New-York tribune., 1918-10-03
Harris Inti1nates
He Will Not Quit
AS State Chairman
Willing To Be Ousted by
Democrats, However,
Statement Says

E0TVln ;, Harris, chairman OF The
Democratic State Committee, in new
statement issued last night, repeated
! that ne has retired frpm the manage
mont OF the campaign, but that he has
not retired from the chairmanship Of
the state committee, He says, how
ever, that he will gladly receive notice
OF the election of his successor.
In his statement last night Chairman
Harris said,
$50 far as I can determine, l am
charged in the newspapers with using
political influence at Washington in
behalf of my friends who were seeking
government work, If it is meant that
l have introduced business men from
this state to government officials in
order that they might present their
claims for contracts and employment,
my conduct is much worse than that,
because in introducing and certifying
to the ability of those seeking govern
ment appointments, in the civil service
and out; those who wished to show some
device for helping the war: those who
wished the postal service improved at
home; those men with government
matters of one kind or another, and
especially those who, defective phys
ically, still wished to get into the
country's service, | have advised and
assisted at least one thousand men,
Republicans as we'll as Democrats.
''If the charge means that l kavc at
tenn pied to serve one individual more
than another, or that | have asked for
the award of government work to some
particular individual in preference to
others, it is entirely without founda-
ton.
81 have refused to assist any man to
do anything which would relieve him
from the draft; ! have refused to as
sist any man to get a commission cx-
cept upon his own personal merit; !
never introduced or recommended a
man whom | did not believe to be
thoroughly capable of fulfilling the
contract he wished to do. I have done
everything for New York State and its
citizens that my time permitted nc
to do.
81 have never invested, never had
any interest and do not have any in
tercst in any firm or corporation doing
government work ! have never had
the money TO invest and never have
had a desire to take the risk of a con-
tract and find it easier to earn a iv-
ing in other ways.
The other misrepresentation is that
| have protited through my services
rendered to individuals or corpora
tions. l have never received, asked or
one of the thousands that | have
helped at Washington during the past
two years.
"Stories were published about the
North and South Construction Com
| pany. 1t is we'll known that no influ-
| cnce or solicitation is necessary to
secure contracts to build ships The
government has always been ready to
give contracts to any concern which
has the shipyard, organization and
cash. | was asked to become inter
cstcd in this company. | vetoed and
repudiated the attempt TO bring me
into this company in any way long
before any publicity was given to the
matter. The company never got be-
yond incorporation.
81 have retired from the management
of the campaign. but I have not retired
from the craftsmanship, for the reason
that ! have been advised that it might
be FOOLISH deemed to be an admission
of misconduct on my part or a confcs-
sion that ! have been disqualified from
service. But | shall gladly receive
notice of the election of successor
and VIII In my own individual way do
all ! can to advance the interests of
/ the great party which | have all my
! life served"
The Democratic leaders both in New
York and upstate do not like the way
in which Chairman Harris is "sparring
for wind" about resigning.
1t was learned yesterday that Mr..
Harris has abandoned The idea of suing
/ for libel the newspaper which first pub
/ ished the story connecting his name
and that of his wife with the North
and South Construction Company
which company. it was alleged, was in
tcrested III seeking government con-
tracts.