The Washington herald., 1914-07-24
.TAMMANY MEN
SHY AT wilson
Fear Formal Call at White
House Will Provoke At
tack on Tiger.
WILL HOLD CONFERENCE
Fitzgerald Calls Meeting Monday to
Decide How Best to Beard Presi-
dent on Situation.

Tammany Democrats who have been
invited by Representative John ]. Fitz-
gerald. of Brooklyn, to beard President
Wilson at the White House to learn at
first hand Just how the New York organ
izatIon stands in his estimation, had a
sober second thought yesterday and were
wondering II they might not get the
worst OF It They fear that a formal
call on the President on such a mission
/ may provoke an attack on Tammany
Hall that will add to the already badly
damaged condition Of the organization.
They have been advised that William
g. McAdoo, Secretary of the Treasury,
and others will strongly urge the Presi-
dent to accept this opportunity Of max
ing a clear-cut issue against boss domi-
nation in the New York organization.
Wilson Proves q Puzzle.
President Wilson's attitude toward the
New York City Democrats puzzles all
1.-The representatives OF the organization
in Washington. Mr. Fitzgerald contends
that the Presidents mind has been
poisoned against the city organization by
the Upstairs that have recently come
to the fore. On the other hand members
Of the city delegation contend that II re-
u Dt ulsClOstu lildA MT "hSOh 10
unfriendly to Tammany men as such,
and that at any rate nothing should be
done that would put New York Demo-
Gratis in the attitude of being antagonistic
to the administration.
The conference to be held in Repre-
sentative FitZgerald's office Monday will
not be a pink tea affair. In the first
place. a number Of the city Democrats,
after scratching their heads. have come
IL. n
Fitzgerald's action in calling the meet
ing without full and free conference with
others in the delegation. They are bitter
in their criticisms OF Mr.. Fitzgerald's
statement that New York organization
Democrats have been represented as
buccaneers" and' crooks" and in
sist that the Brooklyn delegate was un-
fortunate in his choice of terms. All
seem to be agreed that it will be a
good thing for the members to get to-
gether and canvass the situation, but
differences exist as to the wisdom Of
making a formal call at the White House
to find out WHO Who in New York
politics.
Fear -Four Tickets in Field.
Among the city members the fear is
expressed that there may be four tickets
In New York this year. II the admin
istration continues to encourage the
criticisms Of the organization, Demo-
Gratis are apprehenslve that an indepen-
dent party ticket will be named. The
city members are In a state OF blue funk
over the situation. and as things now
stand they do not look for anything but
a crushing defeat in November.
President Wilson talked politics to a
visitor to the White House yesterday.
His attention was called to the state
men issued by Mr.. Fitzgerald last night
and special reference vas made to that
feature of the prOnouncement in which
the Brooklyn member said that he and
some Of his colleagues had been pictured
by persons to the administration as
buccaneers"
The President said that he was fairly
well Informed on personalities in New
York. and that no one could mislead him
by applying harsh terms to New York
leaders. The President said further that
the New York members should not gain
the impression that he takes everything
he hears at face value. The President
made II plain that he hears many things.
but that in all instances he was capable
OF separating the wheat from the shan.
The President could not recall that any
one had tried to put Mr.. Fitzgerald and
other New York members in an unfavor-
able light.