New-York tribune., 1910-09-01
FIGHT IN 18TH GETS HOT
Taylor Urges Bennett to Quit
"Dua| Candidacy at Primary.
FAVOR DIRECT NOMINATIONS
Assemblyman Replies That In
Their Hearts" Taylor People
Don't Mean It.

John n. Tavlor. the Olcott candidate
for leader Of the 18th Assembly District
last night sent to Assemblyman William
NJ Bennett. his opponent. a letter ex-
pressly declaring himself In favor of the
amended Cobb direct nominations bill
Mr. Bennett has been declaring that Tay-
lor was on record against direct nom1na-
tions. and promising to prove his case py
producing a postcard signed by Taylor
making such a declaration Bennett men
say the Olcott candidate hasn't asked for
the production of that card. but has been
Smoked out on the direct nominations
issue.
Mr.. Taylor's letter contained this state
ment of his views:
II am in favor of direct nominations
bill along the lines Of the amended Cooo
bill, which received the approval OF Ia T.
Roosevelt, Hughes and Griscom, ;'3
which has the merit of making fusion pos
sible In this city and OF enabling us to
fight Tammany Hall successfully. as we
did last year.
IT am not in favor of a bill. no matter
what it's title may be. that will render
fusion in this city impossible Moreover
the amended Cobb bill was supported by
Harry w. Mack. the state committeeman
from our district. who assisted In draft1ns
its final amendments. and who is opposed
to your dual candidacy for leader OF the
18th Assembly District and for Congress,
and who is in favor of the denomination OF
the Hon J. Van Vechten Olcott.
II desire to call this to your attention.
as your are endeavoring to give the voters
Of our district the mistaken impression
that YOU and your following alone are in
~
constitutes a vital political issue between
US. That this is not the case is shown by
my endeavors to have the primary fight
settled by your accepting a denomination
to the Assembly. where you could fight for
the principles in which you say you be-
lieve."
meeting of the executive committee OF
the district committee was held last night,
at which the Taylor men prepared pri-
mary ticket.
This is headed by Taylor's name for ex-
ecutive member, and carries the names of
delegates to the Congress convention
pledged to vote fer the denomination of
Representative J. Van Vechten Olcott. and
to tho state convention pledged to support
a direct nominations plank along the lines
approved by President Taft. Governor
Hughes and Theodore Roosevelt.
The Taylor-Olcott people expect the dis
trict committee to rat;fy this ticket.
Assemblyman Bennett didn't seem much
in this move of his rivals
IF Taylor and his outfit say they are for
direct nominations they say what they
don't mean down In their hearts, he said,
and they say 1t only because 1 have
forced them before the public on this issue.
Il have letters from Taylor, Henry Wise
and many others of the Taylor -Olcott
crowd declaring against direct nominations.
Olcott was asked to sign the petition to the
Legislature to make the Cobb bill d caucus
measure. but he wouldn't do it.
IF Taylor's primary ticket goes before
the voters Of the district there will be
two for one headed by my name and
bearing the names Of delegates to the con-
ventions who really favor the principles
they say they favor will be in the field.
Then 1t will be up TO the voters to make
their choice, and I don't believe they'll be
fooled much