New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-23
CHEERS GREET WHITMAN
District Attorney Hears His
Praises Sung by BrookIynltes.
SOUNDS BATTLE KEYNOTE
Prosecutor Says Aim Is to
Make New York Best
City Under God"

Five hundred Brooklyntes, representing
every shade OF political faith, honored
District Attorney Whitman for the work
he has done with what the menI 6e-
scribed a 5 an efficiency dinner" a. The
Imperial. I'm Brooklyn. last night. The af-
fair was under the auspices of the Brook
lyn Young Republican Club.
There We're four speakers. The first
three were Congress William NJ. Calder,
Controller William A. Prendergast and
the Rev. Nehemiah Boynton. Each paid
tribute 10 the guest of the evening. and
every high-sounding phrase Of praise that
they showered upon the District Attor-
ney was received with cheers by the
diners.
The fourth speaker was tine District At
torney. When he rose to speak every
man rose with him. and cheered him FOR
nearly two minutes. And then, as he did
once before. in a public speech. when the
citizens Of Manhattan gathered In Carne-
gle Hall to do him honor he accepted the
praise rendered him on behalf OF his en-
tire staff Of fifty assistants.
Mr.. Whitman's speech was somewhat
reminiscent. for he came TO Brooklyn
after graduating from Amherst in 1890
before he attained his majority. He told
OF casting his first vote in Congressman
Calder's district or rather corroborated
the Congressman statement in this re
gard. and he told OF how his first political
speech was made on behalf OF Mayor
Gaynor when he was running for Justice
OF the Supreme Court And he made II
plain that he had no regrets for support
ing the Mayor for the Supreme Court. and
he put such emphasis on the office that
the crowd laughed
Some who heard the District Attorney
speak thought he sounded a keynote for
the coming MayOralty campaign in his
closing paragraph when he said:
we are not going to be satisfied with
the statement that New York city Is as
good as any other city, perhaps as some
city of the Old World. but We are goine
To unite. without regard to party or with
out regard 10 the future factions In any
party. to make IT the best city under God
that We can make it,
And many saw In II prophecy of a
fusion movement. almost AS direct az CON
troller Prendergasts. who during MS
speech declared that IL was the belief OF
all Progressives, who were progressive
not only in name but I'm mind and heart
TO unite against the party now In
power"
, Congressman Calder. the first speaker
introduced by Darwin r.. James. jr.. the
president Of the club. began By sayine
that il was only proper that Brooklyn
should pay tribute 10 District Attorney
Whitman lie then reviewed his bis
task Of bringing Lieutenant Charles
Becker and the four gunner 10 justice
Tor the murder OF Herman Rosentha
and FOR exposing the secret completely
between the hired gunner and the sworr
guardians of the peace and the en-
forcers Of the law. the police
Controller Prendergast spoke OF Mr.
Whitmans work In putting the bank
ureckers behind the bars. despite
threats az insidious as any the Dis
trict Attorney has received in the last
few months
Some Of those present at the speakers
table were County Judge l.. l.. Fawcett
District Attorney James G. Cropsey OF
Kings. +. r. Cottrell. : NJ. Griswold. &
H.. Kelby. j. &. Klinck. j. Livingston. f.
q Sammis and Alfred r.. Nass.