New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-27
WITHOUT CONDITIONS.
Grout Would Do Nothing to Harm
Fusion Cause.

Controller Grout has been asked 10 accept the
nomination for Controller on the Tammany
ticket. The nomination has been offered 70 him
Internationally by a representative from
Charles T. Murphy. He will accept, and next
Thursday night ct the Democratic convention
George B Mcclellan. for Mayor. Edward "
Grout, for Controller. and Charles V. Fornes.
for President Of the Board Of Aldermen viii be
the ticket placed in nomination by Tsmmany
Hall.
That is the message that was brought 70
Brooklyn last night by we'll known Democrat,
who formerly was in WiToughby Street. but has
been fighting the machine along party lines for
some years. He is in close touch with the Tam
many Hall leaders and is close personal friend
Of Controller Grout.
What does it mean" he said. Well. you
can see as well as-I. Mclaughlin ShevIin. Nc
Carren and the other Willoughby Street leaders
threw the gautlet down 10 Murphy and told him
10 go ahead and name his ticket He has done
so. I rather think that this move on Murphys
part will checknate the fusion movement. and
give the Mclaughlin crowd a black eve from
which they viii never recover.
Controller Grout was found at the Brooklyn
Club at IL o'clock last night. He had just come
from Manhattan with ex-Assistant Corporation
Counsel Henry A. Yoage and ex-Assistant Cor
poration Counsel Luke D. Stapleton. who have
been out Of the willoughby Street breastworks
for some years. The Controller was asked point
blank whether or not It were true that he had
been offered the Tammany nomina ton for Con-
troller. He replied in a way that led the re-
porters 70 assume that the statement was true.
and requested that he be asked all the ques-
tons that were 70 be asked before he made his
statement In this assumption volley OF cues
tons were presented. 10 al OF which he smiled,
but said nothing. Then he sat down ana wrote
the following statement, which he read slowly
TO all present:
I shall not during the coming campaign DO
anything inconsistent IN letter or in spirit with
my letter 70 Mr.. Cutting Of last week I shall
otIer no induceTent other than my record 70
procure any Endorsement. nor viii accept any
conditions or make any bargain TO bring about
such Endorsement.
If any organization or party shall unauaH-
hedly, Internationally and unso1ghr indorse my
nomination. shall feel free TO accept the honor.
and shall deem IL helpful rather than hurtful TO
the cause OF good city government.
With any qualification. with any condition. I
W acCetS IlotilIlls, anu IsL ne add l nave
sought nothing-not even the fusion nomination
Charles V. Fornes. President OF the Board Of
Aldermen. gave the lie fatty to a portion OF the
story from the wigwam that Murphy had seen
Mr. Fornes. and that M Fornes was willing
to rur the Tammany ticket with the Tam
many candidate. Mcclellan.
When seen at De Witt Clinton Park. Fifty
second-st-, where he delivered an address yes
terday afternoon. Mr.. Fornes said:
This is entirely new to me. and do not care
to discuss it nov. I want 70 think it over"
He said that no one had offered him a nou1i-
nation on the Tamuany ticket. but that last
week several had insinuated to him that such
a thing was on foot Continuing ne said.
The idea Of running on both tickets shows 20
ne that the people are satisfied with the present
administration. and the officials Of that admin
istration. and would accept them or whatever
ticket they might run I think the people are
convinced that We have tried TO give them a
good. clean administration. each man IN his own
department, and tried to take care OF the public
welfare. Further than that I do not care 70
talk"
When President Cutting OF the Citizens Union
was seen last night at Tuxedo Park he said that
the proposition was so novel and astonishing
that ne wanted little more time to think it
over before he expressed decided opinion on IT,
"wouI4 the Citizens Union leaders permit
Messrs- Grout and Fornes 70 run on the Tam
many ticket Mr.. Cutting was asked
At the present moment I do not see any
thing particularly Objectionable 70 such plan"
said Mr. Cutting. We would not have Endorsed
any one they put on their ticket. But II they
choose. after We have nominated our ticket. 20
indorse certain candidates on it. it seems to me
that it is great and significant tribute TO the
strength Of our cause before the people II prac-
ticauv is an admission that they are convinced
that they could not beat those candidates"
Would not such an arrangement hurt Mr..
Lows cha-ces?'
I want more time 70 think over that qUes-
ton" said Mr. Cutting. The proposition is so
unexpected that 7 question its good faith Il
may have been put out BY interested people 20
draw out comment, without having any real
foundation in fact hardly see where II would
hurt Mr.. Low II might be interpreted By very
many independent Democrats a breaking
down Of TIE Tamnany side OF the case, and in
that event 9Ir. Low might get an overwhelming
plurality. However. as 7 stated before. IL viii
be as well 70 wait and see II the Democratic
city convention indorses Msssrs- GrOut ard
Forues. Il has been suggested 20 that Il
the Tammany people. with their convention four
or five days Of, are willing 70 indOrse two Of
our city ticket candidates. By the tine they call
their convention 70 order they may be willing 70
include Mayor Low in their Endorsement"
Many friends Of Mayor Low do not nsrbor Tire /
thought for an instant that he will cOuntenance
the idea OF having Controller GrOur and PresI- |
dent Fornes indOrssd BY Tammany.