New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-10
Will Confer To-day With
Haskell and Bennett in
Effort to Enlist Them
A gainst Coalitionists
Rivals Qualify
Their Approval
Accept Majors Plan to
Talk, but Make Plain
Each " ould Be Mayor

Major f. II. La Guardia, President
OF the Board Of Aldermen. an avowed
candidate for the nomination for
Mayor in the Republican primaries.
yesterday sent telegram to County
Judge Reuben L. Haskell, Of BROOKLYN.
and former Senator william NJ. Ben
nett, both Of whom also have their
nominating petitions for Mayor ready
for filing. asking for Z conference to-
day al o'clock at the Hotel Meth
erlsnd
Mr.. Bennett answered the Majors
message, saying that he was agreeable
to the proposition, but he said at the
time that while he was in a conferring
mood, he was a candidate for the Re
publican nomination for Mayor, and
for nothing else on the city ticket.
The telegram to Haskell and Bennett
follows
Disregard OF the wishes and desires
Of the voters displayed by the bosses
Of the machine and the indifference to
the best wishes of the party, together
with determined arrogance to null
lify the primary Law. are the factors
which require the independent factors
of the Republican party to smash this
machine and redeem the Republican
party. I would be glad to meet and
confer with You, so that we may join
forces. suggest meeting Wcdnes-
day at / o'clock at the Hotel Neither
land, Manhattan
Speaks for Itself, Says La Guardia
When Major La Guardia was asked at
the Hotel Nctherland what he meant
by the telegram nc said that it spoke
for itself
What proposal arc you ready to
submit to Mcssrs. Haskell and Ben
nett, they being. like yourself, candi-
dates for Mayor, and nothing else 2"
II am for anything to beat the
Miller combine, which believe is doinr
everything in its power to bring about
the reelection Of Mayor Hylan," said
the Major.
Would y9u take the Comptroller
ship on Hsskell-La Guardia- Bennett
ticketr'
"My idea is to get joint movement
against the Miller machine,' said
Major La Gusrdia.
Major La Guardia then was asked
about a Saturday uight conference he
Thomas W. Whittlc at the Hotel Plaza
when his possible withdrawal from the
lace was discussed. At that confer
encc he was taken to task by Lawrence
and Whittle for dismissing Charles
Rathfelder one Of his employees, be
cause Rathfclder refused to break
away from his colleagues, who arc
for the regular Republican
ticket.
Major La Guardia is understood to
have offered Mr.. Lawrence to appoint
any one of his naming to take Rath-
felder's place, but his oifer WAS re-
fused. because, Lawrence said, it
would be interpreted as approving the
dismissal. When this was brought to
his attention yesterday Major La
Guardia said that there Was no chance
Of his combining with the regular or
ganIzation the "Millcr outfit as he
termed it.
Bennett Willing TO Confer
Former Senator Bennett sent the fol-
owing answer to Major La Guardia:
"The Honorable L. II. La liuardia, City
Hall.
My Dear Major: Concerning Your
telegram of this date, my understand
ing as a result Of Our telephone cor
ference to-day is that when you have
received word from Judge Haskell that
he will join in such conference YOU
Will let me know. | shall, of course.
be glad to aid any movement the OBJ
iect of which is to preserve to the
voters the right to say who their cam
didates shall be.
"Thc fact that the same so-called
leaders who sold out the voters in
1917 are again seeking to impose their
choice for Mayor seems to me to ere
ate tho necessity that should offer
the voters an opportunity to say
they repudiate OF ratify that
betrayal. This | intend to do. and
showing yours and Judge Haskells
'lews concerning the present so-called
party leadership, | shall be GLAD to
confer with you and him With view to
that end. Sincerely yours.
WILLIAM NJ. BENNETT"
When Mr.. Bennett was asked if he
%ould take second place on a new citv
.iehet to be headed either by Major
(Cootinued on next page