New-York tribune., 1919-08-25
Primary Fights
Grow Hotter as
Decision Nears
Party Nofcrs Ballot Week
From Tomorrow; Con-
tests Keen i'll Brooklyn,
Queens and Richmond
Tammany Faces Trouble
La Cuardia-Bennett Race
Feature in Republican
Ranks: Expect Fireworks

Before the various contests are set
lied by the\yoters at the primaries a
week from tomorrow several days of
excitement are promised by the as
nirants for nomination. Territorially.
the targets prize is the nomination for
the Presidency of the Board of Alder
men. This is the only office to be
filed by voters of the city at large at
the general election next November
In the Democratic primaries the
designee is the present encumbent.
Robert L. Moran. In the Republican
primaries for this nomination William
n. Bennett. former State Senator, who
defeated Mayor Mitchell in the Repub-
lcan primaries for the nomination for
Nayor TWO wears ago. is opposing Rep
resentative Fiorello II. La Guardia.
From the La Guardia Bennett con-
test much is expected in the way of
verbal pyrotechnics in the next few
days. if Bennett ru,s true to form.
Already the former Senator in a let
ter to the Republican leaders OF the
sixty-three Assembly districts ask
ing that they throw open their CLUB
rooms to him and La Guardia has
taken few slaps at his rival
This is the only important contest
in the Republican primaries, but the
Democrats can boast of dozens of in
teresting contests, each one bitter. In
Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond there
are complete insurgent county and
judicial tickets in the field, with the
likelihood that if the insurgents are
defeated By The organization they will
run the defeated candidates on an in
depenednt ticket.
The most bitter OF these contests is
-.
criminal proceedings being initiated
BY County Judge Harry j. Tiernan.
who was accused by Asscmblyman
Thomas F. Curley. leader of tn insur-
gents. On Judge Tlernans 5 complaint,
which alleged that Curley accused him
of being the real boss of the Staten
Island machine and debating nomina-
tions, John Doe proceedings were in
stituted last week. and there Will be
hearing to-day in the Richmond
County Court House. Curley sought
to obtain the Democratic designation
for District Attorney. and was turned
down ~ the organization, which is
behind Joseph Maloy.
lyn have also reached the point where
good many verbal brichbats are
being hurled from the rival camps. The
slogan OF the brooklyn insurgents is
Down with McCooeyl' But the vice.
regent Of Tammany Hall has refused
to reply to the attacks, leaving it to
those who have been designated by
the McCooey machine to do the fight
ing.
The anti McCooeyites will open county
headquarters in the Arbuckle Building
to-day, and have promised to make
things szzle for their chief target and
bis design until primary day. They
inaugurated 4 bill poster campaign on
Saturday, and from the Autographs the
enrolled Democrats receive t'~s advice:
Smash the McCooey Machine"
democrats, smash the McCooey
machine Give every voter a square
deal Nots this party ticket in the
primaries Tuesday, September 2: For
Surrogate. James Z. Finegan; for
County Judges, Charles Tolleris, George
X. Hunton; for Sheriff, Thomas f.
Schneider: for District Attorney, R.
vote''
The chief spokesman for the Brook
lyn insurgents is Finegan, and his prin-
cipal target is NcCooey. He has charged
that MpCooey. who draws q salary of
$4,000 9 year as chief clerk Of the
Surrogates' Court, Kings County, has
kept the records Of the Office eighteen
months behind. so that the public shall
remain in ignorance of what is being
done there
"McCooey' Fineean charged, as
AFRAID 10 make public the record OF all
the persons who have received special
guardianships at his hands. One of
those who has been especially favored
Is relative"
OF the contests in the Republican
primaries in Kings only one has as
sumed the proportions of real fight
that OF Representative Reuben L. Has
kell, who, after failing to obtain the
party's designation for county judge,
entered the primaries against Judge
Norman S. Dixie and Frederick S. Mar
tyn
Haskell has the support of the party
erFrI