New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-08
This Is No Time for Division
Of Forces" He States in His
Letter to Chairman Hapgood
Must Subordinate Am
bition to Public Good"
PRAISES THE REPUBLICANS
Says They Will Best Serve Organi-
cation by Supporting Present
Movement - Citizens Union
Leaders Laud the Stand
Taken by Prosecutor.

The fusion situation cleared and all
factions in the movement apparently
were reasonably united last night when
District Attorney Whitman made an
unconditional announceme that he
would accept the fusion nomination for
District Attorney and exert his every
effort to elect the entire anti-Tam-
many ticket Mr.. Whitman announced
his decision in a letter 10 Norman Hap
good. chairman Of the Citizens Munich
pal Committee, following extended con-
ferences with the Republican and
fusion leaders at his Madison avenue
home during the day. Mr.. Whitman
said:
personal ambition or partisan feel
ing must be subordinated to tho public
good. The union Of all citizens in this
common cause 10 of far greater i'm
portance than the division among
parties Of offices or the distribution OF
patronage. will do my part
The District Attorney explained in
his letter that he had delayed the an
nouncement Of his position because hs
felt II was his duty TO hear in full the
views OF those who so Loyalty sup
ported me-" and TO take the oppor-
tunity Of expressing his own views TO
them upon the situation.
Mr.. Whitman's decision in the face
Of the strong pressure brought to bear
upon him during the last few days by
some OF the Republican leaders 10
repudiate the Mitchell ticket brought
joy TO the fusion camp. Collector
Mitchell. who heads the fusion ticket;
Borough President McAneny. and all
the fusion leaders expressed themselves
as overjoyed at the District Attorneys
announcement. and predicted a victory
for fusion at the polls this fall.
"AIl Happy Now
Mr.. Hapgood. who was with the Dis
trict Attorney when he gave out his
letter Of acceptance, was particularly
pleased.
I'VE are all happy now" he said.
and the thing to do is for everybody
to get behind the fusion ticket and
elect the candidates"
Neither Mr. Whitman nor any OF
the fusion leaders took II for granted
that all of the creases in the Republi-
can cloth had been entirely ironed out,
but they expressed confidence that
iCh a
the minds Of some Of the Republican
leaders would be satisfactorily over
come before the real campaign opened.
The threatened bolt in the Republican
County Committee, and similar sltua-
ton which developed in the Kings
County organization unless Whitman
ran for Mayor. was expected TO be
permanently forestalled when the
radicals" cooled off and saw the light
according 10 Mr.. Whitman's overturea.
II don't pretend to be able 10 swing
the entire Republican organization for
fusion" said Mr.. Whitman after he
had made his announcement, but
think that they will back me and sAo.
port the whole ticket"
Mr.. Whitman's letter OF acceptance
was as follows.
Il accept the fusion nomination for
District Attorney and will exert every
effort to elect the entire antiTammany
ticket. From the first my determina-
ton has been to do nothing TO weaken
the fusion movement. The real ques-
ton has been how to lend IL my most
effective support. Fer the reason that
YOU and others urge upon me that my
acceptance will give strength TO the
ticket and because a third ticket In
the field would insure Tammany sue
cess, I have determined TO accept the
place that has been allotted to me.
of any other question.
No Time to Divide Forces.
II have delayed making the an
Of my position because l
have felt it my duty 10 hear In fulI
the views of those who so Loyalty sup
ported me and TO take the opportunity
Of expressing my own views TO them
upon the situation. 1t has been urged
upon me that the decision of the fusion
committee was dictated by partisan
motives and accomplished BY partisan
methods. The fact remains that .
fusion ticket has been arranged, ana
that this is no time for the division OF
the anti-Tammany forces.
The Republican party in the con-
stitutional convention, which provided
that municipal elections should be sep
arated from state elections. recognized
the principle that municipal govern
ment should be divorced from party
government. The willingness OF the
Republican party to participate IN the