New-York tribune., 1918-06-08
Frank Nj. Bradley, Niagara
County Fruit Grower,
Elected President
obbv of Politicians
Gets No Hearings
RECEPTION Committee
Souelches Bennett and
Others
s,,sc,aI D,spatcA to The Trsbane)

tcnsc,aI D,spdtch to The 1rebnne)
a1RANY. June Frank Nj. Bradley,
farmer member of the State Assembly
ard a wealthy fruit grower of Niagara
County. was elected president Of the
s+ste Federation of Agriculture. which
mot here to-day and effected perma-
want organization. Mr.. Bradley is q
.+srch supporter Of Merton Z. Lewis,
State Attorney General. who will op-
nose Governor Whitman in the Repub-
lcan primaries.
While publicly declaring they are
not committed as an organization to
the candidacy of any man, some of the
officers of the new agrarian organiza-
ton privately admitted the federation
would in all likelihood indorse the
Lewis ticket. 1t is known that over
lures have been made to the fedora
ton by the Lewis forces, and poll
that within a very few days two or
more farmers will be put on the Lewis
ticket.
Politicians who came here with
booms for other candidates left to-
night without getting even the prom
ise of support from the federation.
Some of them came with speeches.
These they took back with them un-
spoken.
Politicians Checkmated
The farmers checkmated the politi-
clans by holding their meeting behind
closed doors and by the appointment
of what was characterized as a recep-
ton committee. This committee an
swered all knocks on the door and told
the politicians it would listen to any
thing they had to say and submit it to
their meeting, but that under no cir
cumstances would the farmers permit
them to enter.
William NJ Bennett, who defeated
Mayor Mitchell in the Republican
primaries last fall and announced last
Sunday that he would put a ticket in
the field against Whitman and Lewis,
came here TO address the farmers and
left after a brief session with the
aforesaid reception committee. Mr..
Bennett made no attempt to conceal
his displeasure and indicated he would
issue statement within a day or two
which would make certain gentlemen
sit up and tete notice.
Harry Brown, publicity man for
William Boise Thompson, millionaire
copper MagnaCe OF WeStcneSter COun-
ty, met with like treatment. So did
Edward P Doyle, of the Richmond
County Taxpayers Alliance; Thomas
Kraekeler. of the United Property
Owners Of Manhattan; Max Just, of
the Taxpayers Alliance of the Bronx.
and several other civic organizations
men who came here with resolutions
and speeches or a combination of both
Called Pro-Lewis Meeting
But before the disappointed civic or
ganization men and politicians left
they carried away with them the con-
viction that Merton E. Lewis had
stolen march on them. Another
Lewis man, Samuel Fraser, of Living
ston County, was elected first vice
president.
Not only did the federation turn out
to be pro-Lewis. but in the personnel
of its newly elected officers from pres
ident down it proved to be pro- -Repub-
lican. And these men frustrated an
attempt on the part of the Democrats
to commit the federation to the sup
port of an independent farmers ticket
Had this been done, it would have had
but one practical result-the splitting
Of the upstate Republican vote.
The other officers are: Second vice
president, Robert Seaman, of Nassau
County; third vice-president, Fred w
Vail Of Ulster County; secretary, Seth
j. T. Bush, of Monroe County, anc