New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-08

L
Democrat of eminent respectabllity,
unidentified with the organization,
Protestant, a business man, and prefer
ably a member of the Sons of the Rev
olution, the chief, with a wide gap IN
the enemys ranks staring him in the
face. would choose al" Smith. "Ap'
doesn't boast a frill in the world. He
was born and bred in Tom Foley's dis
trict; he is devout Catholic, but above
all else he is loyal, blown-in-th the glass
son of the Wigwam. How "the boys
would like TO see "Al" in the chair
1t seems long chance they are
taking, waiting for Cropsey to split
Fusion, but they think the prize is
worth it. The alternative is too un-
palatable to be endured until made
absolutely necessary. As for the big
chief, if he should commit them to
some ornamental but unsympathetic
bellwether, only to find later that he
might have won ,handily with AL
they would never forgive him.
At last accounts, Justice Cropsey's
friends were still counting the names
signed to petitions circulated in be-
half of his candidacy. Tax Commits
sioner Jake" Livingston, leader Of the
Republican organization in Brooklyn,
has put the decision in the matter OF
running for Mayor squarely up to the
Justice, but the latter is maintaining
a complete silence, presumably until
he learns how many people want nm
TO run.
There seems to be little doubt that
Justice Cropsey in the past has given
the Commissioner some encourag-
ment. He can't very well, therefore,
repudiate the efforts in his behalf with
out some show of deliberation in keep
ing with his august character as
member of the Supreme Court. both
he and Livingston are under the neces-
sity, if they are going to withdraw their
threat 20 the Fusion programme, OF
doing it gracefully and in their own
sweet time. Precipitate retreat at TINS
time would subject them TO ridicule.
All of which is recognized at Fusion
headquarters. From the first they
have been careful up there TO say
nothing unkird of either Mr.. Living
ston or Mr.. Cropsey, leaving the gate
wide open for their entrance into the
Fusion fold as soon as the spirit
prompted. They want them IN; they
make no secret of that. The Cropsey
threat is the only fly in the Fusion
ointment.
On the other hand, they are pre-
pared to 90 to the mat with the JUS
tice and his followers if the latter
insist upon a primary fight. lhere
are many who think that Mayor
Mitchell would defeat Cropsey IN the
Republican primaries. The Mayor mas
the organizations of Manhattan. Inc
Bronx and Queens with him. and ne
has a strong following among the Re
publicans of Brooklyn. with Calder and
Kracke at their head. But there are
others who thing Cropsey would WIN.
But whether the Mayor won or lost
his name would appear on the ofheial
ballot under the Fusion emblem. Inc
Fusion Committee has made sure OF
that. And his supporters would go
through with their campaign in his
behalf to the bitter end, though 1T
meant inevitable defeat both for, him
and for Cropsey, with the assurance or
four years of Tammany in City Hall.
Il is thought that the Cropsey follow
ing does not appreciate the strength OF
this determination they are per-
sisting in their support of the Cropsey
candidacy in the belief that at the last
moment the Fusion Committee and the
Mayor would yield and put Cropsey
forth as the fusion candidate. IL Is
part of their programme, IT Is under
stood, to substitute their own candl-
dates only for Mayor and Controller
and to indorse all the rest of the fusion
slate in the hope of completely annex
ing fusion to the Republican kite.
But if it comes 70 a showdown they
will be disappointed. The fusionists
contend that the principle of non-parti
sanship in municipal politics is more
precious to them than Tammany defeat.
They have gone so far that retreat is
impossible. d
A candidate who enters the primaries
Of his party in opposition 20 the choice
of his party organization has very lit
tie chance of emerging victorious. Only
a small fraction of the enrolled voters
take the trouble to vote in primary
contest, and the bulk of those who do
are local politicians, either beholden
10 the organization or anxious for its
favor. They do as they are told, most
Of them, with the result that the or
ganization's candidate wins.
In Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens
the Republican organizations have spe-
officially Endorsed Mayor Mitchell for re-
nomination. The district leaders in
these boroughs have been instructed to
this effect. They in turn will call their
election district captains together and
instruct them, and the captains will
see that their inspectors and checkers
at the polls, their dependents and heel
ers are all Mitchell men.
Cropsey, if he enters the Republican
primaries, will have this formidable
machine against him in all the districts
- 1o. ,,sft ho
Of about ten in Brooklyn. In addition,
though a Republican, the justice is less
we'll known 70 the rank and file of
Republicans than Mayor Mitchell, and .
he will be recognized as the would-be .
leader Of a forlorn hope. Veteran po .
litical observers say, therefore, that his .
chances of winning are nil.
They are wont TO point in illustra-
ton to the primary contest between
District Attorney Perkins and Frank
Moss for the Republican nomination
for District Attorney two years ago. .
Perkins received the organizations in
dorsement But he was compare
lively unknown man, quiet, conserva- /.
tive and poor speaker. Frank Moss .
was and is one Of the best known Re-
publicans in Manhattan, a good cam /
paigner. famous for his activities as an .
assistant prosecutor in sensational
trials. and we'll liked. With every ad-
vantage over his opponent except the .
organizations backing, Moss ran
against Perkins for the nomination and .
was defeated by vote of 10000
Where, in the light of such a prece-
dent, it is asked, does Mr.. Cropsey get
off?
WI 7 n T J