New-York tribune., 1913-08-30
Decide, However. to Ignore His
Advice Not to Accept Places
on Opposition Tickets if
They Are Offered.
SECRET MEETING AT CLUB
Mitchell Declines Nomination by
independence League, and His
Friends Begin Campaign
to Make Others Fol
low His Lead.

low His Lead.
Friends Of John Purroy Mitchell, Col
lector Of Port, and fusion candidate
for Mayor organized a sort OF war
board yesterday and started a cam
paign to keep the other fusion candi-
dates. city, borough and county, from
accepting Endorsement by the Gaynor
ticket.
one OF the first moves was to call
a conference Of the other fusion can
didates for the Board of Estimate with
Colonel Roosevelt. who. two days ago,
in a statement. held it would not be
honorable for any member Of the fu-
sion ticket 10 accept Endorsement on
any ticket that did not contain the
names Of all.
There was a general discussion OF
the question in the presence OF the
colonel. The arguments on both sides
that had been formulated at the con-
ferences on Thursday night were given
10 the colonel, and he was plainly told
that the natural conclusion seemed to
be that for the good OF the city the
candidates could not afford TO reject
Gaynor Endorsements II they came TO
them without conditions. In other
words. the colonel was given 10 under
stand in diplomatic language that the
candidates did not feel bound To accept
his ideas.
The colonel repeated what he had
said in his statement about the desr-
ability Of hanging together for the good
Of the entire ticket. bat he had no new
arguments TO offer He acknowledged
the situation was so muddled that he
saw no hopes OF strengthening II out
In way satisfactory 10 all concerned
He made IL clear that as he was not a
resident Of this city he could not be
expected TO try TO solve the problem.
Tammany the Issue, He Says.
MI lllk IOl'ONFu All' Hlb4iAdAAUil VI
Mitchels letter 10 William j. Taylor.
chairman Of the designating committee
OF the Independence League. formally
declining the designation Of that party
for Mayor. BY indirection he made
strong plea 10 the other fusion candi-
oates not TO accept an Endorsement on
any ticket that did not contain his
name. lie said his action had been
taken through loyalty 10 his colleagues.
who had failed 10 get an Endorsement
on the league ticket. He said IL was
important 10 present united front TO
Tammany, which was the main issue
Of the campaign.
Mitchell fled with the Board Of Elec-
tions his formal declination last night.
1t read:
Il. John Purroy Mitchell. hereby de-
cline the designation as candidate for
nomination for the office Of Mayor Of
the city OF New York by the Indc-
pendence League party, in accordance
with the provisions Of Section 30 Of the
election law"
The Collector started last night on
ten-day vacation in the Adirondacks.
He and Mrs. Mitchell were passengers
in the night boat for Albany.
81 am going away 10 hide myself in
the woods and forget politics" he said.
Il shall be twenty miles away from a
railroad station and out Of reach OF the
telephone and telegraph | do not
want TO be reached with political mat
ters or business Of any kind"
Mitchell Silent as He Sails.
Mr.. Mitchell said he did not want TO
say of the situation any more than ap-
reared in his letter to Mr.. Taylor,
v hich follows:
The City Designating Committee Of
the independence League having low
completed its ticket and having failed
to designate for nomination my col
leagues on the fusion ticket, am COM
PEELED by loyalty TO them and TO the
cause I have been called upon to lead
to decline the designation for Mayor
with which you have honored me. This
/ hereby do.
The issue in this municipal cam
paign is perfectly plain and very sim
pie 1t involves unreserved and unre-
lenting opposition to Tammany Hall
and to all the pernicious influences that
fiow from IL and the interests that
minister 10 it. In meeting this issue
the fusion candidates are confronted.
first. by tie open and impudent opposi-
ton Of Murphy and Tammany Hall IL
self, and, second. by the hidden and
subtle opposition Of those forces behind
the Gaynor candidacy that would
weaken the fusion ticket by destroying
its unity and integrity through picking
off candidates from II for Endorsement
and support.
NV sense OF loyalty TO the fusion
cause and my duty TO my colleagues
upon the fusion ticket alike prevent me
from accepting any offer Of advantage
which is denied 10 them. The impor-
tance OF a united stand against Muir
phy and Tammany Hall must out
weigh every consideration OF apparent
advantage.
ut is my purl )se 10 ask the voters 10
support me in fight TO repudate both
a milling Tammany agent In Mr. Nc