New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-06
Mr.. BUTCHER SAYS "NO."
HE REFUSES TO BE CHAIRMAN OF THE
GENERAL COMMITTEE.
AFTER PROMISING TO ACCEPT THE PLACE. RE
CHANGES HIS MNp-srDcULATIoN AS TO
woopRUrrs couRsp--A CONTEST FOR
THE OFFICE BETWEEN rARTy FAC
TIoNs LIKELY TO FOLLOW.


THE OFFICE BETWEEN rARry FAC
TroNs LIKELY TO FOLLOW
silas B. butcher has surprised and disap-
pointed Brooklyn Republicans by announcing IN
the most positive words that he VIII NOT under
any circumstances accept the chairmansh'p a
the Republican General Committee. On Satur-
day Mr. butcher told Jacob Worth that ne hao
reconsidered his promise 10 take the chairman
ship and had decided that he could not accept
the honor On Monday he wrote to Lieutenant
Governor Woodruff at Albany to the same erect
Mr. Worth and the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS at
tempted to keep the news to themselves ana
their closest political associates until they could
MI the gap and find another man to promise tha'
ne would accept. The story Of Mr.. butchers
decision became public property last night. how
ever and from the present time until next Tues
day evening when the General Committee for
1897 meets to organize. the politicians will have
all they care to do guessing at the name OF
George n. Roberts. jrs, successor
Mr. butchers announcement will be read with
great regret by nearly every member OF the Gen.
eral Committee and by the party in general HIS
unanimous election had been practically as
sured and the prospect that he would be the
committees presiding officer was almost uni
versally satisfactory Commissioner Willis ad-
vertised his hostility to Mr.. butcher before the
organization of the ward committees because OF
his dissatisfaction with the manner in which Mr.
butchers name was proposed TO him. Later
Mr. Willis said he would his influence In IA
vor of Mr. butcher Since Mr.. Willis made this
announcement no name has been mentioned in
opposition to that of Mr. butcher. and until sat
urday County Clerk Worth had no intimation
that Mr. butcher would change his mind
A POINT BLANK REFUSAL.
Mr. Dutcher has at all times refused to talk
at length with reporters about the possibility
Of his becoming chairman Of the committee
Yesterday afternoon. when seen by Tribune
reporter he at first refused refer to the sub
ject in any way. but when asked TO afhrm or
deny the storf of his refusal to accept the
craftsmanship he SAID ,.,
That is correct. | nave refused apsoiu'eS
TO take the place. .
II will be difficult. If not impossible. for the
party leaders to agree upon candidate ior the
Craftsmanship who will be as acceptance as
Mr. butcher Leutenant-G Governor WoodruH
especially will he disconnected by Mi Dutcner
withdrawal because he had worked night ana
day to push Mr. butcher to the front ana wneh
he left Brooklyn for Albany he was congratu-
latng himself that his man" had won one OF
the first questions raised last evening. when Mt
butchers action became known, was VIII
Tim try again."
That is a question Tim must settle for him.
self but his friends think that now that ne IS
in office. with the interests Of the state Sensre
to look after. he will let the Kings County Cen
eral Committee take of itself.
While few Republicans are willing to see the
harnlc ny idea abandoned because MI Dutcher.
who was known as the harmony candidate, is no
longer possibility. there were many preoic-
lions last night that the old feud between the
followers of County Clerk worth ana commas
sioner Willis would again he taken up
AN o1p-rAsHIoNED FIGHT EXPECTED.
1t will not be as easy at the present time to
the ward committees organized. because now
all members Of the General Committee are
chosen and are allied the side Of one or
the other of the two leaders. For this reason
il seems more than likely that each OF the ola
factions will select q candidate and that there
will be an old-fashioned contest between the
follow ers Of Commissioner Willis and those OF
County Clerk Worth.