New-York tribune., 1901-09-11
EIGHTEEN MEET TO-DAY.
COLONEL OGDEN CALLS CONFER
ENCE AT THE ASTOR HOUSE.
TO BEGIN THE SITTING PROCESS AMONG
ELlGIBLES" AT ONCE-DAILY
GATHERINGS LIKELY.

The committee of eighteen appointed by the
ahtl-Tammany conference Monday night tC
consider the several lists of mayoralty candi-
dates will meet at the Astor House at o'clock
this afternoon. Colonel Willis L. Ogden. chair
man OF the committee, issued the call yesterday.
Inc committee at this meeting will begin the
siiuhs process. 1t is expected that daily meet
lngs VIII be held until such time ticket
is selected for report to the general conference.
This committee is instructed to report back on
or before September Is. None of the conferrees
on the committee would say yesterday when
agreement might be reached. The indications
are that the committee will work slowly and
carefully. and it may be several days or even a
week, before any ticket is agreed upon. 1t may
be that the committee will report to the general
conference the names of two eligibles for
the nomination of Mayor. and leave the final
selection to the general conference.
All members of this committee who were seen
yesterday said it would he impossible to foretell
who would he selected to head the ticket. That
there would be strong fusion ticket all said
was certainty but no one would hazard pre-
diction as 20 who would compose it. All those
seen declared themselves satisfied with the con-
ference Of Monday night, adding that never had
the outlook for success of fusion ticket been
so bright as at the present moment
Certain articles were printed yesterday pur-
porting to show that Senator Platt dominated
this committee of eighteen and would foist upon
the fusion forces a candidate of his own selec-
tion. This was secuted by representatives of ali
anti-Tammany organizations. The leaders We're
emphatic in saying that the Senator and men,
bers Of the Republican organization had played
fair; had suggested candidate, but had stood
back with the promise of hearty cooperation In
indorsing any good man named
ALL NONSENSE, SAYS COLONEL OGDEN.
This talk about Senator Platt controlling the
conference is all nonsense" said Colonel Ogden.
The conference is not controlled by any one.
The Republicans have never shown any dispo-
s1tion TO control or dictate. The appointment of
a committee to handle the lists of candidates
was seen to be the only thing that could be done
Everybody agreed TO il. We had the names of
twenty-eght or thirty candidates before US. 1t
was seen that body of seventy-one men could
not talk the candidates over and reach con-
clusion as easily as could a committee of eigh-
teen So We appointed that committee, giving
the Citizens Union and the Republicans one
member from each borough because they have
organizations in each borough. The other
bodies in the combination each had organiza-
uons only in one borough, and were entitled
to only one representative. Now. when we agree
on a candidate for Mayor it Will be a unanimous
choice. There will be no division between the
the candidate will be- everything is in the air.
Senator Platt rather amused when he
heard these stories yesterday. II am for any
good man that the conferrees select" he declared.
That has been my position all the time and I
have not even taken the position OF suggesting
The Republican organization will work for the
election Of the ticket nominated, but leaves the
selection of candidates to the ant-Tammany
| organizations. confident that the ticket named
will be one We can all support with honor and
enthusiasm. 1t is all a lot OF nonsense to say
that am running the anti-Tammany confer
ence. / not interfering in any way The
thing viii work itself out, and the conference
will narrow the candidates down to some de-
sirable man. l shall be for any man they nomi-
nate, except Coler. These stories that | am In
control of the conference based on the fact
that some of my friends are members Of the
conference. But have not interfered. and will
not
Herman Ridder, leader of the German -Ameri-
can Reform Union. had this to say: " Undoubt-
edly Senator Platt could control a ajority of
the conference should he choose to do So / be-
leve he will favor an independent Democrat on
a broad, liberal, non partisan platform, such as
is advocated by the German organizations We
VIII stand by John De Witt Warner urging his
. nomination long we can. The attacks
upon him unjust and unwarranted."
While the committee of eighteen has some
thirty names to struggle with it is believed that
AT the hrst meeting fully one-half of these viii
be dropped without much discussion. The names
which have been suggested by the various anti
Tammany organizations have been Driuted soy
eral times IN The Tribune. Among those more
prominently mentioned, Ashbel p Fitch, Charles
s. Fairchild and John d. Crimmins have de-
clned to be considered for any office. and their
names will probably be dropped. John De Witt
Warner. so it was said yesterday may not re-
ceive the support that originally indicated.
as some of his supporters have declared In favor
of withdrawing bis name 1t is possible, If not
proba bic, that some person on any list will
be selected, additions to the lists In hand are
in order. Edward NJ. Knox, again prom
tnently spoken Of yesterday. The addition Of
District-Attorney PhiIbin to the list of the
Greater New-York Democracy caused wide
spread comment, and his chances were earnestly
discussed Seth Low, George Foster Peabody
and George L. Rves all seriously mentioned
In connection with the nomination.