New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-12
BURLEIGH VERSUS BAKER.
A LIVELY POLITICAL CONTEST IN WASH
INGTON COUNTY.

MACHINE AGAiNoI AhE fOA""''
GRESHAM THE FIGHT ALSO
AGAINST WARNER MILLER.
rnY TELEGRAPH TO TIRE rRrBuNE]
whitehall, n. Y, May lion THURSDAY w ashins
Ton County Republicans will witness nero the ciose
az ana of the fercest struggles for pontcaI supre
scv that has ever occurred In this part OF the
cts+. Fx- Congressman Henry G. Burleigh. OF this
r,ace and ex-senator Isaac v. Baker. OF Com
with their supporters, will contest the con-
troll of the machinery Of the Repuphcah parry III
this county Tho test will occur on the nominations
for Assemblyman, Sheriff. county N'ei" """ NN
tntendent Of the Poor.
,o.r ago Mr. Burlegh and his friends gained
cor.ro, IN tho county and renominated Mr.. Hoppe
for Assemblyman. Mr.. Hobbie was elected. "oic
over Mr.. Burleigh took conspicuous part 4" '"e
nomination Of Congressman ana inc e'ecuoi. VI
delegates to the National Repuohcan Oonv
Mr. Baker who had been prominent IN STATE poii-
tics owing to his position Of Republican ieaoer IN
washington County. seemed to lose poN'i0ui
strength and in vain sought appointment az "
State Railroad Commissioner from Governor oia.M'
His efforts to regain control Of tho party machi'-
erv NAV therefore DO considered an attempt aso 10
regain his former influence IN tho RepuohcAh p"'"
outside of the county Of Washington.
Mr. Burleigh's friends say that ne Is coh.onoi,s
with moro people than Mr.. Baker and his iriehos'
that Charles ". Hackett, chairman OF the hopuo.
f,oan State Committee, has arrayed himse1 aealhs'
p,,-,.,a, In oorseouence OF some criticisms lately
uttered by tho latter at Albany. Mr. Buriegh espe-
oally opposed the passing of tho Greater New
charter over the head of Mayor Strong deciarhis
that Il was altogether too likely that iahiinans
Hall would sweep the city OF New iors a. 'i'o
t,on this fall. and thus put the Republican party
n, "a disadvantage in tho State. He was also noslAe
:. ,ho hin which Governor Black had framed con
dennnine lands In the Adirondack ioTes's ue
for tho use of the State. AS an owner Oh Nnu ~
the Adirondack region. Mr.. Burlelgh coh'iuo.ou w..
farm
bill an unjust one, and therefore opp0''"
sage ,,, r,.ob,n.
..e,r,t Mr. purleigh may be considered part Oh
its general plan to deprive warner Miiier anu o..
NJ. followers of influence in the Republican parry
Mr. PuIsgh one Fl the was ToSSed Of his
IN the State Convention Of 1896 II Mr. ee a.csd
isrsis 70 the state Convention that may he held
Il can now be predicted that ms sea. he
and his friends intend make an ea ,Ss Ree eTSI
to retain control Of the a m ecnn,v u '"'
Thu renewal Of hostilities between the followers
Of Baker and Burlegh recalls ono OF tho herces.
factional contests ever witnessed In any county U.
this State. IT waged for months Win uiaoa.ou
furv Every acre OF territory was Fought TOT
vigorously and bitterly until the final day "hei
tho whitehall statesman triumphed over his ancient
enemy. ,, s,,
rants for the control Of Republican analrs III
Washington County. Baker, who was lormerH
SUPERINTENDENT Of State Prisons. 10 a resourceiui
hu, Quiet worker He resembles Francis Hen
bricks Of Syracuse in his political methoos' ana.
like Hendricks. has managed to obtain powerful
grin on the local machine He was cohslueieu
Patt's lieutenant. Undoubtedly he was loyal IN
his relations with the Boss Bureigh, on the othe'
hand was an avowed adherent Of Warner Miller.
A Half Breed of Half-Breeds he had fought with
singular effectiveness a fact conspicuousIy Illus
trated at irregularly recurring intervals natural
ly, when the fight broke out in 1928, BAKER turned
10 Platt for aid. 1t was promised. but never came
for RurIeigh with characteristic audacity. insisted
thai Platt should keep his hands off, and succeeded
IN using Frank s. Witherbee to such good pur-
nose that Platt actually allowed Baker to make
the fight practically alone to the latters utter dis
may and discomfiture 49,. - ~.
county The issue was merely the election OF dele
gates the State Convention but II the fres9ency
had depended on the Tsso r ne Brjeehs
friends say that he spent $1,000 lie mas never de-
MED H. Baker is taciurn on the subject OF course
brt If ne did not spend much as his rival 1t was
simply because ne did not have II 10 spend FOR he Is
a thoroughly game contestant In poltica1 WARFARE
sure OF victory and would have won. probably, had
Plat helped him. He could not aHord 10 quarIeI
with the State machine even when ms deesa,es
and waited patiently for revenge which ne hopes to
get tomorrow. . -,
wealthy young iron manufacturer of Port Henry,
who has made himself so useful to Plat as 70 have
eufcient influence court 10 keep the whole force
Burlegh with whom he rs associated IN various
business enterprises. Baker vows that he will drive
however that ne has a big contract his hands.
He discovered long ago that his hated rival has
j. why Ticonderoga people call him Bounding Bur-
leigh"