New-York tribune., 1907-10-15
DIDN'T APPROACH TIGER
DENIAL BY Mr.. PARSONS.
No Foundation for Fusion Proposal
StOry, He Says.

There is no foundation for the impression
that Charles F. Murphy. leader of TammaAy
Hall tried to create yesterday, that Herbert
Parsons, president of the Republican county
Committee, had made a proposition for fusion
with the Democrats. Mr.. Parsons dehleu II
emphatically last night.
The subject came up through the lhVestls"-
ton of a rumor that several days before the
Tammany convention an indirect offer cams
from Tammany to the Republican County com
mfttee to nominate Justice NJ. Linn Bruce Judge
Charles S. Whitman and Judge Wlillaih H.
Wadhams Republicans. in case the latter u
ganization was willing TO fuse with the Demo-
Gratis.
According to the story, Mr.. Parsons repheu
that the negotiations with the Independence
League had already gone too far 10 aoiilll u
anv ARRANGEMENT with Tammany- 1heFe was
nothing in this rumor, either, but Murphy ~
DENYING it, threw out a suggestion that fusion
offer came from the Republicans. never
made any such offer" said Murphy. but II Mr.,
Parsons will say that he offered to fuse l VIII
not deny it,
When Mr.. Parsons was asked If he woulu
make such a statement he replied: Il made no
such offer"
Mr.. Parsons said there had been some sort OF
conference between some one who was IN touch
with the feeling in the Democratic ranks ana
representatives of the Republican party. This
was previous to the convention at Carnegie
Hall, where the delegates Of the independence
League nominated their candidates
Strenuous efforts in certain quarters to drag
Governor Hughes into the fusion situation have
been fruitless. It is true that the Governor
was aware that fusion being seriously con-
sidered but that was not strange insomuch as
it was matter of general knowledge.
The Governor refused TO allow himself to be
drawn out regarding the propriety OF the propo-
stion He held that his duties in Albany took
up his entire time, and that it would be highly
improper for him to give any advice to the
local leaders on the situation here Those who
know this say that it is manifestly unfair
der the circumstances to read into his silence
on the subject either approval or disapproval
Of fusion. He simply takes the stand that the
problem IS one for the local leaders to settle
and to take the responsibility for one way or
the other. =,
Those who know the Governor best say II is
absurd to think that he he brought to say
anything on the fusion situation now, simply be-
cause the Independence League IS taking the
stand that because he did not disapprove of the
idea he virtually approved it.
The Governor viii speak at a dinner at the
Republican Club on Friday night and there was
a report yesterday that he would at that time
express himself on fusion. Those in a position
to judge best believe that the Governor will
confine his specific political remarks to a plea
for the support of the Republican Assembly
ticket in which. of course. he is vltaIly inter
osted
Mr.. Parsons spent part Of the day yester-
day analyzing the registration figures He said
he was sure that the total for the four days
would be nearly normal for an "ofr year" In
previous years it has been the custom Of the Re-
publicans TO try to get all the voters registered
In the Odell-Coer year they made a great effort
to get out the Independents. The Independents
voted for Coler, and since then the Republicans
have been disposed 10 spend all their energies
on those who were known to be Republicans
Some criticism has reached Mr. Parsons be-
cause OF the falling off in registration from 1906
in the 9th District in which he lives There
are three reasons for this. he says One is that
the district has the largest hotel population in
the city. Last year the hotel registration was
unusually heavy account Of the extraor-
dinary interest In the campaign. Again bust
ness is encroaching rapidly in the 27th District.
driving the voters away. The third IS
| that the Republicans have made no effort TO get
| out persons whom they not sure would vote
| the Republican ticket. II am satisfied" said
/
| publican registration on the books by tonight"
Much has been made In some papers OF the
! fact that Mr. Parsons has received eight or
| nine letters condemning the fusion PROPOSE
! tion. Yesterday he announced he had received
| several communications commencing the stand
| he had taken Another letter from a member
| Of the Union League Club expressed great in
dignation over story that the club members
were disguised at fusion and would not indorse
| the ticket. He said that the feeling at the club
had been misrepresented. It has not been the
custom either OF the Union League or OF the
Republican Club to indorse tickets in local
elections
Each Republican district leader is arranging
his own campaign. There will be general meet
I ings under the auspices OF the county committee
so far the plans go now
An appeal was sent out late last week for
funds by Otto T. Barnard, treasurer OF the
county committee It said yesterday that
more funds had already come in as a result OF
this appeal than had been received for ten davs
after the appeal was sent out last year.
Supreme Court Justices Bruce. Goff Seabury
and Ford and Judges whitman and Rosalslzy,
Of General Sessions. had a conference yesterday
afternoon to plan ways and means to ferret out
| cases Of illegal registration and TO prevent the
! repeaters and foaters from voting on Election
, Day.
The opening rally Of the Independence League
will be held in Cooper Union on Friday night
1t will be ratification meeting. and among the
speakers Will be William Randolph Hearst
Judges whitman and Wadhams and Max r
Ihmsen.
BROOKLYN CAMPAIGNS ON TONIGHT