Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-22
FUSION PLAN
FAILS TO SHOW
MUCH STRENGTH
Arguments Pro and Con at Pro-
gressive City Committee
Meeting.
MAYoRALTY CANDIDATE
MUST BE REPUBLICAN,
So Declares AIgernon Sweeney
and the Statement Stirs Ses-
sion to Warm Discussion.

Rather resultless in the way Of
accomplishing anything definite to-
ward advancing fusion move-
ment was the meeting of the Progress
sive City Committee held at head
quarters in Halsey street last night
There were discussions aplenty and
q plurality of plans, but the close of
the session found the situation about
as it was at the beginning.
Some favored a fusion of the Re-
publicans and Progressives on a may
orally candidate and candidates for
several other offices. Others declared
fusion should be on an independent
basis. Algernon L. Sweeney, chair
man of the city committee, advocated
fusion candidate but was emphatic
In saying that the candidate must be
Republican.
This idea of fusion provoked some
sharp comments and suggestions that
IL it was to be entertained the Pro-
gressives might just as well shut up
shop. go right over to the Republican
camp, wipe out Progressive identity
and be done with it.
Many PIanlss in Platform.
Announcement was made by Colonel
James W. Howard. near the opening
OF the meeting, that part of a tenta-
tive draft OF the proposed municipal
platform was completed and that the
instrument so far had about thirty
five planks and that subcommittee
Of five of the platform committee
was now at work to revise and pre-
pare tentative draft which would
be submitted to the whole platform
committee In August the platform
Is to be placed before a9A city COM
mittee- He invited all ciaizens to
send in suggestions to Harrison r.
Van Duyne, in the Kinney building,
secretary of the platform committee.
Colonel Howard explained that the
platform deals with the moral, eth
ical and material Improvement and
welfare of the people of Newark and
that 1t will be put forth In the spirit
of service and not of selfishness nor
of partisanship There should be no
personal Office seeking taint to it.
That It will be as far as possible a
model platform which on it's merits
would appeal to all other parties and
which they or their candidates could
follow as to general principles, If not
IN detail
The fusion topic was brought up
by George NJ. Judd asking for infor-'
nation on the subject and the chair
man of the city committee. Mr..
Sweeney, gave his views on the sub
ject, arguing that it was up to the
Republican party TO get down to bust
ness, as the fusion candidate should
be Republican.
Explanations Demanded.
Singing out the Republican party
as Mr.. Sweeney did, brought several
members to their feet who demanded
explanations from the chairman.
'If there is to be fusion" said Sam
uel Levin, then, Mr.. Chairman, tell
me why must the candidate come
from the Republican party? Where
are the Democrats? If we are to go
back to the Republican party. why,
then, let US be open about it and say
so. If all here want to go back,
want to go back, too, but not to the
Republican party, ] assure you. The
Democrats are just as good as the Re-
publicans and have just as good men
in office
When Mr.. Judd had asked for in
formation on the subject, he boosted
County Tax Commissioner Jerome T.
Congleton, former alderman. as his
choice for a fusion candidate for
mayor. No more had Mr.. Levin had
his say, when Joseph Tanenbaum
arose and indulged in some free
speech
Is Fusion on the Level
81 am fully in accord with the pre-
vious speaker. Fusion is aHfElgnt,
but the question remains-isHE on
the level? Mr.. Congleton is anFabie
fellow, but ] also know that once
he was Progressive and then De
came Republican again and also
has a job. Austen Colgate was
Progressive, which did not prevent
him accepting the senatorship at the
hands of the Republicans. We arc
always talking about principles. ';he
truth is what we want and not prin-
ciples alone. but also the office to
carry out these principles. There are
a few in this league who are with
US and shout about principles, and
when they can get an office else
where they leave rs"
David Lesnik took decided stand
against any kind of fusion before the
primaries and DR.. J )hr IIemsath
said that anybody who was to be
a fusion candidate would have to
be absolutely Independent of what
ever his party affiliations were.
William M. Sagurton was of the
opinion that fusion could take care
of itself and that in his opinion 1t
was far more important that the city
committee took some hand in help
ing the county committee to fill~ths
places for county committeeman IN
every district in the city. as the RANKS
are still thin.