New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-21
Nav Be Drawn In by
Fusion if Republicans
Agree
SOME LEADERS WISH
TWO-PARTY FIGHT
Mitchell Declares He Has
Not Given Reelection
a Thought

Mayor Mitchell is not a candidate Tor
reelection next fall--not yet. lie made
that point entirely clear yesterday,
when the question was asked him.
Whether he will be led into the CAM
paign later on, or exert himself for a
denomination, is another matter and
depends upon more mature local con
ditions. which cannot be foreseen II
this time. Should the Fusion cohorts
again assemble TO beat Tammany, 1t
is not unlikely that Mayor Mitchell
would be their best candidate, pro-
vided he would consent to run again.
Some of the local Republican leaders
feel that the Mayor deserves renoin-
nation, and would be willing to fuse
to see him reelected, as they believe
he would be If he were nominated.
Because of the increased Republican
strength in the city vote, as shown IN
the recent election, some OF the Re
publican county leaders think that
Tammany will not put up one Of its
favorite sons, State Senator Robert :.
Wagner, Sheriff Alfred +. Smith, or
any one else high in Tammany aifec-
tions, to be slaughtered at the polls.
Assuming that the Republican vote,
which cut the recent city pluralities
Of Democratic candidates 20 the bone,
car be maintained, the leaders argue
that the Mayor as a Fusion candidate
again would win handily.
Some Want Party Ticket
There are other leaders in the local
Republican camp who feel that the
good party showing on November IS
an opportunity not to be thrown away
on Fusion. They are already begin
ming to talk about a straight Republl-
can candidate for Mayor and argue
that most of the independent voter,
who do not want Tammany reinstatei
would line up behind such "a candidate
For that reason they believe Repub-
lican Mayor could be elected. These
leaders, however, are not now IN con-
tro, of the local organization.
When asked yesterday if he would
accept a denomination Mayor Mitchell
said that he had had no time to give a
thought to that matter. He added that
he intended to stick to his job as
Mayor for several months to come and
had no ambition TO use his office TO
build up a machine for his political
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. He intimated that he
had no intention of crossing political
bridges until he got to them.
Reminded that there had been recent
rumblings of a get-together meeting OF
certain influential members Of the Com
mittec of l07. which nominated him in
1918, the Mayor declared that he didn't
care what that committee was doing.
He said that he had not been at the
reported dinner. and conference, and
would take nc part in such conferences
Issues Still Uniformed 49,
In view of the inaction Of the Port
and Terminal Commtte of the Board
of Estimate on the West Side improve
ment at its meeting in the Mayors of
zee yesterday, the Mayor was asked IT
he thought that controversy would be
an issue of the 1917 campaign.
"If you can tell now what will be the
issues of the 1917 Mayoralty campaign
you are the best political prophet in
New York City" was the Mayors reply.
Mayor Mitchell explained that the
form of contract between the city and
the New York Central for the West
Side improvement had not been nm
ished He said that there were many
disputed points which would have to be
pas sed on by the committee before the
Law Department could go ahead with
the drafting of the contract.
There has been some talk among pol
iticians that the present administration
would let the West Side improvement
plan lie over another year, so that any
i'll feeling aroused by plan acceptable
TO the railroad company would not af-
feet the Mayoralty election next year.