New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-02
Leaders Surprised at Selection
of Port Collector for the
MayoraIty by the Fu-
sion Committee.
EXPLAIN HOW IT HAPPENED
S. S. Koenig, County Chairman,
Says He Views Action as
Merely Recommendation
to the Various Party J
Organizations.

furrOy Mtcnel winch vas CHOSEN Dy
the Citizens Municipal Committee early
yesterday morning, was the centre
yesterday for political gossip in all par
ties. Among the Republican leaders
there was evident a distinct intention
to slow down, put on the soft pedal
and await developments. To say that
there was also surprise at the sudden
switch TO Mitchell by the fusion COM
mtteemen is putting it mildly.
Samuel s. Koenig, Republican County
chairman. was tho only Republican
leader who would make any statement
for quotation. He said.
II view these nominations on the
part OF the Citizens Municipal Com
mttee merely as recommendations for
candidates TO the various party organi-
cations. TO he submitted in the regular
manner under the provisions Of the
primary law. In the case OF the Re-
publican party the party designating
committee 10 which these nominations
will be submitted will meet on Au-
gust 49,"
Other prominent Republican leaders
admitted they had been utterly sur
prised by the action Of the fusionists
in turning down Whitman. Their tele-
phone bells were busy all day with
calls from fellow Republicans, who
ascribed the antagonism toward Whit
man on the fusion committee to vari-
Gus sources.
Some declared they saw in the
| fusion committees activity a revival
of the old County Democracy crowd
and an attempt 10 use the fusion move
ment to establish a rival Democratic
machine to fight Tammany.
Whitmans fight against Mortimer
Schiff in the Brandt case was ascribed
! by others as the underlying cause OF
opposition 70 the District Attorney,
and one prominent Republican who
was a member of the fusion commit
tee declared that representatives OF the
SchiTs. in their eagerness 10 defeat
Whitman for the Mayoralty nomina-
! ton. had been lining up" some doubt
, full members Of the committee Tor
Mitchell and had succeeded in influence
ing some members 10 stay away from
! the meeting.
II was pointed out by others thas
Nathan Smyth, secretary Of the COM
mittee. who cast the final deciding
vote on the ninth ballot which gave
Mitchell a. as against Whtmans 43.
was an assistant district attorney un-
der Jerome and was let out by Whit
man.
Another prominent Republican de-
clared that the committee had been or
ganized as a "McAneny committee
by friends of the Borough President,
and that. in spite Of the strength OF
the Whitman sentiment, the Progress
sive third of the committee cherished
hatred for Whitman that could not
be overcome.
when the McAneny split came" he
said. some of the independent Demo-
Gratis on the committee were actuated
| by the feeling that Mitchell would
eventually organize an independent
Democratic body TO which they could
tie up in permanent opposition TO
Tammany. There were a half dozen
men on the committee on whom heavy
pressure was brought TO bear 10 re-
strain them from throwing their votes
TO Whitman after McAneny was out
Of IL, and one man was actually scared
out of attending the meeting at ALL
Republicans May Run Whitman.
Republican leaders generally, whilo
admitting that II was too early 10
make any definite plans. made IL per-
| fectly plain that they were far from
the point OF giving up the idea OF run
ming Whitman as the Mayoralty can
didate on a Republican ticket. With
them II was a question Of considering
two elements-what Whitman would
decide as TO himself and what chance
there was of electing him, II nomi-
mated.
Another plan considered was TO put
Whitman's name on both the Repub-
lican and Progressive primary ballots.
solely for the purpose Of having a
count on his strength compared TO
Mitchell. The Republicans who urged
this plan took their cue from the state
ment Of Otto T. Barnard at the fusion
| committee meeting. who declared that
| Whitman was worth at least one hun
dred thousand votes more than Mitchell
In an anti-Tammany fight
one of the peculiar aspects OF the
fusion committees work was its re-
ception both by the candidates named
and party leaders to whom the fusion
lists look for work, money and votes.
Controller Prendergast naturally was
frankly pleased at his undisputed posi-
tion on he ticket. He said that he
would work enthusiastically for the
success OF the entire ticket. and he
secuted the suggestion that either NC
Aneny or Whitman might refuse to ac-
cent the fusion designation.
Borough President McAneny, before
leaving for Lake George issued brief
statement, which appeared 10 be some-
what chilly. In spite Of this, however,
his friends believe that he will finally
accent the nomination. They say that
he is intensely interested in details OF