New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-06
Tiger Nomination of Justice
Seabury for Mayor, District
Attorney Hears, Is Planned
to Beat Mitchell Ticket.
NEW TWISTS IN SITUATION
Wigwam Endorsement of Prose-
cutor for Re election Even Pos
sible to Turn Police Condi-
tions Into Asset-Talk of
Direct Primary Fusion.


Direct Primary Fusion.
District Attorney Whitman, after
long day Of conferences at his home,
No. 81 Madison avenue, last night re-
fused TO say whether or not he would
accept the fusion nomination for his
present office.
The situation, so far as the Whitman
end of IL is concerned, became hope
lessly entangled with the possible Tam
many moves which the powers Of 14th
street have begun 10 map out with en-
thusiasm, now that MIR. Whitman has
been KEEP; away from the head Of the
fusion ticket.
Foremost Of these Tammany plans.
as the news of them was brought TO
Mr.. Whitman yesterday. is the nomina-
tion Of Justice Seabury for Mayor.
Tammany plans. according 10 this
story. TO take advantage Of the police
situation which the fusion committee
subordinated by naming as the Tam
many candidate the judge who tried
and sentenced most of the police graft
ers prosecuted by Whitman.
The second twist to this situation was
the Endorsement Of Mr.. Whitman for
District Attorney on the Tammany
ticket Whether authorized or un-
authorized by the Tammany managers,
an offer Of Endorsement by man
prominent in Tammany was made to
the District Attorney yesterday. Mr..
Whitman told his friends. it was said
that he would not consider it in any
way until he disposed Of the main ques-
ton now in hand
Proeressives Wouldn't Object.
one of the prominent men in the local
Progressive organization. who was
member Of the Committee of one Hun
dred and Seven, and who was one Of
the leaders in the fight for Mitchell.
when told last night of this possible
Tammany Endorsement OF Whitman for
District Attorney. said:
We'll. we would have no objection to
that. because we can trust Whitman
not to dicker with Tamm6ny."
Justice Seabury's record in the police
prosecuted by Mr.. Whit
man was one OF hearty support for the
District Attorney and his sentences OF
the convicted men were considered
severe rather than mild.
He gave the four inspectors
Sweeney. Hussey Murtha and Thomp-
son-the limit Of punishment for the
for which they were con-
victed. and mis- sentences of Hartigan
Duffy and Robinson were looked upon
as severe enough.
The Justice who tried these men was
not mentioned as a Tammany candi-
date until after Mr.. Whitman was
turned down by the fusion committee
for Mavor. Since then. however. his
name has been coming forward IN
Tammanv circles. He went into office
with the Hearst support, ana this was
counted upon by Tammany politicians
10 draw some Of that strength from
Mitchell The combination Of his NOM
ination and the Endorsement of Whit
man for District Attorney, first
broached Yesterday. would, II was said,
give Tammany a position from which
it could claim the police situation as
an asset rather than liability.
Mr.. whitman returned from his New
outing yesterday morning.
He went directly TO his home. and left
il only twice during the day. for lunch
and dinner. He received more than
two hundred letters, "A matter Of fifty
kilograms and about two hundred tele
phone calls.
Letters. kilograms and calls came
from all manner of people-from ex-
perienced politicians with expert ad
vice, and from ordinary voters sub
scribng themselves as Independents,
Democrats and Progress
sives In ali three classes the ratio Of
10 to / for Mayor held good: that is.
about ten messages urged him TO run
for Mayor on third ticket TO one
message urging him TO accept the flu
sion committees nomination for Dis
trict Attorney.
Unconvinced About the Ticket.
Mr.. Whitman feels that IL is the most
difficult question that he has ever had
put up to him. He is looking at il
from the viewpoint Of how
he can most surely help to defeat Tam
many. and he is not convinced that
the present fusion ticket has any
chance to defeat Tammany.
II he decides, after going over every
angle Of the situation. that the pres
pnt fusion ticket has so many draw
backs that 1t stands no chance what
ever Of beating Tammany, he will run
for Mayor himself on a third ticket.
even though he is willing 10 admit
that he would then be held personally
for Tammany victory.
Men who have had regulations as
experts on estimates Of voting in the