New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-05
RETORT FOR L. B. QUlGG
FLEMINGS COMPLIMENTS
Olcoffs Secretary Sends Tart Reply
to Anti-Mdck Letter.

The letter to John J. Fleming, private secre-
tary to Representative j. Van Vechten Olcott'
from Lemuel f. Quigg which the latter read In
person from the platform of the Conservative
Republican Club In the fight for the Republican
leadership in the 18th Assembly District on
Thursday night was received by Mr.. Fleming yes
terday The following tart reply was sent by MI
Fleming last night:
Subsequent TO its publication by you received
Your communication of the Sd inst. | have care
very simple statement. In SO far as your ela a
ratGn does not eqprm my nd IT Ff fro
which | do not shrink ] reiterate that every
word in my letter is correct ,
on the other hand your answer is so full OF
nisstatements and false implications tna5 any
Although it has been known by those on the In
side that Mr.. Quigg has been interesting himself
actively in the fight of Leslie s. Lockhart to
wrest the leadership of the 18th District from
Harry w. Mack. the latters friends were greatly
surprised that Mr.. Quigg should come out openly
at meeting of the Conservative Club. the Lock
hart organization the hacker of the movement
against Mack 1t is believed that the open show
ing of his hand by Mr.. Quigg will cost the anti
Mack ticket hundreds of votes among those who
do not wish the district returned to the Quigg
domination
Mr. Quigg read letter from Mr. Fleming re-
garding the attempts of Quigg and other friends
OF Lockhart to get Representative Olcott, whose
district includes all the 18th Assembly District,
to take neutral stand. The letter as published
yesterday did not contain several sentences which
Mr.. Fleming regards essential to the clear un-
Outstanding OF the communication. One OF them
He (Mr OlcotO feels that it is deplorabe that the
Republicans throughout the district cannot mar
nlonize in this important year in order properly TO
the best interests of the candidates on the
national ticket: that it does not seem possible to
harmonic the various factions of the Republicans
although even now he is willing to do his share
toward that end
Then Mr.. Fleming went on to say that Mr.. Mack
had pledged to Representative Olcott his support
for denomination and that the Dockhart people had
not denied a report that if they they would
support some other candidate. He added this
which omitted from the published letter yestcr-
day:
Aside. however. from these selfish considerations
which your proposition made it necessary to dis
has shown by its success at the elections that it
has the confidence of the people of the district and
take the liberty of stating that, in my opinion. and
after considering our proposition with due delnera
ton. and because Of my relations with Mr. 0lcott
his private secretary for many this is the
only honorable position that he can take IN he
mary election. from the canvass that has been
made and the many OF suP91
district 1 feel confident that the Mack ticket VIII
be successful notwithstanding the opposition OF me
two other factions.
T.
among other things
told you that Mr.. Olcott had done himself a
great deal of harm by his unnecessary meddllng
While q member of Congress in the family quar-
rels of the district and that now, by putting his
money and his personality at Mr.. Macks dlsposal
and by letting it he falsely represented that his
securing the real question in the primary contest,
he was guilty of conduct which hosts of Repub-
licans friendly to Olcott greatly deplored: that
it looked like counting the fate of factionist-
Mr.. ouigg wound up by saying:
Even now I shall assume that he is not re-
sponsible for your letter TO me. and that he
Colcott) is the same gentleman TO whom have
heretofore given my support and my vote and
to whom l hope to give them again
Regarding Mr.. Quigg,s letter all that Mr. Flem-
ing cared TO say last night was: 1T is laughable
Of Mr.. Quigg, above al men, to raise a question
of veracity between himself and any one else"
The Conservative Republican Club announced last
night that several of Mr.. Mack's election district
captains, workers and members of his various
committees had deserted him. Letters given
from five of these announcing this de-
termination.