New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-12
A CONFERENCE IN BROOkLYN n
REPUBLICAN LEADERS MEET.
CALLED TOGETHER BY THE INVITATION OF
FRANCIS II. WILSON.
HE MAKES A CANDID STATEMENT OF HIS POSI-
TION WITH REGARD TO THE NOMINATION
FOR MAYOR-HIs PATRIOTIC COURSE
COMMENDED.


COMMENDED.
Francis II. Wilson, who has been prominently
mentioned for several months probable
Republican candidate for Mayor of Brooklyn
and who is known to be strongly favored by
the newer and younger elements OF the party,
has met with some opposition and criticism
from few of the older leaders. He has adopted
the unusual course Of summoning council OF
prominent men in his party and submitting
the question to them whether he should re-
main a candidate before the convention, or
whether they could unite better or more
available man whom the organization would
support He invited $50 Republicans to met him
at the Rooms of the Brooklyn Young Republi-
can Club last evening There a very large
attendance and great interest manifested
in the proceedings
MR.. WILSON'S SPEECH.
General Stewart L. Woodford was nominated
as the presiding officer and T. G. Bragdon
was made secretary Mr.. Wilson then read
from manuscript the following address.
My first duty, gentlemen. is to thank you for the
compliment Of this large and distinguished gather
ing. Political committees to be much the
thing Just now that l concluded to get up
political committee myself. We have committees
OF tens committees of hundreds. independent
mittees and committees that would like to be in
dependencies many that 1t Is impossible to keep
them all in mind
The citizens of this unfortunate city to have
been swung through almost every sign of the
political zodiac in search of a power to nominate
a candidate for Mayor, but they have not. yet.
as II TO me, passed under the influence of
that political constellation, the authorized repre-
sentative of the party which under its present
liberal plan Of organization has power to control
this matter. which ought to control II. and which
trust will insist upon lawful but public-spirited
exercise of its power. / mean the Republican City
Convention.
As all of you are doubtless aware my name has
come prominently before the citizens Of Brooklyn
as probable candidate for that very honorable
and very responsible office and it is for this reason
that have felt called upon to ask you. as repre-
sentative citizens, holding the widest variety Of
opinions, and anxious that no mistake should be
made in the selection OF a candidate. TO meet with
me this evening. that we may deal frankly with
this question, and determine the course most con-
ducive TO the success Of the party and the re-
demption of the city from misrule irrespective OF
the personal interests of myself or any other in
dividual Let us. far-mnded citizens, review
the situation with an eye single to the best in
terests Of the Republican party. In the success OF
which as / believe, rest the best interests OF the
city Of Brooklyn
THE WISH OF THE MAJORITY.
While am in no way personally guilty Of the
offence Of seeking the Office of Mayor or OF de-
string to hold IT, and have in all my previous
record permitted my character to suffer from
desire 10 serve my fellow citizens in public Office
and while have no desire now that they should
suffer from such affiicton, find myself In the
postion Of the wicked ofiice-seeker. and II cor
recty informed Of the feeling Of the delegates
with a substantial majority OF them likely 10
favor my nomination. If such be the case, this
state of things exists without wish expressed or
implied on my part. but by the connivance and
conspiracy of the voters in the majority or tiS
election district organizations, to which you all
] trust belong. and 10 which also trust you nave
discharged that first duty Of a citizen-that duty
that begins at the primary and not at the polls |
To the mere outsider. unacquainted with the |
mysteries Of Brooklyn politics. it might seem as
II the representatives of these GAS district or |
ganizations. In which every Republican Is Tree 10 |
be heard. might be fully competent when in con-
vention assembled to perform the duties Win
which they charged without the assistance
Of any committee called together by me or any
other citizen: but We who more familiar with
our local affairs. know how very erroneous such
q conclusion would be.
1t is discouraging feature of this new organiza-
ton Of the party that has attempted TO make the
discharge Of first civic duty easy that 1t mas
brought to our very door the primary meeting. that
was intended TO place in the hands Of the people
the control Of the party and the nominating OF It's
candidates. If the first workings Of this new
orsanization are TO bring forward a candidate for
the highest Office at a time like this who Is to be
thought the creation Of political "boss and for
that reason a dead weight upon the canvass.
Reports that such is the present situation are
not as some suppose. confined TO few members
OF the party who have passed the greater portion
of their political lives in the commssary depart
ment OF the Republican party. They have affected
hundreds OF our citizens who honestly and earnestly
desire TO see this city rescued from its present
-ha hay rnD1 hH nix n
Nestors in the councils of party by the burdens
they have borne. and by the they
their badges of honorable public service.
DEMOCRATIC REPORT
The statement has been widely circulated In some
of the Democratic papers that Mr. Jacob Worth Is
the real master Of this reorganized Republican
party and that l. in my simple. untutored in
nocence, am brought forward as a candidate sub
servient him These dsinterested Democratic
advisers o Republicans extremely fearful that
for this reason ! might not MAKE s1 strong can,
might impair my usefulness to the city. Many Re-
dex of opinions have become extremely anxious
that ! should state whether or not am really
II has never been my habit to answer personal
Se arnd ID o Re RS injury OF the % Repucam par
or become an embarrassment in the efforts of all
slander. Fisher Ames once said that SANDER would
travel round the globe while truth was putting on
his boots Such being the case, II has always ,
seemed the wiscst course to stand your |
ground until heet-footed slander completes the |
circuit and then stamp 1t out where II started
Personally have little faith in public denials OF
this character. but feel that should answer this
charge in justice to others. rather than in justice
10 myself.
l not only have not made, but have not even been
asked by Mr. Worth, any man, TO make
any pledge promise. either directly or by i'm
plicaton; but this fear OF subserviency is not the
real trouble among those with whom the circua- !
lion of this sander originated. The bugbear Of
boss rule In party. IL is true troubles large
1umber Of Republicans who take little active part |
n political affairs but our real trouble is petty
ealousies. From these jeaousies come the most
effective weapons turned against us by political
opponents
x prominent member of the National Committee
aid to me last fall: "Mr Wilson. If the Republi-
an leaders of Maine should act prominent Re
,Iblicans Of Kings County act we should have
10 Republican party In the State OF Maine" n
JEALOUsIEs ARE TO BLAME. I
The jealousies petty ambitions and personal char
Icter Of politics the ruin of party in