New-York tribune., 1918-07-29
Bennett Announces
Contest to Retire
koenig as Leader
Says Sentiment Is Against
Republican County Chair
man in Own District
BY BRIGGS

Former State Senator William NJ
Bennett said last night that primary
Fight would be made in the 9Th Assem-
bly, District to defeat Samuel S. Koe
mig for leader, and thereby oust him
from the position Of county chairman
Senator Bennett said.
Primary laws should be amended sc
as to provide that the leader shall be
elected by a direct vote. If there were
such law now Koenig could not by
any possibility be reelected district o,
county leader. AS the law now stands
IN order to defeat Koenig we are re-
oulrod to put up twenty-three separate
tickets for county committeeman in the
tWenty-three election districts in Koe-
Elg's Assembly district, and the county
committeeman elect the district leader
The sentiment against koenig in his
own district is so strong that we expec;
to carry most of the twenty-three cleo
ton districts and elect an snti-K -Koenig
county committeeman.
he voters of his district are dis
gusted with his leadership. Last wear
they defeated his Assemblyman, who
sought reelection, and in order to reg
terms the voters elected a Socialist.
lhls is just one example of the de-
plorable condition into which the Re-
publican party has fallen in this
county under Koenig's leadership.
Frauds Recalled
IF the Republican organization is to
become respectable again in New York
County 1T must get rid of Koenig. 1t is
the duty of county chairman to
keep his organization efficient and hon
est. koenig has done neither Last
August he appointed 1852 inspectors
OF election to serve at the primaries
IN September and at the election in
November.
AT the primary frauds were COM
mltted by many of these inspectors
which stand unrivalled in the history
of the city. koenig raised no voice or
protest, nor, SO far as can find ont IT.
did he remove any of the guilty inspec-
tors. Sixty of these inspectors we're
sent to Jail, but not because of anv
wish or assistance OF Koeng's part.
twenty years ago Tammany Hall cast
out District Leader Patrick Diver be-
cause of frauds committed in mis- dis
trict.
The Republican organization, how
ever. at the behest of the Moneybund.
he'o hePC NOenIS, and Governor w hit
man has rewarded him. He makes his
position as county chairman a feeder
tor his law practice. As counsel to the
State Banking Department he is on the
hltman payroll. He himself is a big
man.
But the county organization has be-
come house of cards mere rotten
shell, ready to crumbe at the least op-
position
"Koenig can deliver to Whitman his
suoserVlent payroll delegates He can
give out to the newspapers a list of
the delegates the day before the pri-
mary is held, but as vote -getter the
organization is pitable failure.
koenig did not hold a single Republi-
can meeting during the election last
tall. he Republican enrolment has
steadily grown less under him. The
county organization has fallen to the
low level of the days of Jake Patter-
son.
"But this is Whitman's method and
1t serves Whtman's purpose He cares
for nothing now except to control the
organization. in order to have its sun
port for the Presidency in 1920.
He has degraded the state organiza-
tion so its chairman became a marc
$4,000 year clerk in back room in
the Governors office. Under this chair.
man the state committee held no meet
lng& for two years.
Whitman. after voting at the pri-