New-York tribune., 1919-02-27
Rival Leaders
Issue Tickets
To Hail 9th
Lively Scenes in Stands
Forecast When Claims of
the Recipients Clas h
New Factors i'm BROOKLYN
Addition of Two More Com
mittees Makes a Total of
Five to Honor the Troops

Confusion rlvaling st. Patrick's Day
parades probably will accompany the
reception of the 9th Division, unless
the controversy between the Whalen
and Cochems factions Of the Mayors
Committee of Welcome Is patched up.
Both Grover A. Whalen, secretary to
the Mayor, and Edward B. Cochems,
the deposed executive secretary of the
committee, insisted yesterday they
we're in charge of plans and seating
arrangements for the demonstration.
Mr.. Cochems said that as head of
the pageant committee, representing
George w. Loft, now absent, he was
responsible for issuance of tickets for
thu parade. Until he was instructed
by Mr.. Loft to do otherwise, he would
act in accordance with that respon-
sibility, he added.
Mr.. Whalen stated that Mr.. Cochems
was no longer officially connected
with the committee in any way, and
tickets would be issued from his own
Office
In the circumstances it was sug-
gested that two tickets would be is
sued for each seat in the stands, thus
inviting the greatest disorder.
Two Tickets Man Promised
When the matter was placed before
Lieutenant Colonel J. Leslie Kincaid.
In charge of the advance detachment
of the 9th, cooperating with the local
officials, he said he did not know where
the tickets were coming from, but had
been assured by Rodman Wanamaker,
chairman of the reception committee,
that each man in the division would
get two.
Mr.. Cochems still held the fort in
his office in the Hall Of Records yes
terday, continuing to receive mail and
callers as chairman of the pageant
committee.
II have been placed in charge Of this
subcommittee by Mr.. Loft" said he,
"and l refuse to acknowledge any
orders except his. | am responsible
for .he distribution of the $4,000
tickets for this parade. 1 have hun
dreds of applications from prominent
persons on file, and if anything goes
wrong Mr.. Loft can hold me personally
for it."
There was repetition Of Tuesdays
experience among visitors looking for
the proper headquarters, some going
to Mr.. Cochems's office, others visiting
Mr.. Whalen's room
Extra Help Costs Sl00 a Week
At the latter's office were the same
force from the Street Cleaning Depart
ment which Mr.. Whalen gathered to-
gether to assist him as the new eXecu-
tive secretary of the committee Just
how these could be spared from their
former duties could not be learned 1t
was ascertained, however that the SAL
aries Of assistants in the Office not mu-
nlclpal employees now total approx
mately 500 a week.
Mr.. Cochems explained that his staff
cost S271 week and that his organ
tzatlon was "hred," according to Mr..
Whalen, to save money.
understand me-" added Mr.. Coch-
ems, Il don't want to get into any dis
pute over this affair. We have the lob
OF giving the men from France the
right kind of reception, and no good
car come from rows inside the organ
izaton- | nope we get together on
.hls proposition and tender these fell
lows the best kind of welcome"
Two new Independent movements to
honor returning soldiers were an
nounced IN Brooklyn yesterday, further
md1cating eventual disintegration OF
the Brooklyn Victory Celebration Com
mittee because of its domination by
William Randolph Hearst.
These include in their programme
erection Of memorials at Saratoga Park
and Bedford Park. The two commit
tees are headed by Elmer G. Sammis
OF Draft Board 81, and Gustavus c.
Weber, of Draft Board 49, The com
mittee under Mr.. Sammis desires to
raise memorial for soldiers from the
Stuyvesant section at cost of $4,000.
The Bedford Park memorial, for sol.
diers Of Albany Heights, was proposed
by the Albany Heights Patriotic
League.
There are now five Independent vic.
tory COMMITTEES in Brooklyn.