New-York tribune., 1918-05-26
Republicans Propose Coali-
ton With Democrats in
Three City Districts
Combination Urged
To Defeat Hillquit
Scheme, If Adopted, Prob
ably Will Be Extended
TO Buffalo
By Carter Field.

~
nary move is under way which probably
will result in a coalition field of the
Democratic and Republican organiza-
tions against Morris Hillquit, who is
candidate for the House of Representa-
tives in the goth District, and against
Meyer London, who is a candidate for
reelection from the 18th District, both
in New York City. 1t is also planned
to have both parties unite behind Reu-
ben L. HASKELL in the 10th District,
where the possibilities Of Socialistic
and anti-war success are perturbing
the loyal leaders of both old line par
ties.
In these three districts, particular
ly, it is believed here. if the Demo
cratic and Republican parties each try
to elect their own candidates the result
almost certainly will be that not only
will Meyer London be returned, but
that he will have two Socialist col
leagues from New York City.
There are one or two other bad spots
in the state, particularly in Buffalo,
but these three districts are regarded
as the worst.
Democrats Appear Favorable.
The Republicans of the New York
week to discuss the situation, and it
was agreed that the best plan would
probably be for them to agree to sup
port any loyal Democrat the Demo-
cratic organization puts up in the
Meyer London district, and in return
to ask for Democratic support for the
two Republican members who are in
danger of being beaten by the Social
ist candidates.
Several individual Democratic mem
bers, when approached, have agreed
especially as there is admittedly no
hope whatever of electing a Democrat
in either the Siegel or Haskell district,
while there is no chance of electing a
Democrat over Meyer London unless
that Democrat has Republican support.
Another meeting of the Republican
delegation will be held in few days,
at which the proposition will be worked
out in more definite form for submis
sion to. the Democrats. 1t is under
stood that some of the national lead
ers of both parties are heartily in
favor of it, but, due to the absence
from the city of some members of the
delegation and of some of the national
leaders, there SO far has been no haste
in pressing the plan and no publicity.
Anxious to Beat Hillquit.
The coalition idea may also be ap-
piled to the two Buffalo districts now
represented by Charles B. Smith, Demo
crat, and William F. Waldo, Repub-
lican. Curiously enough, Smiths dis
trict is considered a Republican dis
trict and Waldo's Democratic strong
hold this being the idea when the
state was gerrymandered some years
ago by the Legislature. Both men have
supported all the war measures, how
ever, and the Republicans seem willing
to include these districts in the coall-
tion plan.
The danger of the election of Morris
Hillquit, however, was the chief in
here that Hllquit's large vote for
Mayor last fall shows the seriousness
of the fear that in his own neighbor-
hood which is largely socialistic, ne
easily may pile up a majority which
other sections of the district might not
be able to overcome. Members of both
parties in the House feel that to have
Hillquit in Congress, with the privilege
of saying anything he pleased on the
floor, with utter immunity from prose
cution under the espionage or any
other law, would be little short of q
catastrophe.
The Republicans who have talked
this plan over do not believe that the
Administration would hesitate to, in
dorse the plan, realizing that refusa
to indorse it would probably carry
with it the election of Hillquit to the
| House.