The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-02
WOULDN'T BUY JUSTICEsHIp.


col. Dsdy says He Never Made Demand
Of $1,000 for Campaign Purposes
Did Say 70 Ogden That o. 600 Was
Expected II Mckeen was Nominated.
The Republican Judiciary convention for
the nomination Of a Justice Ct the Supreme
Court in the Second district as the successor
Of Justice W. W. Goodrich will be held at
noon to-day in the County Court House
in Brooklyn. The delegates will number
2s7, 1870 being from Kings county and the
remaining lO7 from the nine other counties.
A big crop of candidates recently sprang
up, and when the Republican executive
committee of Kings county met on Wetnes-
day 10 consider their respective claims no
Iess than eight names were presented,
Including those of Assistant Cprroration
Counsel James Mckeen, al present in charge
of the Law Department in Brooklyn; former
corporation Counsel Joseph A. Burr, Hugo
Hrsh and Municipal Court Justice Girard
r. ~ Wart.
Inc rA"vuiive committeeman were 80
divided IN sh,.,r preferences that it was
found impossible to secure majority in
dorsement for any particular candidate,
and the committee unanimously recon-
mended the delegates from Kings county
to hold conference ahead Of the meeting
Of the convention. and. II possible, agree
upon q candidate to be presented to that
BODY.
At the session Of the executive committee
Mr.. McKeen and Mr.. Burr received the most
support. and it was supposed that one Of
them was most likely TO be the nominee.
Yesterday. however, the friends of Justice
Van .Wart were claiming that he had re-
ceived pledges from a majority OF the
Kings county delegates.
Last night there we're r,lmors of political
scandal OF no small proportions in con-
nection with the judicial nomination. These
we're in effect that Col. Michael j. Dady
had made a proposition through a third
person to Mr.. McKeen substantially promis-
ing him the nomination in case he made
q pledge to make a contribution of $4,000
10 the campaign fund Col. Dady. Accord
ing TO the Iumors, desired the third person
70 call the attention of Mr. McKeen to the
fact that in addition to the great judicial
distinction involved, the Office extended
over a period of fourteen years, the emolu-
ments aggregating 700, and that in
view Of these facts campaign contribution
Of $4,000 was a modest one.
The third person, said to be man of
social distinction and high municipal
officer, is described as having made no
reply to Col. Dady's suggestion. but to have
gone directly to Mr.. McKeen and told him
Of the $4,000 proposition and received his
prompt and emphatic refusal to consider
it In any manner.
The third party when seen last night
confirmed the story in its substantial out
lines, averring that he had been told by
Col. Dady that Mr.. McKeen would be ex-
pected to contribute about the sum stated
for campaign purposes in case he received
the nomination.
Mr.. McKeen said: sThe matter Of pledg-
ing a contribution to the campaign fund in
the event Of my nomination was brought
10 my attention. There was no exact
amount stated, but 1t was mentioned to
my friends, and understood it to be quite
a liberal one. declined to make any
pledge whatever. ! regard the making of
a pledge Of this kind as q most insidious
form OF corruption in American politics.
! am absolutely opposed to it. and abso-
iulciy anu PooAINey oiu00N w NoAeA"0A
it."
When seen last night in reference to the
matter. Col. Dady made this statement:
Il made no such demand or proposition
as has been alleged in reference to Mr..
McKeen and the judiciary nomination
These are the facts on which this story is
based A few days ago, when the nomina-
ton was being discussed and candidates
considered, it was remarked that whoever
tho candidate would be 1t would cost
him considerable money to pay the usual
contributions to the campaign committees
in the ten counties In the district, especially
as there were no State candidates running
this year. I subsequently told some OF
Mr.. McKeen's friends in the First Assembly
district that he had an excellent chance to
secure the nomination and that as matter
of friendship to him they should get to-
gether and see that the contribution to the
campaign funds would be forthcoming.
Il did this as understood MIR. Mckeen
himself was not rich man. | mentioned
the matter among others to Col. Willis l..
ogden, the president Of the Civil Service
Commission, one bf Mr.. 'McKeen's close
personal friends, who was urging him for
the nomination. / told Col Ogden that
the Kings County Campaign Committee
would expect Mr.. McKeen. should he be
the candidate, to contribute 5000 to the
campaign fund and that the assessments
bv the campaign committees in the other
nine counties would probably range from
$3.50 to $500.
Il simply told Col. Ogden Of the usual
procedure in regard to Judicial as well as
other candidates for important onlces,
hut made no suggestion even that Mr..
McKeen would not receive the nomination
unless he made a pledge to contri
5000 or any other amount. Political
campaigns cannot be run with an empty
treasury, and the candidates or their friends
are always expected to contribute. and !
have no doubt that both Mr.; Mckeen and
Col. Ogden will admit this. In this trans
action there was no attempt to barter away
. judicial nomination or to place Mr. Mckeen
Ia any questionable position.
MN