New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
Three Republicans
AT Corning Seek
Seat in Congress
H. M. Pratt Has Fight on
His Hands to Secure
denomination
ABB. .Houghton in Field
He Is Backed by Fassett; Fay
M. White in Race; Demo-
Gratis Hopeful
ALB. Houghton in Field
By Charles T. White

ELMIRA, N. Y, April 27-Chemung
and Steuben counties have staged many
q political battle, but one is now
framed up over the seat in Congress IS
filled by Harry II. Pratt, of Corning,
who is serving his second term, that
bids fair to equal anything the south
ern tier has witnessed.
Representative Pratt will have for an
opponent in the primaries Alanson B.
Houghton, head Of the Corning Glass
Works. He is reputed to be a million
aire, is a Harvard graduate and man
OF affairs. Fay M. White, a Corning
lawyer, also says that he is candidate.
All live in Corning.
Back of Mr.. Houghton's candidacy
are the more prominent Republican
leaders in Steuben, Chemung, Tioga,
Tompkins and Schuyler counties. Ex-
Representatives J. Sloat Fassett, of
Elmira, and John Dwight, of Dryden,
Tompkins County; William A. Smyth,
of Owego, and Ex-senator William j.
Tully, of Corning and New York. are
with Mr.. Houghton. Mr.. Tully is Mr..
Houghton's brother-in- law.
Pratt Stays in Race.
Mr.. Pratt has been asked by these
leaders to make way for Mr. Houghton
and has declined. The Democrats
particularly in Elmira, are doing all
they can to add bitterness to the Re-
publican family quarrel in the hope
that two Republicans, after the pr-
maries, will take the field, in which
event they hope to elect Democrat.
The district in normal times is Repub-
lican by 5000.
Journal Mr. Houghton is compelled
to depend on "The Corning Leader"
the Democratic paper, for his local
publicity. Mr.. White threatens to run
as a peoples candidate. He says that
the plain people are disgusted with
both the Pratt and Houghton factions
and that he stands a good chance to
win.
In printed address to the voters
Mr. Pratt says: cat the solicitation
of many friends and supporters and
following my own inclinations 1 have
decided to be candidate for nomina-
tion to succeed myself"
He invites attention to his record in
the House. having supported the
PRESIDENT and, IL addition, he sup
ported the Susan B. Anthony amend
ment and voted for the national prohi-
btion amendment. Furthermore, he
The Houghton managers are more wor-
ried over the appealing power of those
two soldiers in khaki than over any
other one features of the canvass.
Mr.. Pratt is 33d degree Mason and a
past exalted ruler of the Order of Elks
He is also good fighter.
Mr.. Houghton has what appears to
be an advantage in the enthusiastic
hacking OF the organization leaders in
the counties named. Mr.. Fassett and
his wife are influential in Elmira. The
same is true of Mr.. and Mrs. Smyth in
Owego; Mr.. Dwight in Tompkins
County. and Mr.. and Mrs. Tully in
Corning. The Houghton people will
make a special drive to enlist the
is under way. Mr.. Houghton, in lcl-
ter, says in part:
Upon the action Of Congress during
the war and during the period of recon
struction that must inevitably follow
the war will, believe, in large meas
ure depend the fate Of free institutions
for hundred years to come"
Fassett Indorses Houghton
81 know of no one in the State of
New York better fitted by education,
training and experience for the Office
of Representative in Congress than
Alanson B. Houghton," said cx-Rcpre-
sentative Fassett to The Tribune rep
resentativc yesterday.
"He is one of our big men. With
our nation at war, right minded Ameri.
cans are selecting the right men and
the right methods for the discharge of
great responsibilities. Mr. Houghton
classes up to high standard in every
respect. His nomination is not being
sought in order to hurt any one, or to
even up old political scores. If he is
nominated in the primaries, as he
the voters desire big man to fit big
job. ! think his nomination will be
equivalent to election"