New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-11
Haskell Blocks
Triple Alliance
Against Fusion
Offers Instead to Abide bv
Referendum of Republi-
can Jurors, if Bennett
and La Cuardia Will Also
Comic, Says Ex-senator
Each Blames Other for the
Failure of His Rivals
Plan to Combine Forces

The conference of opponents of
Borough President Henry II. Curran
for the Mayoralty nomination proposed
by Major F. H La Guardia was called
off yesterday when County Judge Reu-
ben l.. Haskell, who is running on a
wet platform. submitted counter pro-
posal.
Former Senator William NJ. Bennett.
who had accepted the invitation of
terence, on condition that Judge Has
kell be present, was somewhat skeptical
and sarcastic last night after learning
of the Brooklyn jurist's act
Major La Guardia on Tuesday tele-
graphed Haskell and Bennett, asking
them to confer with him at his head
quarters in the Hotel Netherland yes
tcrday at l o'clock TO devise ways and
means of uniting their forces against
Curran.
Until yesterday, when Judge Haskell.
IN telegram to La Guardia, rejected
the proposal and submitted his substi-
tute plan. it looked as though the three
candidates who are opposing Curran
might get together immediately and
agree upon ticket which would have
one of their number for Mayor, an
other for President of the Board of
Aldermen, and third for Comptroller.
Haskell Suggests Jurors Select
HaskelPs counter suggestion was that
the matter be submitted to the Re
publican members of the July grand
Juries in the five counties in the greater
city, to let them determine who should
De the candidate for the nomination
Tor Mayor in opposition to Curran.
II am still hopeful that there will
be combination OF our respective
forces,' said Major La Guardia, after
he had received the Haskell telegram.
my only object is 10 see that Ill those
in the Republican party who are op-
posed to the Miller machine get to-
gether before Primary Day and get be-
hind one man"
Bennett was anything but hopeful of
such an outcome, and said so frankly.
He dragged a huge bundle Of papers
from his safe and remarked:
"There are my petitions for Mayor,
all signed and attested."
He added:
81 would like to see a combination
such as Major La Guardia proposed. I
thought yesterday that the talk of such
a com bination was serious, but now it
looks like comic opera stuff"
Haskell, in statement after he had
replied to La Guardia's proposal, ex-
pressed the belief that a conference
such as suggested by the Aldermanic
placed the blame for the failure of the
kthree to get together on Bennett. He
said:
Mr.. Bennett saw copy of tie tclc-
gram ] sent to Major La Guardia and
declined to 90 into the conference
on the basis | proposed. The confer
ence at Major La Guarda's headquar-
ters is Off for the day, at least
Judge Wires His Proposal
Judge HaskelHs counter proposition
which temporarily at least destroyed
all plans for the triple alliance, was
contained in the following message to
Major La Guardia:
"i our telegram received.
why not obtain advice from a jury
of citizens as to whether you, Ben
nett or myself should run for Mayor?
MY only interest is to secure at
efficient city administration which will
among other things stop Hylan's super
/ tyranny through the police in search
ing citizens and their homes without
search warrants.
''If you and Bennett agree, l viii,
accept and follow majority recon-
d, mendation of Republican grand jurors
now serving in the several counties ot
the city, or Republican members OF
last grand jury in any instance where
no grand jury is at present serving. il
they will act unofficially as d Jury OF
citizens to determine this question.
"No speeches or long drawn out pro
ceedings should occur. The ballots OF
jurors voting should be cast withir
twenty-four hours after we submit The
matter.
My preference would be for {
majority OF the Republican County
Committee men and women Of this
city to determine the question ii time
allows
1t was learned last night that cam.
paign managers of Haskell had visited
Bennett ard La Guardia with view
to convincing them of the excellence
of the Haskell plan. 1t did not look tc
dispassionate observers as though the
Haskell emissaries had been success.
full. Politicians of all shades of belief
are wondering what the next move
' will hn