hewitt nv
the rank and file of that organization to Grant
and Tammany Hall are among the things now
occurring which show that Mr. Hewitt is faliing
behind in the contest and that he can no longer
be considered among the possible winhers.
careful survey of the field must satisfy hepupIi-
cans who will not blindly turn away from the
facts that the battle is between Colonel Erhardt
and the Tammany Hall candidate. Among these
events is the withdrawal of Alderman John
Murray, Of the XIXth District, from tho County
Democracy. The Alderman sent his letter OF
resignation to Police Justice and Boss Power
at the New-Amsterdam Club yesterday lie has
heard, he says that the Bosss' faction Is thinK-
ing of renominating him for Alderman, and he
hastcns" to request them not to do It, lie says:
When a member OF a political organization becomes
aware that the affairs thereof have been conducted In
s,ch manner widespread distrus through
the rank and file members and that decentralization
threatens existence is time for him to pause before
tying up his with cause that evidently contains
within itself the germs speedy decay and already feels
the blight that is darkenng its way to the grave
1t Is not for point out the causes which have
brought undesirable Of things Sufice
for to know that such is the case, and that most
unfortunate combination Of circumstances has engendered
OF the County Democracy OF this district
peryading of dissatisfaction. demoralized state OF
feeling conspicuous absence OF harmony and co-opera
ton which, II they do threaten its speedy dissolution
least Enthusiastically impair It's influence ana stuly us
potency for good
Boss Power also received the following
yesterday from the With Assembly District;
We the undersigned members Of the Newiork County |
Democracy Of the With District have read the letter Of
our chairman Dr. Philip r. DOnlin in which he resigns |
from the organic alton, and approve It's sentiments
As we cannot therefore, support Abram S. Hewitt for
Mayor hereby resign, and will give our best efforts
Cleveland and Hill and for Hugh j. Grant for Mayor
This letter is signed by c. j. Francisons, A. j. |
Kennedy, William Dix, j. w Cunningham. j. i |
Ebbctts, James Gimarin, p. kilan, John j.
Fallon. W. c. .Quigley, Charles H. Carlin, John j.
Dwycr, and Louis II. Muller, secretary OF the |
District Association, and l0i Others.
A similar letter was sent TO Mr. Power yester-
day from the County Democracy OF the iVth
Assembly District, refusing TO support Hewitt and
declaring for Grant, signed by Patrick hoche, |
Thomas Radley and thrty-eight others. ,
The Hewitt Citizens Executive Commlttee held
a meeting at the headquarters III the Hotel Bar
ihold last evening to arrange for ratlhcaton
meeting The reports received could not have
been encouraging, for instead OF ixlng lhe daie
and announcing strong list Of speakers, tne whoe
matter was turned over to q subcommittee. IL
was rumored that the sangulne ones among inc
members had their blood chilled with Information
take an active part for the Mayor had discovered
that his chances were on the wane, ana hi'u de-
dared their intention to support their own nominee.
Several subcommittee were appointed, ana IL was
given out that 81 ZOO in voluntary contrlbu-
lions" had been secured. How much OF TINS came
from Mr. Hewitt himself was not stated. - When
the mass-meetng takes place if it does, Colonel
ohm H. Fellows. whose simple, Christian life
VAS certified to by the Mayor last year, is ex-
expected 10 take a lcadlHS part
MANY PROMISES BY SHERIFF GRANT
he SAYS HE WILL LET PERSONAL FRIENDSHIPS
GO IF ONLY HE MAY SUCCEED
MAYOR HEWITT
Hugh J. Grants letter accepting the Tammany
Hall nomination for Mayor given ont from his
,cadqnarters I'm the Union Square Hotel last even
ny. After referring to the gravity and importance
Il the position Grant declares I'm favor of souhu
municipal adminlstra on, conducted upon broad ana
lbcral principles and such will provide Tor the