New-York tribune., 1918-07-15
Delegates Expect Publisher
to Seek Spanish-American
Convention Endorsement
Hot Fight Due To-day
Pressure on Mount Vernon
Meeting Expected Through
Civil Service Employees

A formidable number of United Span
ish War Veterans began the formation
yesterday Of fighting organization to
defeat the expected attempt on the part
Of certain of their members to slide q
resolution whitewashing Hearst through
the state convention, which opens to-
day in Mount Vernon.
The veterans, who are determined
that their organization shall not be
used for camouhagc purposes, said a
fighting organization would be needed.
These members have not undcresti
mated the possible Hearst strength at
the convention.
1t was pointed out that considerable
number of delegates will be civil SER
vice employees Of New York City. These
probably will want to please the city
administration, and in this case the ad-
ministration will mean Hearst
Police Band Sop
Also, Hearst papers editorially have
supported proposed laws for civil ser
vice preference for Spanis1, War vet
Grams. This fact is expected to win
votes for the Hearst resolution. But
the veterans who are preparing to
block the resolution contended yester-
day that nothing Hearst might have
done for the Spanish War veterans
could make UP for what his news
papers did when, long after the United
States declared war, they strove to
create friction between this country
and our allies, especially England and
Japan
And then these veterans conceded
that the New York police bands at
tendance at the convention undoubtedly
would have weight with some delegates.
Hearst workers have gone among the
delegates-to- and impressed them
with the fact that only for William
Randolph Hearst's influence at City
Hall the convention would not have had
the police band at all.
Ignored Luncheon Guests
In trying to estimate what the Hearst
strength may be these veterans have
not forgotten a little luncheon which
Hearst rendered to a few Spanish War
veterans on July a.
"Next morning The Americans &C
count of the luncheon read like Hearst
was there himself, and no doubt some
OF the veteran rank and file we're i'm
pressed" said one veteran yesterday.
But Hearst was not present. While
the few veterans were eating at Man
deFs Hearst was in another part Of the
town entertaining his congressman"
The list of luncheon guests as pub
lished by "The American" included the
following: Maurice Simmons, past COM
mander in, chief William Jones, past
department commander; Thomas F..
Cannon, president of the Veterans
Defence Legion; William c. Snyder, de-
partment patriotic instructor, and
Commanders Patrick F. Harney. Camp
No. !; George II. King, Camp No. le:
Irving Coon, Camp No. 81; John Ever
etts,- Camp No. 40; John Robinton, of
the Hebrew Veterans of the War with
Spain, and Comrade Albert Hohauser.
One Of the veterans who will lead the
opposition to a Hearst whitewashing
attempt made this statement last night:
I'VE will fight the proposed action
lndorsing Hearst on the ground that
Hearst papers have been o-German
and such a resolution would be against
the best interests of our organization.
Expect a Hard Fight
"A great many OF the delegates will
be New York civil service employees.
who Will teel impelled to do some
thing for the administration. BY play
ing up to Hearst they may feel it will
place their department in better stand
ing. Naturally, Hearst expects the or
ganlzation to indorse his patriotism as
token of gratitude.
"But one element Of our membership
is opposed to giving Mr.. Hearst a white
wash BATH even to show our gratitude.
"We expect tough fight Chairman
Isaac Joel, of the committee on ar
rcngements, was one of the first to
rush to Hearsts defence at the time
of the outburst of patriotic indigna-
tion over the Hearst deletion Of the
Presidents Memorial Day proclama-
ton. THE American published let
ter from Mr.. Joel in which he de-
scribed himself as commander Of the
William r. Cramcr Camp No. 8, of
Mount Vernon. The American also
published d letter from Thomas Gan
non, who is one of the candidates for
next department commander"