The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-30
TO DROP CIRCUIT AND FORNES
CITIZENS UNION WILL-REPCB-
LIC.ANS If THEY CAN,

--sWAnstrOm Tor COmptrOHeFs M1ywU'
Unless Mr.. Grout and Mr.. Fornes will
promise r. Fulton Cutting chairman OF
the Citizens Union, to-day to come out
fairly and squarely in support OK Mayor
Low, to take part in an aggressive cam
paign for fusion, just as they did two years
ago, and to bind themselves not to accept
the Tammany platform they will have NO
place on the fusion ticket whether they
withdraw or not; that is, the law turns
out to be what the Republicans are advised
it is. This was decided on at a conference
held last night at the house Of Mayor Low
who had put of over night his start Tor
Chicago.
The conference was attended by Mr..
Cutting, NJ. Linn Bruce. chairman OF the
Republican County Committee; Timothy L.
Woodruff, Police Commissioner Greene.
Col. Robert Grier Monroe, John c. Clarke
and Henry Bishop.
The conference lasted until after midnight.
and at it's close those who participated In
it said that they had been pledged to e.
crecy, but that the result Of the meeting
would be made apparent in developments.
The decision was reached to have Mr..
Cutting, on behalf of the Citizens Union,
demand from Grout and Fornes an explicit
and unequivocal declaration as to Just
where they stand.
Upon the reply made by Grout and
Fornes to this demand will depend in the
first place whether they will be retained
on the Citizens Union ticket.
The Citizens Union, not being q State
political organization, dominates by petit
ton. 1t has not yet presented its petition
for fling and it has the opportunity TO
change its nominees.
Mr. Woodruff and Mr.. Bruce told the
Mayor and the conterees that they did not
want to be party 10 ticket which would
have on it the names of candidates who
would also represent Tammany Hall, but
as they realized that the Republican party
was committed, not as political party. but
as an organization in favor Of good gov
eminent to the fusion movement, they
would leave the initiative of determining
whether or not Grout and Fornes should
remain on the ticket to the Citizens Union
1t was decided that il the Union leaves
Grout and Fornes off its ticket the Re-
publcans will do what can be done to force
among lawyers yesterday afternoon was
that Grout and Fornes could not be forced
off the Republican ticket. The theory
was that as the Republican convention has
adjourned. leaving only committee TO
All vacancies the officers Of the convention
could be compelled by mandamus to file
the list Of candidates nominated by the
convention and that the names Of these
candidates must go on the ballot under
the Republican emblem.
The Republicans have now been advised
to the contrary and told that they cen
reconvene their convention. Mr.. Wood
ruff and Mr. Bruce Immediately after the
adjournment of the meeting last night set
about looking up the law. Early this
morning at the Savoy Hotel they were
in conference with a lawyer who ia regarded
as an authority on the question involved.
Speaking without looking up precedents
he gave it as his opinion that the law un-
doubtedly would permit the calling OF a
new convention.
But in order definitely to settle the point
a consultation will be held this morning,
probably in the offices Of Edward LATTER
bach, whose assistance it has been decided
to seek.
SO far az the retention of Grout and
Forres on the fusion ticket is concerned,
Mr.. Cutting is in charge of the situation.
1t has been left to him to decide whether
or not the attitude of Grout and Fornes is
satisfactory. To-day Mayor Low will go
to Chicago and will not be back in the city
until Saturday What Mr.. Cutting decides
to do to-day, after seeing Grout and Fornes,
the Republicans will support, If they have
the legal power to revise their nominations
1T will be decided tomorrow" Mr.. Cut
ting said as he left the Mayors house, what
IL to be done in the situation. I can say
nothing Tonight, but something definite
and practical will be done tomorrow.
L.
Tammany covention?' he was asked.
mo, there is no need, he replied. What
is TO be done will be done tomorrow"
The decision reached at the conference,
in word, is that Grout and Fornes must
come out fiat footed as fusion candidates,
they must take the stump for Low and
against Tammany, and that the Tammany
platform must not be supported by them.
If these assurances are given, the under
standing is that Messrs Grout and Fornes
will be permitted to accept the Endorsement
of Tammany. But unless these assurances
are given emphatically and unreservedly
Grout and Fornes will be as far as possible
forced out of the fusion ranks.
If circuit and Fornes are dropped Borough
President j. Edward Swanstrom Of Brook
lyn may be the fusion candidate for Comp
troller. according to Republican specula-
ton last night.
In that case, Republicans said William
y. commissioner Oh TupnC WOIkb
for Brooklyn, would go on the ticket as the
candidate for Brooklyn Borough President.
Senator Plat said Yesterday;
-Grout and Fornes cannot figure on both
tickets, As rammany nominees l could
not support them Mr.. Plat votes in Owegol.
and don't see how any Republican could
Their position would be ridiculous. How
could they 20 on the stump and attack
Tammany, when they are Tammany
candidates?
This is a fight against Tammany. and
we cannot have candidates who represent
Tammany. The thing is go absurd that
thought AT first that it was one Of Mr..
Murphy's jokes. Evidently it is a serious
proposition, and it rests with Mr.. circuit
and Mr.. Fornes TO choose between the
fusion and the Tamlnany tickets"
They could not" continued Senator
Plat, accept the Tammany nominations
without being disloyal to Low. Whether
they would draw votes to the Tammany
ticket or not, it is tlain that Mr.. Murphy
sought them to help his candidate for
Mayor, who seemed to need bolstering
up"
A Democrat said at the Manhattan Club
las; night:
Senator Plat says that Mr.. Circuit and
Mr. ForneS would lose their self-respect II
they accept ed the Tammany nominations
after Ina wing been nominated by the fusion
forces. Mr.. Plart is altogether too narrow
in his views.
"Just because Mr. Platt declined nomi-
nation for Congress once when he was
pledged to support in the convention tho
man whom the convention turned down
for Plat IL no reason why Mr.. Plat should