New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-19
Leaders Say New Foes All
Were for Mitchell
Beforehand
Murphy Is Silent
Schneider Hastens to Defence
Of Wigwam Against Dis
loyalty Charge

Tammany leaders and members OF
the Democratic fusion committee,
which includes influential Tammany
men on its roster, fastened yesterday
to dissect the newly formed City De-
mocracy. the organization composed Of
Independent and Wilson Democrats.
who are aligned with the fusion com
mittee of 1917 to fight Tammany in
| the coming municipal election. The IN
/ expected entrance OF so formidable a
body Of Democrats into the local
situation, pledged to run Tammany
Hall on the fats. II possible. was no
! little cause Of apprehension TO the
I Murphy regulars.
The Tammany leaders scurried 70
pick out any vulnerable points they could
/ find in the organization and TO belittle
/ its possible effect. The cry has been
raised so often that Charles F. Murphy
must be dethroned that the Fourteenth
| Street leader has become hardened TO
! it. So his close friends said yesterday
/ that he did not tremble in his boots at
/ the announcement of the City Democ-
/ racy. He just smiled and said nothing.
Not so with some other leaders. VIII
( lam F. Schneider, County Clerk and head
of the Democratic fusion committee,
which includes among its members
such well known Tammany men as
( Sheriff Al Smith, Senator Robert +.
Wagner. Thomas F. McAvoy and others,
/ issued statement, IN which he SAID:
! 81 think il is unfortunate and unjust
! 70 charge the Democratic organization
/ of this city with disloyalty 10 President
/ Wilson and Judge Seabury CONDITIONS
! last year were most unusual. Know
many regular Democrats who voted TOT
/ Mr.. Hughes. The organization was loyal
70 the Democratic ticket and ara us
+ best under trying circumstances.
/ Controller Prendercast was very
active during the last campaign: Mayor
/ Mitchell never did anything Tor VI, tne
+ Democrats in the campaign. Why VII
son democrats should now 20 shouting
around for Mitchell, I'm sure J don't
/ know What was done for Wilson was
/ done by the Democrats now opposing
/ Mitchell.
Fusion Called Failure
-Four years ago, when We had fusion,
E. was made up OF Republicans, Pro
cressivcs. Independence Leaguers, mem
hers Of the Cleveland Democracy ana
many other organizations. inns year
Peniibican fusion is failure. Inc
Fusion Committee Of 1917 is just regu-
lar there arc no outsiders.
"In order 20 give the appearance o.
rosl fusion the Fusion Committee OF
. 1917 had 10 send its democrats out 10
organize a City Democracy. The fusion
movement has failed. II IS entirely re
publican
Other Democratic leaders, as well as
Mr.. Schneider, laid great emphasis on
tn, fact that most Of the leaders m the
CITY Democracy are also members Of
the Fusion Committee OF 1917. which Is
already strongly lined up against Tam
many Hall and for the denomination OF
MAYOR Mitchell The 1ammany leaders
declare they arc reconciled TO any as
sistance that may come from Washing
ton 70 the fusion cause. They point
out that they never did get much con-
sideration from the Wilson Admins
tration. and a little less would make no
material difference.
City Democracy Meets
The new City Democracy lost no
time yesterday in getting together
About fifty members OF its executive
committee held a meeting at the new
headquarters. 80 East rorty-second
/ Street. in some OF The rooms occupied
! by the Democratic National Committee
during the Wilson campaign, and ap-
pointed committees on platform, reso-
/ lutions and permanent organization:
Thomas G. Whitlock, Of BROOKLYN
/ presided in the absence OF Martin W.
/ Iittleton. The committees will report
/ 70 the delegates convention which
/ the City Democracy plans 70 mold at
/ Grand Central Palace on June =.
I Admission 10 the convention viii be
( extended through the three hundred
members Of the CITY committee Of the
! Democracy. each member having three
.,.Lo4g a., hir disDOgal