New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-29
Mitchell Declares He Will
Fight if Genuine De-
mand" Is Shown
Koenig Says Leaders
VIII Support Bennett
Swami Announces Grand
Jury VIII Sift Evidence
of Fraud


fight TO stay.
The Mayor announced his intention
yesterday with minor qualification
which can readily be satisfied. He de-
clsred he would run Independently
against William NJ. Bennett, who un-
ouestionably will be declared the Re-
publican candidate, II there appeared to
be "a genuipely substantial demand
tor him on the part of the people Of the
city, including Republicans.
That such a demand exists was in
dicated in many quarters yesterday.
The Fusion Committee, under the re-
organization of the Mayors personal
campaign committee, is rushing plans
for live, vigorous Mitchell campaign.
Already nearly all of the 5000 names
required have been obtained to an in
dependent petition for the Mayor, un-
der the emblem Of the bulls eye.
When the inspection Of the ballots
IN the entire city was completed at
midnight il showed net gain for Mr.
Bennett of 946. making his lead over
Mayor Mitchell on the unofficial recount
oil.
The petition for the Mayors inde-
pendent nomination will be ready the
first Of the week. The committee plans
70 90 through the formal motions
again OF rendering the nomination to
Mayor Mitchell at that time. The
Mavor is expected to fire his first big
gun in the campaign in his statement
OF unqualified acceptance then.
The Mayors Statement
The Mayors statement Of yesterday
follows:
If there appears TO be a genuinely
substantial demand that l run for
Mayor on the part Of the people Of
this city. including Republicans, VINO
believe in honest, non-partisan Gnd
loyalty American government in the
City Of New York, l shall make the
fight 10 keep the city out Of the
grip Of Murphy and Tammany Hall,
and clean Of enemy influence.
If fraud has been committed on
either side in this primary election, |
sincerely hope that those guilty will
be discovered and punished, and
viii DO everything in my power to
assist to that end.
Emory r. Buckner, the new manager
Of the Fusion campaign committee. also
announced yesterday that the commit
tee. far from having any desire to at
tempt to hamper District Attorney
Swami in his investigation of possible
fraud in the Republican primary cleo
ton, would encourage and assist in the
investigation in every way possible. Mr..
Buckner declared that the Fusion COM
mittee was only carrying out its lnten
ton prior 10 the primary election to
Nominate Mayor Mitchell on an inde-
pendent ticket, and that there would be
no Republican desertions from the
committee to the regular organization
candidate.
we do not feel that II per cent of
the voters of one of the Fusion ele-
ments should dictate VINO should be
the candidate Of the whole Fusion al
believe that a great majority of the
voters want Mayor Mitchell. The Re-
publican party is 1t one factor IN the
combination Tn vote cast for Mr..
Bennett was about II per cent Of the
Republican enrolment. We believe that
n majority Of the Republicans and the
other ORGANIZATIONS want Mr.. Mitchell
10 be their candidate and we are pro-
ceeding TO arrange his nomination by
petition.
Admit Mayors Handicap
Frankly speaking, they were caught
Mapping in the primaries. There was a
fight on, but war had not been de-
clared. Instead of making a pre-prl-
mary campaign, or going TO the polls,
they were attending TO their regular
business. No one imagined that SO
large an adverse vote would be cast.
Now we are going ahead 70 carry out
our plans and nominate the Mayor.
The principal planks Of our platform
will be aggressive Amerlcanism and
anti-Tammany.' :,
That the Mayor would be materially
handicapped, however, by the loss OF
some of the Republican organization
support was not denied. IL is expected
that all of the regular Republican or
ScN4LallO0 lGdQtiS Will lilNOA oS
nett as the party candidate, and that
the five Republican county committees
in the greater city will go on record to
that effect. 1t was pointed out that the
organization leaders could not afford
TO 60 back Of the primaries and had to
indorsc Bennett to be regular"
How much of the Republican organl-
za;ion vote will so to Bennett on that
account is another matter. 1t is be-
lieyed that Bennett may get the So
called clubhouse vote" in the Repub-
lican districts, including the district
leaders and other active workers IN or
ganiza,ion matters, and some OF their
closest followers, who also feel that
they will have to be regular" That
vote will be comparatively small. Tine
big Republican vote is expected TO
swing 70 Mitchell. The Republican
leaders who worked for Mitchell and
Fusion before the primaries feel that
nearly the whole strength OF the Ben
nett vote was shown in the primary.
Leaders Support Bennett
The executive committee Of the Re
publican County Committee met yes
terday afternoon at county headquar-
tiers, lO5 West Fortieth Street The
I-ok N11A