New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-14
REVOLT AGAINST WILLIS.
HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE FIRST WARD OF
BROOKLYN TO BE CONTESTED.
REPUBLICANS REJECT HIS INTERPRETATION OF
HIS STATEMENT. AND COLONEL NORMAN g.
Dixie LEADS THE OPPOSITION
AvowED ANTr-PLATT MEN
SUPPORTING HIM.

AVOwED ANTr-PLATT MEN
SUPPORTING HIM.
Brooklyn Republicans have refused to accept
Commissioner Williss Interpretation OF the
statement which he issned Thursday. and a
rebellion against his leadership In the First
Ward has already been started as a consequence
OF the general belief that Mr. Willis has de-
serted Seth Low. Colonel Norman s. Dixie de-
clared yesterday his intention OF leading a fight
against Mr.. Willis in the First Ward and James
McKeon. president Of the Hamilton Club: Fran
els L. Eames president OF the New-York stock
Exchange. and Colonel Willis l.. ogden. have
announced that they will support Colonel Dixie
in his fight. The enlistment OF Colonel ogden
and Mr.. McKeen in a hght against Mr. Willis
is most significant, because they are known 10
be uncompromising opponents OF Senator Plat.
whose enemies in Brooklyn have for several
years been led by Mr.. Willis. The conclusion Is
that they no longer consider Mr.. Willis an anti
Patt man. and that they intend to replace him
in the ward leadership by an avowed opponent
Of the Senator.
Colonel Dixie said yesterday that he had de.
cided to lead a fight against Mr.. Willis only
after he had been urged to do so by many per-
sons who are not satisfied with Mr.. Willis's
present attitude He had not agreed TO move
nounced his right-about. face on the Mayoraly
question. Then he decided 10 act
FIRST WARD SOLID FOR Low
The First is Low ward. and strongly so"
said Colonel Dixie yesterday. 1T has been
pleased with Mr.. Willis's stand in favor OF Mr.
Low. but it has been astounded to learn that
Willis has deserted the man whom ne has
doomed for three months or more. Willis seems
1onr he RI al me
to be one OF the original Low men in Brooklyn.
that he went into the General Committee one
evening with Low resolution in his pocket, ana
that he has for two months or more been organ
zing Low clubs throughout the ward. lie mas
gained his strength by proclaim.ng himself as a
foe of Platt and when people have come TO him
filled with terror Of Platt he has DraVely sdld.
stand behind me, / Will protect you from MN.
Now If surface indications are correct, ne IS
seeking to ally himself with the man ne mas
always opposed to fight man he has vigorously
Mr. McKeen thinks that Mr.. Willis has with
drawn his support from President Low because
he has found that County Clerk Worth Is ior
Low and is getting much OF the credit Tor 20"
strength in Brooklyn; Mr.. Mehren thar arienus anS
President Lows standing as KepuDNcan aIa
ridicules the idea that Republicans shoud hhu
difficulty in supporting Low because seHrnS 1919
thousand independent voters Intend I" nCiIihdte
him and vote for him also The FIRST Mard, ne
savs is overwhelmingly for Low. ana VIII Nlg"I-
ousy oppose any attempt TO have the vote ot
the ward cast ageinst him in the city coh'"h-
ton.
NEW FEATURE IN HEIGHTS POLITICS.
Mr. Willis has been the undisputed leader OK
the First Ward for a number OF years ihere
has not been a contested primary there or a
struggle for the ward leadership. since the new
marty constitution was adopted. For this reason
ths membership in the district associations -
small and Mr.. Williss power Is correspondents.
great No question like that OF the present
has confronted the ward since Mr. Wits as
sumed its leadership. and contest on II "ouIn
introduce complications which would MAKE pre-
dictions as to the outcome almost Impossible.
WILLIS HURTING HIMSELF.
Ex-Mayor Charles A. Scheren, VINO lives IN
the Twentieth Ward, thinks the Repubhcahs
should take no chances with the men they senh
to the fall conventions, but should make an
woud-be delegates declare their friendship Tor
Low. The ex-Mayor speaks of Mr.. Wills, ana
this is what he says ,,, ,., =, T.,
only a short time ago that he and others OF MS
associates came running over mere WIN ps'l.
tion for Lows nomination for Mayor. saiu AZ
The limo. Gentlemen. why are you all in sucn
hurry? and they replied. We want 10 he
the original Low men in brooklyn. just 'hlnk
of that statement and then the one we rean
Yesterday, I am amazed. Now, what faVor
is tho pledging OF every delegate In every elec-
tion district favorable to Seth Lows nominal
tion Let each district choose a good deleSat"'
and then let the ASSOCIATION Dy l'S"iuti'H
tho, delegate 10 offer his vote for Low. This
talk and this attitude of Mr.. Wills Is gong 10
iniure him very materially in his standing IN
the Republican party. II Low Is the best man.
ard is nominated by the Citizens Union. then
let the Republicans indorse him; but an original
Low man complaining of helpful and healthiui
influences exerted in the candidates behat ~
too much for my understanding repeat again
that Mr. Willis's standing, representing as he
was supposed some OF the best Republicans IN
the city Of Brooklyn, is sure 10 be materially
impaired. - -
hit Of harm TO Mr.. Low in the FIRST Ward he
can't defeat Low there. no matter how hard ne
tries. The people won't let MIN.