New-York tribune., 1891-02-19
Is THE GOyERyOR LOSING HIS GRIP'

IS THE GOTERNOR LOSING HIS GhIP'
Heretofore. since he became Governor, DaVld
r. Hill has found no difficulty in c0n'roiilhs inc
Democratic members of the Legislature E'eil
limo he has taken ant-refAam snuff they have
sneozod. In 1885 he was opposed to the meas
u,o n,osontod by the RcpublicaA majority which
nrovidcd for taking an enumeration OF the III
habtantS of the State Accordingly the Dem
oc,ats of the Senate and Assembly oid 'heif
hest TO beat it to beat legislation whose deieat
meant disobcdiencc OF an express ana highiF
;m,ortant mandate OF the Constitution. just
On ~ q vinI, from the Governor, the Democratic
lawmakers Of more recent years arrayed them
soIvos against High License bills and bills aim
;rg 70 serve the interest of the electors OF New
York by placing additional safeguards around
the ballot-box. .,,
Thus il has been ever since liill Succeeoeu
Cleveland: his wishes have been the law OF his
political brethren of the Legislature But how
!. if this session? Is he absolute muster of the
Democratic majority in the Assembly? The
coursc Of that majority on the Stadcr bill throws
I;obt ON these questions The rum power il
1ccplv interested in the stadlcr bill its agents
have been in Albany ever since that bill was
introduced lobbying for lis passage. IT follows
therefore tha; this is one OF the Goyernors pet
measures. and that he has used all his inliuence
with members of the Democratic Assembly ma
ority TO induce them 10 support IT. Ba' INC
Democratic majority will not support 1t. lheio
arc GS Democrats in the Assembly and II would
4a,c only G5 votes TO pass the Stadlcr bill. But,
although if has been before tha''body for several
1t.t,p, I'm
has failed Las. week on its third and final
reading. it was beaten, only 63 Affirmative votes
bcinr east. Ever since then Mr.. Blumcnthal,
who has i, in charge, has been cndcavoHhg To
onliS. enough Democrats in it' favor to warrant
him in moving 20 reconsider the vote 10y which
II was knocked out But his cifoIt' have not
been successful On Tuesday a substitute ioF
the Stadlcr bill was introduced in the Assem-
bN. Our Albany correspondent telegfAphed
that before the substitute was presented Mr.
Blumcnthal made quiet canvass OF the AS
scmbly and found that 1t would probably De
impossible to get enough votes to take the Htad-
Ter bill from the table where II went when 1t
failed" In other words the rum power Is con
rron.cd with the solemn fact that piece 0i
legislation upon which it has set its heart has
come 70 grief in Democratic Assembly, al
though David b. Hill still sits in the Governors
chair. How will il explain this phenomenon
VIII it not be justified in concluding that liIl
grip on his party is not aS firm aS il was? oi
course the rum power will not accuse the Gov
crnor Of personal diSloyalty To the saoonS-l'
knows him too well for that. II : aware. iof
instance. that he has lltc!y been amending ana
revising 4 bill which the state LiquoF-Dr1lcr>
Association is to present 10 the Legislature ana
that the association has agreed TO let him pick
ont the legislator who IS to introduce A. !
cannot be Ignorant cf this choice piece OF po-
ltico-whis,lcy intelligence. because the organ o.
the saloons. "The Wine and Spirit Gazottr,"
lot the cat ont OF the bag in its issue Of last
week.
Doubtless his partSanS The ardon' promoters
Of his boom will scoT at the suggestion that
Hills power in his party in Ncw-loFf has al
ready begun to wano. How, then. will they
account for the shipwrrcli of tho S;adlcr bill
in Democratic Assembly? VIII they advance
the theory that Hill has turned temperance r'-
former? Or are they prepared To adm'-n9t
necessarily for pu'licltion-that the WHY David
is playing double game tia: while giving
the State Liquor Dealers Association to unicr-
stand tha. he IS the best champion !; has IN the
world he In, been throwing his ialucncc aq1ins
the Stldler bill?