New-York tribune., 1917-06-08
Whitman Upsets
Brooklyn Boom for
Cropsey as Mayor
Will Not Appoint Justice as
Counsel in West Side In
quiry, Says Governor

Governor Whitman yesterday punct-
ured the Brooklyn boom for Justice
James C. Cropsey as a candidate for
Mayor in the Republican primaries this
fall.
The anti-M;tchel Republicans in that
borough circulated the report in politi-
cal circles that the Governor intended
to appoint Justice Cropsey as counsel
to the legislative committee which he
will appoint under the Green bill 10
investigate the West Side improvement
plans. The Cropsey boomers saw big
campaign issue in such an investiga-
tion at this time and predicted that II
would make the road easier for the
C1opsey candidacy.
The report had it that Justice Crop
sey would resign from the Supreme
Court bench to enter the campaign
When Governor Whitman heard about
i. at the St. Regis yesterday ne
promptly and emphaticallv denied tha'
he had any intention OF appointing Jus
tice Cropsey as counsel to the invesu-
eating committee.
He went further. and declared that ne
had no intention Of appointing the leg
islative investigating committee az t%hia %
time. He intimated that 1t propapiS
would not be named before the pm
maries. so that Tammany or any o'he'
arti-fusion forces could not make .po-
litical capital out of the investigation
In sympathy with Fusion
The Governor made it clear that he
was in full sympathy with the fusion
movement under the new Fusion Com-
mittee for 1917 to renominate Mayor
Mitchell. v;.,,.
The factional fights within the kings
County Republican organization nave
led to the suggestion OF Justice Orop-
sev's name and of several other pos
sible candidates on a straight kepup-
l;can ticket. Some of the leaders OPP
posed to fusion and Mayor Mitchell have
intimated that full city ticket, with
Cropsey at the head, might be put IN
the field for the purpose OF defeating
the denomination of the present Mayor.
The Brooklyn members OF the ne"
fusion committee, however, hope 10 IRON
ont the differences in Brooklyn and en-
list all the leaders in the fusion move
mont.
II has been persistently reported
from fusion sources in Manhattan re.
Gently that the Fusion Committee OF
1917 and the Republican county organ
ization were not in favor OF renoml-
mating Borough President Marcus NJ
Marks. No one else has been consld..
cred for the place yet. A lack OF
amiability among Mayor Mitchell, Con-
troller Prendergast and Borough Presi-
dent Marks has been in evidence for a
long time. ID is said at the City Hall.
Mr.. Marks, however, threatens trouble
fo- the Mitchell forces If he IS side
tracked. In view of the reports, the
Borough President issued statement
Yesterday in which he said:
81 know nothing more about the re-
ported Mitchell -Prendergast opposition
TO my denomination for Borough Presl-
dent than | have read in the news
papers. Neither the Mayor, the Con-
troller nor any member Of the Fusion
Committee of 1917 has yet conilded TO
me that | am not acceptable.
Urged TO Become Candidate
MANY friends, however, since it was
reported that | was 10 be opposed FOR
denomination, have pleaded with me to
Immediately announce my candidacy
either for the Mayoralty or the Con-
trollership. shall probably make up
my mind what my course is to be within
short time. The situation is such
just now that | cannot size 1t up deh-
nitely.
Il am not ashamed OF my record.
am ready at any time TO go before the
/ people and let them determine whether
/ IN the various controversies IN the
/ Board of Estimate and elsewhere dur.
/ ing the last four years the Mayor and
the Controller or have been right
In all likelihood the Borough Presi-
I dent would have 10 look TO Brooklyn for
( sympathy should he decide to run for
| Controller or Mayor in the primaries
! The New York Republican organization
70 man is for fusion and Mitchell.
F. Carter Childs. secretary of the
Department of Plants and Structures
was named yesterday as executive sec
! rotary Of the Fusion Co nmittee OF 1917