The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-09-01
CURRAN TELLS WHY
He QUIT DEMOCRATS
Principles, Leaders, Candidates
i'm This City Not Worthy
of Support
NEVER JOINED TAMMANY
Been Republican Since 1909
and Has No Apologies
for Record.

Il
Democrat to-day il due to the fact the
Democratic party, It's leaders ana its
candidates in this city are not worthy
Of support"
That was the retort OF Borough Presi-
dent Henry III. Curran, the Republican
Coalition candidate for Mayor. to hints
from unfriendly sources that inquiry
would show that at one time Mr.. Cur
ran had been an enrolled Democrat.
Quite apart from any idea that this
was a deep dark secret, Mr.. curran
frankly and promptly acknowledged
that. having inherited Democratic lean
ings from his father. he had considered
himself a member of that party. at
least nationally. for some years after
left the Democratic party and since 1909
had been an enrolled Republican and
been an active worker Ia tho organiza-
ton was entirely creditabe to his judg-
ment Mr.. Curran thought
Although / fail to see what this has
got TO do with issue of this campaign.
which inv Olives the capacity of Mayor
Hylan and the right OF our citizens to
have good government" said Mr.. Cur
ran. Il have nothing to conceal"
Inherited Democracy.
He then went on to explain how he
had inherited his Democracy and being
opposed to a high tariff had enrolled
as Democrat after leaving college. But
he found at once that 1t was simply
impossible to satisfy his desire to take
a hand In good government movements
as a member of the local Democracy.
So he never Joined Tammany Hall
Quite to the contrary, he took part in
many anti-Tammany campaigns. not
ably the two Low campaigns, when he
was still Democrat nationally.
In the summer of 1909. United States
Senator Dolliver having led a revolt
in the Republican party against a high
tariff. Mr.. Curran felt he would be jus
titled in enrolling as a Republican. He
entered into the campaign for the cleo
ton OF Otto T. Barnard. Republican, the
fusion candidate for Mayor, that fall
On registration day he enrolled as a
Republican. His activities as a men,
Der of that party have been a matter of
record
II was John j. Haligan, the Haskell
candidate for President of the Board OF
Aldermen, who was responsible for the
story that Curran had been a Democrat.
II had been charged against Halligan
that at one time he was a member of
Tammany Hall and ran for Representa-
tive in Congress on the Tammany ticket.
THAT Is true" said Halligan. But
have since reformed. and for some
wa
now chairman of the house committee
of the Republican Club in the Seventh
Assembly district. For that matter. ask
United States Senator Calder II he did
not use 10 be Tammany man and
President Curran If he was not an en-
rolled Democrat when he ran on the Re-
publican ticket for Congress against
Charles ". Fornes However the
issue is that Vincent Gilroy. as enrolled
Democrat. is now trying to get the Re-
publican nomination for Comptroller.
which should 60 to me. an enrolled
Republican.
Halliean Once Democrat.
Il do not see why the fact that used
to be Democrat should prevent me
from running for office as Republican
II want glass of whiskey" Mr.. Hal
ligan explained he did not mean to infer
he was drinking man. but simply used
the expression as a figure Of speech.
Incidentally Mr.. Curran said il was
after he became A Republican that he
ran for Congress- against Mr.. Fornes.
Judge Reuben l.. Haskell. the wet
for the Republican nominal
tion for Mayor, has the appearance OF
being extremely busy every afternoon
az his headquarters in the Hotel Com
modore His friends say his strength
Ia so great they do not wish to reveal 1t
at this time lest 1t brighten the other
candidates into spurts of activity.
Asked about the drafting of Morris
S. Schector of The Bronx as his candi
date for the Comptroller nomination
Judge Haskell said:
1T is true that Mr.. Schector did not
want TO run. He is not i'm a position to
finance a campaign. He was drafted,
and will remain on our ticket. However,
It is not true that Mr.. Schector favors
the nomination OF President Curran for
Mayor or of Senator Lockwood for
On the contrary, he will
make an active campaign for me-