The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-16
NOT A WORD on THE ISSUE
TIE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE
MAINTAINS SILENCE.

Sending n Letter - Purroy bounced aua
Justice Alton -. Parker Nominated for
Chier Judge OF the Court OF AppeAls-DsIs-
cations OF Loyal Democrats Appeal vnthlv
for an IndorHcmcnt or the Chicago Plat
form-Then the Executive Committee or the
Loyal Democratic League Meets and 1iepudi-
atcs tho Action or tho state Comnittee.
The Hon. James X. Jones of Arkansas, Chair
man Of tho Democratic National Committee,
was spoken OF yesterday by Democrats at the
Hoffman House as the most accommodating
political letter writer OF the day. Early in May
TIE Sun announced authoritatively that Chair.
man Jones had written letters TO Chairman
Eliot Danforth OF tho Democratic State Com
mittce of New York and John c. Sheehan of
Tammany Hall, besecching them to take no
step backward from the Chicago national plat
form of 1896 in the State and municipal cam.
paigns this fall. Chairman Jones at the time
was very much concerned, he said, lest the
Democrats should attempt to shunt the Chicago
national platform of 1896.
Yesterday the Hoffman House corridors were
thronged with Democrats from all over the
State. They had come to attend the meeting Of
the Democratic State Committee, which was to
nominate q candidate for Chief Judge OF the
Court OF Appeals. They had also come to hear
what the Democratic State Committee would
have TO say concerning the Chicago national
platform OF 1896. which was Endorsed by the
Buffalo Convention, which convention author
lied the State to nominate the candk
date for Chief Judge and to assume all the pow
ers OF IA Democratic State Convention. Senator
Edward Murphy, Jr., was the Democratic cap
tain in command. He held a great recep-
ton in his apartments upstairs. and among
his visitors were ex-senator Pugh OF Alabama,
eN-Gpprntnry IInkn cu,i,l ~ Goorr;o ond Ca
ator John p. Jones OF Nevada. 1t was pretty
quickly nsccrtained that the Democratic State
did not intend 10 take any action
concerning the Chicago platform OF 1896. whyl
Well, National Chairman Jones OF Arkansas had
written a letter which stultincd the utteranceo
he made in May, and this letter was to be read
at the meeting Of the State Committee and was
to be used for the purpose OF smothcring action
on national affairs. Chairman Jones sent the
letter to Senator Murphy. and here follows the
extract from it which was used at tho meeting
OF the State Committees:
There could be nothing moro indiscreet or
impolitic than for the State Central tee
to assume authority which it did not possess,
and il especially becomes us TO follow prece-
dents and not give occasion for criticism or o
charge OF being revolutionary in our methods.
The State Convention has, as l understand,
authorized the Central Committee to nominate
a candidate for Judge. This empowers them to
do that; but the State Convention did not au-
thoriZe them to frame a new platform or either
indorsc or condemn the action Of the State Con-
vention or any National Convention, and, 10
seems to me, for them to assume such authority
would lay themselves open to criticism. With.
out %presumiIg TO criticise the aSti0n of the
Stnte Central Committee. over which. OF course,
j have no sort of control. l venture to suggest
that the wise and polite thing for them to do 10
to follow the exact line of their authority and
not exceed 1t in any respect"
Immediately after Chairman Jones wrote
those letters in May 1t began TO be whispered
throughout the State that the Democratic
leaders did not intend to pay any attention to
the utterances of Mr.. Jones. State Committee
man Norman f.. Mack of Buffalo. one OF the
most enthusiastic supporters OF Brysnism, DO
correspondence enSued:
BUFFALO. Nay Ell.
Is It true. as stated In dispatches. that you favor
repudiating Mt the fall elections the principles OF the
cratic National Convention held in Chicago July 4,
1870? Answer for publication. NORMAN E. MACK.
Norman p. MACK. B,rn,o. v !.
Have not seen the dispatches to which you refer. I
principles OF the Democrats party as cnunciated At
the last Democratic National Convention
The Democratic State Committee, at its meet
ing yesterday. had never a word to say for or
against the Chicago national platform OF 1896.
The committee listened to delegations OF stanch
supporters OF the Democratic national platform,
refused to take any action, and in every way
]pURRoy's CASE TAKEN CT.
The committee was tardy in getting to work
and sat until late in the afternoon. Chairman
uMnt0r'n pr"s'eSd ana secretary oalrin }.
had hardly been seated before Committeeman
Charles y. lniFer of 4swego Was on his feet
pei Henry D.. Purrov ms q member OF the State
committee. Mr, BulGcr held in his hand the
nouncca Purroy and called for his expulsion.
Mr.; HulEcr did not write this resolution. il was
fore. The resolution was as follows:
"Hhcrc0S,. Henry ID. Purroy, a member OF this
his determination 10 do his utmost 10 defeat the
nominees of tho Democratic party in Greater
New York, and IN pursuance OF such determine
ton has attended conferences called under Re-
publican authority exclusively. having for their
object the defeat Of the Democratic candidates.
and Is now engaged IN a combination with our
"Rcsolrtd, That for such disloyelty. and
j. Purroy, be and he is hereby expelled from
membership in this organization"
Bryan last fall, Mr.. Chase in earnest tones dis
sbE APP 2, wo of the ns,a hnTiGer , rSS sG mr."a,o DELAYING
lard I. Reid OF Suffolk county supported Mr..
C onS ne in mn his fo oIRpSsiS}i96H n I, s. the nqlES oEnTssss resolution:
Grady of Tammany. who denounced Purroy in
oil sorts of terms. Senator Grady proclaimed
Purroy to be "A doublc.dycd traitor, and pointed
out that Purroy. had recently attended the
Republican conferences and planned with
the enemies of Tammany the discomfturo
of that ancient, organization. Patrick Hayes
and senator Michael J. Coffey OF Kings came to
purroy's support and agreed with Mr.. Chase
and, Mr.. Reid thNt the expulsion OF Pprroy
might lead to all sorts Of complications and was
bad politics. All four of Purroy's supporters,
however, quickly recognized that tho drift was
against them, and senator Coifcy, in the hope
of avoiding precipitntc action. introduced n res
olution calling for the appointment OF a com.
mittcc of tivc TO investigate Purroy's recent
conduct and To report back 10 the State Conn
mittce.. senator. COiey's resolution was
promptly defeated. Then Mr.. Reid and Mr..
Hayes adopted n different line. They bcsought
Mr.. Purroy To explain his conduct TO tho com.
miltcc, Purroy utterly refused to do SO. All
that he would say was: Gentlemen, l know
what l am about.
pURROY EXPELLED.
Mr.. Purroy's refusal TO speak angcred Mr..
Hayes and Mr.. Reid, and when Mr.. Bulgcr's
resolution calling for the expulsion OF Purroy
WAS nut 10 IA vote, Mr.. Hayes voted to expel
him. MIR. Reid WAS more mcrciful and declined
M