New-York tribune., 1896-01-13


THE COUNTRY" WITH THE "uNANIMITY"
OF THE NEw-YoRK DELEGATIoN-A
LESSON IN RECENT POLITICAL HIS
TORY APPARENTLY UNHEEDED
When David B. Hill four years ago issued
the call for his midwinter snap State Con-
venton. which met in Albany February 22,
1892 storm Of indignant protest from the
independent Democracy swept the State.
Hill called the convention at so unusual date
to rivet his own candidacy upon his State or
ganzation gave notice TO the Democracy Of
other States before they could hold their con-
ventions that New-York would send cast
iron delegation to Chicago whose seventy-two
votes in the National Convention would be
cast for Hill first. last and all the time" To
the minds OF Mr. Hill and the cotcre that
plotted hs transfer t. the White House, II
was a coup d'etat which would extinguish the
prospects Of anybody else halns from the
Empire State and render HIS nomination
certain.
The results Of Hills midwinter convention
were most disastrous to him. everybody
knows. but the lesson which they impaired
seems TO have been lost upon another politician
who Ike HILL once did imagine that the people
Of New-Y York State knew no law except his will
An edict went out from the headquarters of T.
c. Platt yesterday that the Republican State
Convention to choose deegates-at-large TO the
Republican National Convention must be held
earlier than that body was ever known TO meet
before and that March l or near that date was
the time set.
The telegraph was speedily resorted 10. The
nuppet chairman Of the committee and his
sistants bused themselves in getting letters
ready for the mail and the machine workers in
1iStr
get their machinery in working order for the
second snap convention 10 be held in New
York State.
THE STATE COMMITTEE TO MEET.
Tho Renublican State Committee will shortly
he called together in this city to give effect TO
this order of the president Of the United States
rxnress COMPANY AS in the case of Mr.. Hills
uid-vinter convention. Albany is likely TO be
selected as the place of meeting The lst OF
March will fall this year Saturday. The con-
vention date may therefore be set for March g.
though some OF the advisers of the machine
thought that week earler-or about FEBRUARY
25-would rot be too soon.
Among the reasons given why snap
convention was d necessity this year was one
exactly similar to Hills excuse four years ago
for his February gathering at Albany. 1T was
that 1t should be held to give the country an
early expression in favor of Governor Morton
for the Presidency, and show the Republicans
If other States that the New-York Republicans
were solid for the Governors nomination Such
a demonstration, IL declared. would inev-
itably bring strong support 10 the Governor
The Congress District conventions to choose
the district delegates to the National Conven-
ton will be held before the State Convention
meets The XXIXth Congress District starts
off in the lead on February s. AS the district
70 Watkins
named is depended upon by the reactionsts to
do ]. Sloat Fassett and send two good ma
chine men from the counties Of Chemung SEN
eca, Schuyler and Steuben the other thirty
three districts in the State expected by them
to follow suit and elect delegates pledged to
obey the commands of Platt
ANOTHER REASON.
Another reason given for so early convention
was to get the question Of delegates out of the
way when the most important legislation OF the
session comes up for disposal at Albany. Timothy
f. Ellsworth. president pro TEN. oe the Senate:
Clarence Lexow. chairman of the Senate Com
mittee Judiciary; Nevada ~ Stranahan,
chairman Of the Senate Committee on Cities:
George c. Austin, chairman Of the Assembly
Committee on Cities. and Edward Lauterbach.
Of this city. had long conference with Mr.. Patt
In his apartments in the Fifth Avenue Hotel
yesterday before the fact that snap" conven-
ton had been decided upon became known. 1t
was agreed that the Greater New-Yor resolution
should be rushed through In the Assembly to-
night and the subcommittee which will IN
vestigate" the needs IF the new metropolitan
district shall be set to work at once.
Senator LeXOw will be chairman OF the joint
subcommittee, and Mr.. Austin Will head the de-
tachment from the Assembly. The investi-
eating committee. led by Mr. Lexow. will, II
everything works well in Albany, be down here
and in fun blast this week. Brooklyn viii be the
first point Of attack The committee may Or
ganiZe and hold session here, but II w 90 at
once 20 Brooklyn to begin taking testimony. Com
munication between New-York and Brooklyn IS
easy. and orders from NO 40 Broadway can be
carried out without dfhculty.
AS soon as the snap" convention has ad-
tourned the Greater New-York bill Will be in
troduced At present It's big features are the
organization of the new Police ana HeaIth
commissioners to cover the entire metrOpoli-
tan district and supersede the boards now con-
trolling police and sanitary administration In
New-York. Brooklyn, Long Island CITY. etc
The Ranes Excise bill ii is expected. VIII be
passed at the same time, and the functions OF
summarily suspended Mr.. Platt VIII then be
able to fulfil his promises TO the liquor interest
and end the attempt 10 enforce the Sunday ex-
else laws. The Sunday opening question VIII
police will be taken from the sidedoors Of the
saloons and the work OF the GROWER IN
church hours will not be mOleStcd
That is the sweet programme now.
Us there no danger of the independent Ike.
publicans OF the State rising up against a snap
Convention as the Anti-Snappcr Democracy did
four years ago." machine leader was asked
last night.
Were not afraid Of them" was the confident
reply.
SNAP METHODS NOT REPUBLICAN.