New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11
Joseph M. Price Declares
Amount Exceeds Any
in History
Extravaganza Denied
Nothing to Conceal, Childs Re-
plies-Itemized Report To
Be Filed Soon

Joseph VI. Price. chairman OF the
Fusion Committee OF One Hundred and
Seven which nominated Mayor Mitchei
four years ago, and member OF the
1917 Fusion Committee, which faiied 10
reflect the Mayor, issued a statement
Yesterday criticising the management
of the recent campaign by the Fusion
executive committee, and declaring that
the amount Of money expended by the
committee was perfectly outrageous
William Hamlin Childs, chairman OF
4be executive committee Of the Fusion
Committee Of 1917. and other members
OF the committee characterized Ar.
Prices statement as unfair and un-
warranted. It was pointed out tha'
Mr.. Price held no important position In
the 1917 Fusion Committee and was not
admitted 10 the councils, although ne
sought the Craftsmanship of the com
mi,tcc carly in tho canpaign'
Consider Attack Honor
81 have been attacked personally by
Hylan. by the Hears. papers, by The
Standard Union and new by Mr.. Price
said Mr. Childs last night. "and in each
case I consider j. an honor. That is
pretty good roll Of honor"
Mr. Price did not say how much the
Fusion Committee had expended in the
campaign. Chairman Childs and Sam
uel A. Lewisohn. treasurer of the com
mittee. would make no estimate Of the
expenditures last night, but they de-
clared there was nothing 10 conceal
and that an itemiZed report OF all eN-
penditures would De filed with the Sec
rotary of State within thirty days, as
the law requires.
"The amount of money expended by
the Fusion Committee Of 1917 In TINS
campaign was perfectly outrageous,
said Mr.. Price. at goes far beyond
anything in my recollection in mu-
nicipsl campaign by retormers or by
regular parties.
'Up 10 FIVE weeks before election
there was no organization at all for
campaign purposes, and this even after
the Fusionists had lost the Republican
urinary election by their negligence.
Cleveland II. Dodge Named
"The Fusion Committee Of 1917 rent
cd nice, attractive Offices in an lnacces-
sible part of Madison Avenue-otfces
that would have been thoroughly fitted
for an advertising agency. A political
campaign cannot be conducted IKE
selling campaign for soap. A ticket
cannot be advertised into office through
the paid columns of the newspapers.
"Post-mortems are always disagree
able and, realize. are peculiarly easy.
They are only valuable If they teach
rs something and help us find out what
was wrong with the organization. TINS
campaign has taught us that the Fusion
managers absolutely sailed TO under
stand the popular mind of the town
with the most deplorable result. MY
ielief that fusion movements along
the old lines will not again be success
full has been strengthened by the way
the recent campaign was conducted.
The committee contained elements
which made reforms in this town
unpopular and open TO suspicion.
II protested TO Cleveland II. Dodge
that he should not take the chairman
shin of the committee Of 1917 unless
he was willing TO be the actual work
ing head and not merely hGurehead'
Mr.. Dodge agreed with me then, but on
taking the Craftsmanship he attended
only one meeting Of the comittee tnat
can recollect.
Says Childs Did All
The consequence was that conduct
Of affairs remained entirely IN the
hands of William Hamlin Childs. lie
had practical veto on expenditures, and
as the hands that control the purse
always dominate no activity was under
taken without his consent"
Ny. Price said he favored the forma-
ton of new city party and a change
in the primary law which would permit
of a non partisan primary for municil-
pal elections, divorced from old politi-
cal parties.
"That would mean a one-man party
With Mr.. Price at the head, ! suppose
was the comment Of Mr.. Chhds on the
Price suggestion.