The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-08-08
REPUBLICAN PLEA VAIN
Prosecutor Refuses to Run
Alone or Disrupt Tam
many's Foes.
FORGETS SELF FOR CITY
Leaders of Allied Parties Laud
Decision and FOresee
Victory.

Charles s. whitman accepted late yes
terday afternoon the fusion nomination
for District Attorney. In a letter to Nor
man Hapsood. chairman Of the Com
mittee Of 107. he said he was willing TO
do his part for the cause Of fusion. and
called for a union OF all citizens. In
Guiding the Republicans. in the interest
Of the anti-Tammany cause.
Mr. Whitmans letter came at the end
Of a long day OF conferences with Re-
publican leaders, many Of whom urged
him up TO the last minute to lead q
third ticket. Mr.. whitman was In doubt
for many hours as to whether he should
leaders and make his acceptance Of the
fusion nomination conditional upon the
acceptance OF John Purroy Mitchell a. the
Mayoralty candidate Of all the parties
but the leaders OF the fusion movement
declared II was his duty to tie no strings
10 his acceptance. At last he assented
and at o'clock made public the following
letter TO Mr.. Hapgood:
Mr. whitman's Statement.
"Normnn Hop0ood. Esq. ChairmaR OF
Citizens Municipal Com nittee.
DEAR SIR: ! accept the fusion nomina-
ton for District Attorney and will exert
every effort to elect the entire anti
Tammany ticket.
From the first my determination has
been to do nothing to weaken the fusion
movement The real question has been
to lend it my most effective strength.
For the reason that you and others
urge that my acceptance will give
strength to the ticket and because .
third ticket in the field would insure Tam.
many success l have determined to ac-
cept the place that has been allotted to
ME, irrespective OF any other question.
Il have delayed making the announce
ment of my position because l have felt
it my duty to hear in full the views OF
those who SO Loyalty supported me. and to
take the opportunity OF expressing my
own views to them upon the situation.
II has been urged upon me that the
decision of the fusion committee was
dictated by partisan motives and accom-
pished by partisan methods.
The fact remains that fusion ticket
has been arranged and that this Is no
time for the division Of the anti Tam
many forces.
The Republican party in the constitu.
tional convention which provided that
municipal elections should be separated
from State elections recognized the prin-
oiple that municipal government should
b divorced from party government.
The willingness Of the Republican
party to participate In the union of cit
liens tor the common good was based
upon recognition OF this principle. and
the Republican party deserves great
credit. with its 10000 enrolled voters.
In placing the general welfare above party
advantage.
The Republican party best serves itself
IN supporting the fusisn movement, and
by so doing II commands the respect of
the community.
'Against CorraDtion."
TT Is stronger as a party in the State
and the Union for joining forces with all
good citizens regardless OF party against
corruption In the city OF New York than
by selfshly Insisting upon the selection of
any particular Republican for particular
ONCE
The purpose OF the fusion committee
was to bring about concerted action TO
secure the most efYicient and honest gov
eminent possible for the city OF New
York. The union OF all citizens In this
common cause Is Of far greater impor-
tance than the division among parties of
Offices or the distribution OF patronage.
Personal ambition or partisan feeling
must be subordinated to the public good.
The movement inaugusated by your COM
mttee should receive the support Of all
voters Of all parties who wish to put an
end 10 commercial and political graft and
who wish to establish business admins
ttaton In the great .city departments and
carry forward the great administra-
tive work Of the development Of transit.
protection to health. preservation OF order.
tn. assurance OF safety. the abolishment
Of special privilege In any form and the
general welfare OF this the greatest OF
c.'es
The selections made by the committee
assure cooperation along these lines by
al the candidates. and all should now
unite in making election sure. will do
my part. Very sincerely yours.
"CHARLEs 8. WHITMAN"
After the letter was made public. Mr..
Whitman said in conversation with his
blends that no one could realize the
strain he had undergone He had nothing
10 add for publication. however. beyond
bare sentence addressed to the Re
r1hIican voters
Il expect" he said. that the Repub-
Leans will follow me and support the
fusion ticket"
Ever since he returned last Tuesday
from Breton Woods Mr.. Whitman has
been subjected TO most urgent demands
h' the Republican leaders. They told
h!'n tho partisan fortunes OF 10000
I"p1hlcan voters depended on HE answer
n"y said that II he agreed to his elimi-
'"'."n AS u Mayoralty candidate and
'crtcd the offer Of the fusi0nists to
Nominate him for District Attorney the