New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-01
Organization in Campaign
of Justification for Two
Years, He Charges
Aided by Swami,
Says Statement
Controller Joins in Fusion's
Official Reply in Land
Dispute

Mayor Mitchell and Controller Will
lam A. Prendergast fired another
broadside at District Attorney Swami
and Tammany Hall in the Seaside PARK
controversy yesterday in the form OF
long signed statement Of facts, issued
through the publicity bureau of the
Fusion Committee. The statement Is
to stand as Fusion's official answer 70
all the charges growing out Of the PARK
| deal.
The Mayor. in going over the history
of the acquisition OF the land by the
city, step by step, lays the blame for
any or all mistakes-if any were made
at the doorstep Of Tammany Hall
He declares at the time Tammany was
in power, when the condemnation pro-
ceedings were in progress, THE New
York American" now trying to dis
, credit the acquisition Of Rockaway
Park and Dreamland, was loud in
praise of the step.
Statement of Mayor and Controller
The statement says:
"For the last two years Tammany
Hall and Tammany's agents have been
engaged In a campaign of Justification
concerning the purchase Of two sea-
| side parks, acquired to provide not
only recreation places for the crowded
millions Of the city's population, but
also sites for hospitals and homes for
the sick and suffering.
"Since the opening of the current
municipal campaign the District Attor-
ney Of New York has employed the ma
chinery and influence of his Office in
this campaign Of Justification in the in
terests Of his own candidacy and that
of his associates on the Tammany
! ticket"
The Mayor and the Controller state
that they are glad to take full respon-
/ sibility for the acquisition of the land,
although this responsibility was linn
/ tied TO their action as members Of com
mittees Of the Board Of Estimate in
recommending the purchase of the
parks. They assert that "Tammany has
sought to make it appear that these two
! officers have been responsible in some
way for the price paid by the city,"
That this suggestion is false" the
/ statement continues, us known to Tam
many and its agents. and particularly
| TO the District Attorney, who is law
yer, and who knows that We had no
more TO do with the price than he had.
What the Public Records Show
ain order that the lies uttered may
! be refuted and the public may know
the truth, We nave determined TO make
the following statements OF fact, al
drawn from the public records, from
documents open to public inspection
As a preface 10 the incontestable rec
ord, we will point out briefly certain
| main facts that Tammany has either
carefully distorted or concealed:
a. Rockaway Park was put oil the pub
/ lie map ana COnuenIallou proceedings IN
stituted by Tammany Board Of Estimate
three years before we were elected to the
board.
"2 Condemnation proceedings. again in
stituted in 1911, were conducted by the
Corporation Counsel appointed by Mayor
William j. Gaynor, who was elected on the
| Tammany ticket.
49, The CORPORATION Counsel made no
appeal from the award of Sl.250,000. as
confirmed by the Supreme Court, and the
award was paid.
~ The New York American. now try
| ing 10 discredit the park acquisition,
claimed blatantly and proudly in 1903 that
it was the originator of Rockawsy Park.
and fought then for sa appropriation s2oO'-
! 600 larger than the final award
-. Frank l.. Bowling. Vammany candi-
date for President of the Borough Of Man
haitian. introduced the resolution calling for
the purchase Of Dreamland Park, and as
result of his resolution and the act OF q
! Tammany Board of Aldermen the Board of
Estimate voted to acquire the park.
80 Mayor Mitchels Corpor alton Counsel
/ vigorously opposed an award Of Sl.0l4.00
for the Dreamland property. and succeeded
in having the confirmation OF the award
! reversed by higher court.
81 Not one cent has ever been paid to
Senator Reynolds or any other owner Of
the Dreamland Park property, and Mayor
/ Mitcheis Corporation Counsel is still fight
ing before a new commission in condemna-
ton to procure the lowest possible award.
Despite all these facts of record
| Tammany has attempted 90 make /
appear that both parks were purchase
as the result of close utilization be
tween members of the Fusion boarc
and real estate gang"
Park Movement Reviewed
The Mayor goes back to the tim
when the movement for the scquisi
ton of Rockaway Park first started il
1904, when George B. Mcclellan wa
Mayor. lie traces it through the yari
Gus committees until the time tina
Mayor Mcclellan recommended speed
action before the Board of Aldermen
in 1906. In this regard the statemen
says: AT this hearing on June
1906, appeared Frank l.. Bowling, nos
candidate for President of the Dor
ough Of Manhattan, then an alderman
OF the City Of New York, ia supper
Of the acquisition of Rockaway Park
1t is also pointed out that the prof
ect had the support of Jacob A. Ri:
Cardinal Farley, Bishop Greer and tn
Rev. DR.. ". T. Manning and Of tn
leading humanitarian organizations.
Mayor Mitchell refers to the fac
that Herman A. Metz. then Controller
was the leading champion of Rockawa
Park. and that it was Tamman
board that, in March, 1907, unani
mously voted 70 buy the land.
"0n September q, 1907, the resolu
ton for the acquisition for the par
land the statement continues, eva
referred 70 the Controller, the chic
engineer and the Corporation Coun.t
as special committee to see if th
property could be purchased and q
what nrice. therehv indicating thf