New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-24
TERRYS INDEPENDENCE
Refuses to Vote for Charter at
Tammany'S BeheSt.

The Independence OF Assemblyman Ed
mund r. Terry, the representative OF the
LIST Assembly District, Brooklyn, has again
asserted itself in his stand upon the pro-
posed charter. Mr.. Terry's Independent
turn Of mind first attracted attention in
1895, when he resigned from the chairman
ship OF the Democratic Campaign Commit
tee Of the Kings County organization be-
cause he did not favor the candidacy OF
william Jennings Bryan and was unwilling
TO work for his election as President OF
the United States
His refusal TO submit to machine dicta-
ton on the question OF the charter is in
line with his former exhibition Of indie
prndence His friends say they feel sure
that he will continue to refuse 70 jump TO
the crack of the Tammany whip. even
though the threat Of denying him nomi-
nation is held over him. His constituents
are watching him and approving his firm
stand against rushing through the Tigers
charter
Terry represents a district that is largely
Republican in sentiment. The lst Assem-
bly, District IS one OF the most peculiar IN
Brooklyn II includes Brooklyn Heights,
the oldtime home OF fashion, and still the
home OF many OF the borough's foremost
families. the Lows, the Pierreponts, the
Ltchhelds the Peabodys. the Bowens, the
bikes and others. The Terrys figure among
these families But the section also in
cludes blocks OF people who never figured
in the society columns. Another element
is the boarding house and hotel population.
Politicians have had trouble IN getting can
dldates from the section capable OF pleas
Ing the majority.
The Republicans have been the most sue
cessful and Mr.. Terry has been one Of the
few Democrats able 20 check them. If he
IL renominated by his party this fall II Is
safe to say that it will only be because
Sheriff p. II. Quinn, his leader, and other
Democratic leaders believe that he has the
ability 10 roll up a big vote among the So
called blue stockings"
Even with his strength among the old
Heights families in view, the Democrats
are likely 10 hesitate this fall, 1t is gener-
ally understood. All the Democratic legis-
ators from Brooklyn who stood for Edward
NJ Shepard as United States Senator. ana
thus incurred the resentment OF Charles r
Murphy. have been scheduled 10 go, and
Mr. Terry was a Shepard man. His stand
his Independence.
Mr.. Terry is not the first member OF his
family who has done things His grand
father. John n. Prentice, once a leading
merchant OF Brooklyn and the founder OF
the Prentice stores, held the posts OF
Water Commissioner Bridge Commissioner
ana Park Commissioner He was largely
responsible for the laying out OF the Coney
Island Boulevard. now the finest and most
popular driveway in the borough. HIS
father, Edmund Terry. was a lawyer. Mr..
Terry was born In Brooklyn on JIne ii,
1876 He was one Of a family OF seven
nrothers He has never married, and lives
With some OF his brothers In the cid home
stead, No. u Remsen street.
As boy he attended Harts School, anu
afterward went TO Yale University being
graduated In 1873 with William Howard
TAFT At college be was mem0er OF the
Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. lie next
studied law at Columbia University. HIS
rolltieal career began soon after his adj
mission TO the bar. He represented inc
district I'm the Assembly in 1905. was beaten
that fail. 10 be reelected in 1910. He Is a
writer as well as a politician. lie "Io'e
THE Patchmaker," play. years ago ana
has contributed 20 magazines ana P'riou'-
calls ever since.
Mr. Terry was one OF the founders Of the
crescent Athletic club and belongs TO the
Hamilton club. the Altar Masonic Lodoe
end tie local Democratic club.