New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-19
fuse OR D|S|NTEGRATE, )"
PRENDERCAST DECLARES.
"Man Thinking ProgresSlveS
Can Win City Election Lacks
knowledge or Is Defective"
REPLIES TO H0TCHKISS
Third Party Leaders May Hear
T. R. To-day Behind Closed
Doors-State Executive
Committee Will Meet.


ANY man who thinks that the Progress
siye party could elect city officers NOM
mated upon a straight ticket is either
lacking in political knowledge and expert
ence or belongs to the ranks Of the men
tally defective"
This was the reply yesterday of Con-
troIler Prendergast to a statement OF
Chairman Hotchklss of the Progressive
State Committee, in which he said:
while there is apparently no sentiment
whatever in the Progressive party look
ing to a possible fusion between the Pro-
gressives and either Of the old parties in
the elections OF 1913 and 1914, this matter
will undoubtedly have consideration
The reference of the state chairman
was to things that are to he discussed to-
day at the conference between members
of the state committee and the various
county chairmen. Colonel Roosevelt and
Oscar l.. Straus who was the party's can
didate for Governor. will talk to the as
sembled Progressives.
The gathering will be so large that II
has been found necessary 10 have the
meeting at the Holland House. II is
probable that the meeting when the
colonel speaks will not be an open one, as
Chairman Hotchkiss was not pleased at
the way In which some OF the informal
remarks of the colonel at the first meet
ing of the state organization were re-
peated in the newspapers This session
will be preceded by a meeting Of the
state executive committee.
Chairman Hotchkiss Silent
Chairman Hotchklss last night abso-
lutely refused TO discuss the statement
Of Controller Prendergast in which ref
erence was made to mentally detectives"
He said he had not read it. but acknowl-
edged that some one had told him about
il.
Nor would Chairman HOtchkiss discuss
his attitude on fusion on the New York
City municipal ticket next fall IL is UNI
derstood that he holds that the Progress
sive party could not well join hands with
the Republican organization here after
denouncing ii for fraudulent practices"
in the election of delegates to the Repub-
lican National Convention last March. He
thinks that the Progressives ought to 30
ahead and nominate a good city ticket
and then let the Republicans indorse IT,
if they will.
In reply to the statement OF oscar L.
Straus that in appointing the legislative
committee of the state organization nc
had not paid any attention 10 district lines,
aiming rather to get men who were "a
miliar with the doctrines as outlined I'm
the platform and could draw up suitable
bills to carry out such planks, Controller
Prendergast said he did not think Mr..
Straus was responsible for the selection
of the committee Of nine.
Prendereast's Objection.
What I object to-" he said rs the
fact that when this most important com
mittee was appointed ordinary political
wisdom and decency were not exercised
in recognizing one Of the most important
communities in this state"
In his statement, which came from his
country home at Lakeville, Conn. the
Controller went on to express his belief
in fusion on a municipal ticket, much as
he has already been quoted IN The Trib-
une.
Every one ought 10 know" he said,
that the most important election TO be
held next year IS the election OF city
officers for the greater city Of New York.
/ do not know what warrant or authority
| the state chairman of the Progressive
party has for asserting that there will not
| be fusion or that there is little likelihood
| of fusion.
"If he is making his statement on the
authority of those very high in the Pro-
gressive party, they might as well under
! stand now that such a policy would not
only be suicidal for the Progressive party,
but would be wicked from a civic point
! of view. There is no way in which tick
ct can be made to defeat Tammany Hall
but by fuslng the elements opposed to
| that organization"
The Controller believes that there should
be an absolute SHOW down" on the
proposition to-day. That is hardly prob
| able however, as the conference has been
called primarily to discuss state and not
| local matters.
IF the Progressive conference to-mor-
row." said the Controller. should decide
on straight ticket policy In the city OF
New York next year the disintegration
Of the Progressive party In this city will