New-York tribune., 1900-04-01
TO CHECK FIGHT ON QUIGG.
GRUBER's VICTORY ALARMS THE STATE
LEADERS.
AUSTIN MAKES A HALF-HEARTED DENIAL
FOLLOWERS ARE OPPOSING QUIGG.

OF HIS INTERVIEW. BUT MANY OF HIS
FOLLOWERS ARE OPPOSING QUIGG.
Prompt measures to be taken by the
State leaders to check the revolt against the dis
reputable machine methods of President Lemuel
Ely Ouigg Of the Republican County Committee
The emphatic victory of Abraham Gruber over
! ex-Assemblyman George C. Austin, backed as
! Austin by the power Of the State and
! county organizations, has alarmed Chairman
! Odell of the State Committee, and Is beginning
to worry Senator Platt, who is receiving trou-
| blesome inquiries from friends Of Gruber in the
| State Committee.
Great significance is attached to the visit that
| Mr.. Gruber paid Mr.. Odell on Friday. Mr.. Odell
would not say what had been talked about.
! Neither would Mr.. Gruber. number OF things
happened Friday night. however. Mr.. Cru
| ber announced his determination to keep on III
his opposition to Quigg. and, as Tribune readers
| are already aware. the Austinites now work.
| ing with the understanding that when the
| proper time comes they are to oppose Quigg
tooth and nail. The Tribune's story yesterday
threw confusion into the ranks Of the Austinites,
| as their proceedings on Friday night We're in
| tended to be kept secret One of Mr. Austins
! friends said:
! That was a pretty tough deal that we got
|
all substantially true I suppose can't kick
! that 1t got out ahead of time. George knows
perfectly WELL" continued The Tribunes in
| formant, that the greater number of his follow
ers are part Of the identical voters who scratched
! Quigg to the tune of six thousand in the X1Vth
| Congress District in 1898. and he has been told
! very emphatcally that they will not stultify
themselves by supporting Qugg candidates or
Quigg policies That Is why he made the state
| ment to The Tribune reporter last night that he
| not ready to say what stand he would
| take with reference to Qugg. Why, he's been
supporting Quigg and receiving assistance from
| him. and the only stand he take with ref
erence to Qugg is to oppose him. If he doesn't
! oppose him. half his men will go straight into
| the Gruber camp, because they dislike Gruber
far less than they do Quigg. Give George
little time He'll do his cheerful little bit tow
ard burying Mr.. Quigg when the time comes
AUSTINS SPIRITLESs DENIAL.
Mr.. Austin was not at his office when Trib-
une reporter called twice to see him yesterday
afternoon. In a half hearted way he denied that
he had said to Tribune reporter that the anti
Quigg issue was what defeated him at the
primaries. He admitted. however, that three
or four Of the election district leaders had re-
ported that 1t was the ahti-Quigg issue that de-
feated them. AS matter of fact, the air was
conference, and the only thing left for Austin
is to do his utmost to bring about the downfall
of the man who has been handing out favors to
him right and left ever since last January. Per-
sonally he may not want to do it, but enough
OF his followers demand II to make it imperative
that he should announce his opposition TO
Quigg.
A Tribune reporter took pains to discover yes
terday whether any prominent members OF the
State Committee were antagonstc to Gruber on
account of his antagonism to Quigg So far as
could be learned. Mr.. Gruber and Chairman
Oder are on excellent terms. and friends of
Gruber said that all of the State Committee men
were cordial toward Gruber. while diskng
Quigg and wishing him out OF the way.
Mr.. Gruber seen yesterday afternoon at
his office In company with number OF his
election district captains.
what did YOU and Chairman Oden talk
about?" he was asked.
Mr. Gruber's face broke into broad smiles as
he said: why. talked about the best way
to make votes for the ticket. and other things,
and 1 am confident that all this strife will be
done away with before the polls close in No
vember.
Are you going to continue to oppose Quigg?"
Absolutely, yes-to the very end. I am op-
posed to Quigg irrevocably. I'll fight him to the
last ditch-whch will be his
An interesting story was told yesterday of a
1t is said that Senator Platt and Chairman
Odell of the State Committee were together at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel when Mr.. Quigg's name
announced by the page. After the usual
greetings Senator Platt with tinge of weari-
ness in his tone, said: We'll, Lem. so you let
Abe Gruber beat you. eh?'
Not in thousand years." said Mr.. Quigg
and then got close to Senator Platt and ex-
planned how 1t that Austin, getting only
about half many delegates. had won a great
victory over Gruber. 1t Is said that Senator
Platt listened to 1t all and added: II wouldn't
shout too loud about 1t being victory. Lem, IL
/ you"
Mr. Quigg has restrained his enthusiasm
his victory
QUIGG SAYS HE WILL BE A DELEGATE.
Mr.. Quigg spent some time yesterday after
noon in the headquarters of the Republican
State Committee, in the Fifth Avenue Hotel
There had been report that he would not try
to go a delegate to the Republican National
Convention from his own Congress district the
EIVth, but would go a carpetbagger from
one Of the lower districts, probably the With.
Mr.. Quigg said to Tribune reporter:
II will be a candidate for National delegate
from the XIVth Congress District and under
stand that John Reisenweber, the leader in the
XN1Ith Assembly District, will be a candidate
with me. There will be 366 votes in the con-
vention. and expect to get at least three hun
dred votes"
win you run for Congress in the district
again this fall?" he asked
mo; will not be a candidate for any such
office" ~
will you be candidate for reelection to tba
presidency of the County Committee?'
The president of the County Committee Is