New-York tribune., 1911-12-22
DINE IN TANNERS HONOR
Big Republicans Join in Pralsing
Young District Leader.
SILVER TOKEN PRESENTED
Guest of Honor Proposes Whit
man to State Chairman
Barnes for Governor.

Frederick &. Tanner. the youngest dls-
trict leader I'm the world. according to MS
ahid supporters who hold forth in the
2Sth Assembly District, had almost every
thing good that any one could think OF
said about him last night at A dinner IN
his honor at the Broadway Central Hotel
Ezra r. Prentice. who presided, started
the culosies. formally at least and State
Chairman Barnes. County President hoe-
ns District Attorney Whitman and Her
bert Parsons all contributed share
Informally. before the speechmaking
started. the same talk was going all around
the banquet room. and then MI. Prentice
showed the youngest district leader that
they all meant IT by presenting a silver
cigarette case 10 him.
Before the start Of the oratory the diners
drank a silent toast 10 the memory OF
Tristan e. Johnson, the former Repubii-
can leader Of the 18th, who was killed by
lightning on the Chevy Chase golf links
near Washington, I'm July.
The list of guests and diners looked Ike
a rollcaH Of all the prominent Republicans
south Of the Harlem River with an added
starter or two from as far north as Al
ndnNs BfSlufS lilN Sptdh'AS hitii'iN''' ''N
the guest Of honor, Mr. Tanner himself,
the long table accommodated, among
others. Congressman Calder, Deputy Con-
troller Mathewson. Sheriff Shea, Alderman
Curran. Of Tanners district, George
Wanmaker. Abraham Gruber. julius
Mayer. John Boyle. ir,. ogden l.. Mills.
William II. Wadhams, James Z. March and
William VI. Chsdbourne.
District Attorney Whitman, said Mr.
Prentice in introducing him, had lately be-
come a member Of the 9th Assembly DIS
trict Republican organization, and the Dis
trict Attorney in admitting it moment
later said that It had taken the rcd hand
Of murder TO drive him out OF the 9th.
But when criminal commits murder In
an apartment adjoining that Of the Dis
trict Attorney" said Mr.. Whitman. 1T is a
hint which no gentleman will neglect
Whitman Put Up for Governor.
Mr.. Tanner. i'm taking note of the acqui-
sition OF the District Attorney to his district,
recommended to State Chairman Barnes
that ne needn't look any further than the
18th Assembly District for a candidate for
Governor next year, saying that his motto
as a district leader was always to have
enough candidates to present for any and
all jobs which offered. themselves.
A District Attorney who makes the rec
ord that Mr. Whitman is making," he said,
of convlctng not the small and unfortI-
nate offenders alone. but the powerful, big
offenders, too, is the kind Of a man whose
record entities him to the Governors
chair"
Mr.. Tanner told the state chairman
further that he had lately been asked fre-
quently whether he was a progressive or
a conservative, and he thought 1t might he
on account Of the interview that Mr.
Barnes had recently given out.
II have uniformly answered. said Mr.
Tanner. that I am a progressive but that
l am not insane. The Republican party
has always been progressive party; II ha.
never made back tracks"
lie added the hope that the next Rcpub-
lican convention would have delegates Of
every shade of Republican opinion, so
that We can find out" he explained,
whether We are really conservative pro-
gressve party or a mere bidder for popular
favor"
Mr. Barnes In his turn. took up the ques-
ton put forth by Mr.. Tanner. though he
said he didn't come 10 speak, IL being his
idea that he wouldn't furnish any more
copy" unless he himself received the com
pensation. However. he wanted 10 COM
ment on Mr. Tanners work in the last cleo
ton. when the district polled a Republican
vote which amounted 10 81 per cent of the
entire vote OF the district, the highest per-
centage in the city. Tanner, the state
chairman said, vas an ideal district leader,
who recognized that it took both the party
machine-and construct
i've ideas together TO make political prog