New-York tribune., 1902-10-27
REVOLT AGAINST COLER.
RADICALS OF BROOKLYN INCENSED AT
sTRADDLE ON COAL PLANK
MANY LABOR MEN PREPARING TO KNIFE
THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE

One of the most serious revolts of the cam
paign is now threatening Mr.. Coler Leaders Of
labor organizations who urged his nomination
for Mayor in the last municipal campaign and
sought vainly TO stampede the Citizens Union
convention for him. who went to Saratoga and
worked day and night in his interest, are stand
ing aloof from him or taking definite stand
against him. The issue on which the trouble
came is the old familiar coal plank. In Brook
lyn there is a large faction of radicals. made up
largely Of labor men, led by Coroner NJ. ].
Flaherty and A ]. Boulton. both of them
strong in labor circles, and until within the
last ten days ardent supporters Of Mr.. Coler.
In 1901 this radical element nearly succeeded
il forcirg the Citizens Union TO take Mr.. Coler
as IT'S candidate. When the coal plank was put
into the Democratic platform the Brooklyn
radicals were greatly pleased: they pledged
their support. Coroner Flaherty agreed TO
stump the State at his own expense. visiting
all the labor bodies Of the upstate cities In
Brooklyn the enthusiasm of the radicals knew
no bounds and they went into the campaign
with heart and soul.
Then the coal strike was settled. and so
the story goes. the Democratic campaign fund
showed no signs of growing The result was an
all night conference in which the leaders of the
campaign told Mr.. Coler frankly that he had
got 10 straddle the coal plank or there would
be no "doughbag" Mr.. Coer put himself astride
the plank and wrote appeal for campaign
funds When it was all done he sent for Cor
oner Fiaherty, told him the situation and asked
him what he was going TO do about it.
I'm going home and sit down." said Mr.
Flaherty. Suiting his action 10 his words he
went back TO Brooklyn and for nearly a week
took no interest or part in the canvass. Then
he yielded 10 the earnest personal appeal OF Mr.
cola
his tour
But while the leaders of the radicals stick 10
Mr. Coler the rank and file are in state of open
revolt The talk of knitting runs high and the
support of a considerable part of the radical
element, so numerous and so closely allied 10
the various organized la Dor bodies in BROOKLYN
is lost to Mr. Coer.
A prominent radical. delegate to the Central
Federated Union. yesterday gave a Tribune re-
porter an unreserved account Of the trouble
The truth is" said he. that the moment
Mr.. Coler straddled the coal plank he took
away the only Democratic issue There was an
issue and a good one, but his action has taken
the life out of the support of the BROOKLYN
radicals. Some Of the leaders support him
Van Week is still stumping for him but there
isn't any heart in our fight. More than that a
conSldera BILE number of our people are certain
10 knife him. Feeling runs high over the affair,
and there is no longer any enthusiasm in it,
Whatever is being done is done without life or
interest.
Il have heard two different stories accounting.
believe There is the story of the need of funds
and there is also the rumor that to him was
promised the support or two independent Demo-
cratic newspape pers provided he straddled the
plank It's very bad situation. can tell YOU
Moreover, the labor men of the CITY and
particularly of Brooklyn have another cause
for quarrel with Mr.. Coler and the managers
of his campaign. We don't like to see ex-
President Cleveland brought back into prom-
nence in the Democratic party. When he was
President he was the worst enemy the labor
organizations of this country ever had He sent
Federal troops into Illinois, and If he had been
coal strike he would have filed PENNSYLVANIA
with Federal troops. In the service of corpora
uons he violated state and national constitu-
tions Now he is brought back as a power in
the Democratic party. That is an insult to the
organized labor of the State and nation
Yes. | suppose we shall support the ticket
but all the life, the enthusiasm and the faith
we had has been shaken. and I know many
who will cut the ticket. many who were GER
tain 10 vote for Mr.. Coler only ten days ago