New-York tribune., 1918-02-16
Chairman Denies "Un-
founded" Charges of
Extravaganza
Why Big Task Failed
Necessity for Building Up
City Wide Organization
Cost Many Thousands


Committee Of 1917. which renominatei
Mayor Mitchell and ran his late la
mented campaign, in a report yesterday
10 the committee, discussed the "cause
OF defeat and the exigencies Of the po-
litical situation last fall, which re-
quired so large Fusion campaign fund.
In the first place, Mr.. Childs declared
that it was not his purpose, except in
the one matter of the campaign fund,
"to refute the many unfounded state
ments rejecting upon the work under
taken in the recent municipal campaign
oy those who unselfshly~ gave their
time and their money in sincere ef-
fort to continue clean government in
the city"
Mr.. Childs referred to the Fusion
campaign fund as the "chief object Of
attack" but pointed out that the total
expenditures were 1887 900. and not the
much larger sum commonly referred
20 by political opponents. He said that
reports from the other side" filed III
he Office of the Secretary Of State.
support cf the Tammany candidates.
who had the aid without any attendant
expenses "of efficient Tamnan. organi-
zations in every election district
throughout the city. of free clubhouses
and free party workers."
Organization Was Expensive
The reasons that called for the dis
bursement of S9S7 900, however. re-
quired an explanation, he said. and he
credited them chiefly to the expensive
publicity and advertising of an cduca-
tional campaign, and the heavy outlay
required in organizing the Assembly
and election districts throughout the
city, which became a necessity after
Mayor Mitchell lost the nomination in
the Republican primaries.
Referring to the need of elaborate
pan,phleteering, Mr.. Childs said:
"The municipal campaign OF 1917 was
IN many respects the most eXtraordi-
narv muncipal campaign the city has
over witnessed. Economic conditions,
'>o.4Elcal disaffection, popular prejudice
'ndustrlously generated for the past two
ears, QIylsIon of sentiment concern
ing the attitude of Mayor Mitchell tow
ard preparedness and the conduct of
the war, all, it now seems, tended from
the beginning to make his reelection
extremely difficult, despite the convic-
tion of disnterested and public spirited
citizens, without respect to party atlili-
ations. that he had been the best Mayor
the City of New York ever had.
Opponents of Mayor Mitchell had at
tackled the Gary schools as "a scheme
for the industrial enslavement of the
children of the City of New York
They had criticised the Dreamland and
Nockaway purchases and they had mis-
represented the negotiations with the
New York Central Railroad looking to
the reconstruction of the tracks on
riverside Drive. Other groundless
TO attack, but where the attack is made
lnsidiously and pressed for political
advantage it requires both time and
the expenditure of money for the as
semblng, distribution and submission
of the actual facts.
100000 for Education
"Therefore, even before the Repub-
hcan primaries, and when it was as
suined that the Mayor would have the
undivided support of the Republican
party Gas we'll as the support of the
independent Democratic and nom
partisan voters), those responsible for
the conduct of the campaign on your
behalf outlined it along extensive ad-
Nertlslng and educational lines in or
der to combat the strong and sinister
Representation concerning the
Mayors administration, which had
been vigorously asserted over long
period of time, and which, in the opin-
on Of those whose judgment was
deemed sound, could only be met bv
publication in the newspapers and
periodicals and by the dissemination Of
the real facts concerning the admins
tration 'in pamphlet form, to the end
that the widest distribution might be
secured. This educational endeavor
atone cost IN excess of $3O000O."
The chairman said he was advised
that saving of some $4,000 was made
IN the newspaper advertising. due to
publishers being persuaded to reduce
their rates, and the fact that the Erick-
son Company, the advertising agency
which handled the business. did the
work without cost to the committee of
one penny for services or commits
slons." The company, however. re-
ceived from the newspapers the usual
brokerage rates.
With the Mayor defeated for the
Nepuoiican nomination. Mr. Chlds
aald' inc committee was confronted
Win the alternative of withdrawing
,Hr. Mitchels candidacy and leaving
inc selection TO Mr.. Bennett (who, as
events showed was not the real choice
OF the Republican yoters). to Mr.. Hill
4ult, the Socialist candidate. and to
Judge Ilylan."
Fusion Without Organization
In the interest of what was keenly
4eiI 10 be the need of the city. it was
acteimined that night must be made" >"
me report continued "With the cleo
tlon only five weeks distant and with
the loss of the Republican organiza-
tlon, insofar as the Mayors candidacy
was concerned, those seeking to com
pass his election found themselves
without even the rudiments of politi-
cal organization. Without an organ
lzatlon for an effective campaign and
or the handling of meetings it would
have been useless to go on.
THE need for such u campaign was
thought to be greater than ever. and
the huge task of building ND an organ
zation III over sixty Assembly districts
and two thousand election districts
throughout the entire city was under
taken.
Mr.. Childs declared that during the
last three weeks of the campaign it
became very evident that unless SUI
preme effort to arouse the voters was
made. the Mayor could not be re-
elected. That effort was earnestly
outdoor meetings being held. the ad-
Vertsing campaign redoubled and cam
rsaign literature spread broadcast.
"Insinuations by political opponents
that the Fusion expenditures were
II. l. ~