New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-31
UNJUST MACHINE METHODS.
PLATT'S HIGHHANDED WAYS OF OVER
RIDING REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES.
CoMMIrTEE-THE FIGHT MADE BY MR..
ROBBINS IN ALLEGANY AND HIS
DEFEAT-oNE USE OF EARLY


ROBBINS IN ALLEGANY AND HIS
DEFEAT-oNE USE OF EARLY
PRIMARIES
Albany Jan 20 (speciaD.-One OF the most re-
markable characteristics OF political machine Is us
untirngness 1t is at work the year round IL iaoors
when the Of voters are unobsorvant OF pohtica
movements. Thus tho decisions mentally made ny
voters regarding State convention and Its possible
candidates are frequently set aside months In ad-
vance bv the shrewd combinations made by poll
tcians.
The organization Of the Republican party permits
Of this defeat Of the will OF voters much more
readily than that Of tho Democratic party. because
It has no rule regarding the time when delegates
shall he ele ted to its conventions. In good many
counties Of the state delegates to the state 'oh-
yontion are elected long before call has been is-
sued for the holding Of one. In the county OF
Washington for instance. It is reported that the
Plat machine intends 20 attempt to elect delegates
to the State Convention OF this year some time in
the month Of February. At the same time dele
gates Will be elected to the Senate district ana
Assembly district conventions which VIII ne he'u
somewhat later in the year.
II Is obvious that such practice Is highly opJec-
.io7able The Republicans OF Washington County
are rot In a position now 10 declare for instance
whether they wish Frank s Black renominated FOR
Governor or Edgar T. Bracket renomnated Tor
State Senator. In the county OF Fulton aiso IL II
whispered about that the Republican State Con
vcntion and Senate district primaries VIII be heih
in the spring approaching. and Platt delegates
elected for both the Republican Senate District
Convention and for the Republican State Conven-
ton.
CANDIDATES WHO LIKE 1T.
Hobart Krum. the State Senator representing the
Senate district in which Fulton County Is situated,
Is a candidate for denomination. An early settle
ment OF the question Of his denomination VIII
please him Mr.. Plat also will be glad to learn
that Platt delegates to the Republican state con-
ventor have been packed away. Congressman Liz
taucr. who lives in Fulton County, is also seeking
an early settlement ~ the question Of his renom-
nation. The Fulton County primaries VIII also SCI
tie that matter so far a. Fulton County Is con-
cerned In July next, II the ST. Lawrence Repup-
leans follow their usual custom, they Will elect
their delegates to the Republican State Convention
at period previous TO the issuing Of the call FOR
the meeting Of the convention.
They have a better rule IN the Democratic party.
Under a resolution passed by a recent Democratic
State Convention. no delegates TO State conven-
ton can be elected until the Democratic State
Committee has Issued a call for the meeting Of
one. and the minor conventions also for the nom
nation OF Assemblymen and Senator's are heln
after the meeting OF the State Committee Lastly
the Democratic State Committee Ia elected on n
broader basis than the Republican. by Senate ais
tric-s and not by Congress districts. II has hfty
members. II is a more representative body than
the Republican state Committee. with its thirty
four members-mostly elected from cities
UNJUST PARTY DECISIONS.
Tho next Republican State Convention should
take into consideration various unjust features OF
lis present method Of giving party decisions. laKe'
for instance. the remarkable way in which NhiaA
Barnes IT, Of this city. defeated for State Commit
teeman In 1897 nevertheless contrved TO become
member Of the committee. The ant-Barnes Re
publicans Of Albany County on that occasion I'M
der the lead OF John A. Selcher. made William H.
Weaver their candidate for the position on inc
Republican state Committee held by Mr.. Barnes
Mr.. Weaver was prominent lumber dealer ana
noted citizen OF Albany His supporters elected
the delegates from the LIST and lid Assembly dis
trcts Of Albany County. Mr.. Barnes carried the
WITH Assembly District.
There then remained the I'D Assembly District.
over this there fierce contest Finally the
contest in this district turned upon the result Of
primary held In the Sixteenth Election District
This Is sparsely settled. BY a vote OF 10 the
supporters OF Mr.. Weaver carried II. The eight
Barnes men then abruptly left the hall. and some
Of them going to Barnes. told him what had hap
pened. He told them that he must carry that
urinary They went back 10 the district and. 1t
is said held primary In the street opposite MT
Sei.he-'s house. When the lid Assembly District
Convention was held the Committee on Contested
seets admitted tho slocher delegates from this
sixteenth Election District. and thereupon the
Barnes delegates bolte1 and held separate AS
sembly district convention
PLATT AGAINST A MAJORITY.
II will thus he perceived that Mr. Weaver car
ried three Of the four Assembly districts in AL
bany County. lie had majority of the delegates
favora BILE TO his election member OF the Re-
publican State Committee But Barnes knew that
so long as Thomas e. Plat controlled the Repub-
Iican State Committee he was not beaten. The
STATE Committee boldly put the Barnes contesting
delegation from the I'D Assembly District on the
roll If
on Contested Seats of the State Convention then
declared in the face Of overwhelming evidence to
The contrary that they entitled TO the seats.
But this left Mr.: Barnes and Mr. Weaver with
al equal number OF votes for State Committeeman.
IL was true that the Barnes equal number had
been manufactured. but ne had an apparent equal
number" with Mr. Weaver Then there was a ne
vote on the place OF State Committeeman There
on Contested Seats gave ten minutes to consid-
GRAFTON Of the Albany contest from the Id Assem-
thus there was a vacancy in the Republican
state Committee. 1t continued for a month. Then.
while Mr. Weaver and prominent. Republicans Of
Albany we're waiting outside OF the doors OF
tie shat nat committee held secret meeting and
elected Barnes one OF ts members. MI. Weaver
congress district were not heard; the Repubcan
State Committee arbitrarily made MT. barnes 4ne
Mai is the use OF holding a state convention and
going through the farce Of electng delegates from
the various Congress districts?
MR. ROBBINS 5 DEFEAT BY THE MACHINE
The defeat OF Frederick A. Robbins. Independent
Republican, while seeking regular nomination
I'm Allegany is also Illustrative of the methods OF
the Plat machine. Mr.. Robbins had greatly Of
Tended tina, machine by defeating It's candidate
for Assembyman in 1896. Then he had led the
fight In the Assembly against the Greater New
York charter Lastly he opposed the sham Anti
Trust bill brought forward by Senator Lexow. Al
the close OF the session OF 1897 some OF the ma
chine leaders came 70 Mr. Robbins affected TO
he greatly distressed over the Republican dissen-
SION in Allegany County. and said II he would
seek regular" nomination he would be treated
fairly at the primaries.
Wr Robbins accepting these assurances, went
n work seeking the nomination. The machine
~ orro broke faith with him. Federal and State