New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-16
REFUSE TO WHITEWASH.
ADVISE WALSH TO SUE.
Westchester Committee Flies to De-
fence of er-Mayors.

The subcommittee of westchester Corntv
delegates appointed to investigate the charges
recently made by Henry c. Henderson Jon,
VI. Dgney and others. that the Democratic
State Committeeman Michael J. Walsh Of Yon
kers. and Edwin w Fiske. OF Mount Vernon
chairman OF the Democratic County COMMITTEES
received money in 1900 and 1902 amounting 70
about $4,000 from Republican to be-
tray their party into the hands Of the Republic
can organization. made it's report yesterday
The report submitted at meeting OF the
Democratic County Committee in White Plains
The report exonerated both Walsh and ETsks
but there was "a string attached 10 IT," which
their friends did not like. After hot debate. IL
was voted TO throw part OF it overheard. John
G. Agar. chairman OF the investigating commit
tee, and the other members protested against
this action and when 1t was done they demand
ed that their signatures be withdrawn as 1t was
no longer the report Of their committee.
Ex-Mayor Fiske who presided at the meet
ing refused to give the document back 70 the
investigating committee. He ruled that it vas
In the hands of the county committee. who
would keep it. and Mr.. Agar and bis followers.
who numbered about twelve members out OF the
forty-fve left the hall after the meeting ad-
journed. The feeling between the two factions
is bitter. Agar represents the Hill and Parker
interests in Westminster County. and Fiske and
Walsh. with a majority of the committee. are
working in harmony with Tammany for an un-
instructed delegation to the national convention
at St. Louis.
The report follows I'm part:
The evidence in proof Of the charges consisted
White Plains to have been made TO him again ana
again by the chairman OF the Republican County
pToPessed political enenv OF Mr. Wash a99 o. 5ha
Fiske. and was not testimony given by Nfr Hender-
not even be admitted in a court Of law evidence
OF the truth Of aneEations Ike these on the Other
Fiske. and their denials are coTroborated in vary
ing degrees BY the admitted facts.
We concluded. therefore. that the charges are not
We believe that the charges were brought to tbs
attention OF the county committee by John M
Digney. out OF q proper and justfdable sense Of
That Mr. walsh ana Mr. Fiske should be promptsd
oy an equal seEse Of duty TO the party and should
or should Immediately force those who originated
them 70 answer 20 them IN the courts of law.
The report was signed by John G. Agar John
McCarty. Willie McCarty. William Mercer.
George p. TowIe and Erastus r. Finch.
The applause following the reading OF the re-
port was faint. and it was evident that theirs
was trouble in store for some one when ex-
State Committeeman ]. J. Baudrias got up. His
face was overspread with a flush Of anger.
This report is not worth the paper II is writ
ten on" said he. The committee has exceeded
it's powers. it was not appointed 10 whitewash
Mr.. Digney and then tell ex-MayOr Walsh and
ex-Mayor Fiske that they think il necessary
for them to go TO the courts and vindicate
themselves IL seems to me they ought 10 stop
where they say that they find no legal evil
dence- II there is legal evidence. how can
these who are accused ever prove them
selves innocent? The best they could do would
be to get Scotch verdict"
IF any one brought these charges against
me- retOrted Mr.. Agar. 1 would not wait
minute until had brought an action vindi-
cate myself
After the Agar committee refused to strike out
the last paragraph the County Committee did
il. and then gave a vote OF confidence to Walsh
and Fiske.
Ex-Nayor Dillon and Thomas H ONeL
whose names mentioned the previous
meetings Of the committee. were not present.
The report made no reference to them They
not members OF the County Committee A
resolution also adopted empowering the
County Committee to employ counsel to take any
proceedings it might think advisable toward the
prosecution OF the persons responsible for cir
culatinS the reports.
Ex-MayOr Walsh said after the meeting that
he thought he would probably begin an action
for damages.
II think I have some grounds for action. said
he and viii probably follow the case up fur
Their"
Ex-MayOr Fiske said that he considered il
useless 10 sue the people who had circulated the
stories about him
What could you get?" said he.