New-York tribune., 1902-10-17
C0LER AND THE COAL PLANK.
BELIEF THAT HE HAS DROPPED HIS ONLY ISSUE, BUT
HIS BACKERS BRA ATELY SAY HE ACCEPTS II.
NO STRADDLE, THEY SAY
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS CONVINCING
THEMSELVES THAT COLER AC-
CEPTED COAL PLANK.

As was expected. the ending Of the coal strike
has had an almost calamitous effect on the
Democratic State campaign. The big headlines
IN the papers yesterday telling about the end
OF the labor and the early resumption Of
business in the collieries came pretty near
Knocking the bottom entirely out of the Coler
canvass. Gloom settled about the headquarters
at the Hoffman House, and the leaders, who
were 50 clipper last week had nothing to say
about the best news that has greeted the aver
age citizen in the last three months. Cheaper
coal may he a mighty good thing for the peo-
pie, but it has ruined the prospects Of the Dem
ocrats. Z
Ex-senator Hill Mr. Coer. State Chairman
Frank Campbell. Charles y. Bulger and
of the other State candidates stayed all night
on Wednesday at the Hoffman House. and were
up in good tine yesterday 10 read the news
papers. They wanted to see how Mr.. Coler's
speech was accepted. There were plenty Of long
faces among the candidates as soon as the head
lines We're read. The most charitable view of
Mr.. Coler's speech was that he had straddled
the socialistc coal plank, and was left teetering
with both feet in the air.
There were many things to talk about. but
Mr. Coler reticent as ever.
I have nothing 10 say" said Mr. Coler. but
may have later on. I am going TO have talk
with Mr. Hin and other leaders some time dur
ing the day. and may be In a position 70 talk
later on. l think my speech Of last night is
sufficient FOR the time being"
When a message was sent to ex-senator Hin
he sent back word that he had nothing 20 say
for publication II subsequently learned
that Mr. Hin was engaged in a protracted CON
ference with Mr.. Coler.
Mr.. Coler remarked 10 a friend at the Hoffman
House that he did not Ike the way the papers
had interpreted his remarks in regard to the
coal plank. He said that ne had not tried 10
repudiate straddle the situation. A some
what remarkable theory was advanced by
prominent Democrat last night with reference to
Mr.. Coler and the coal plank
Il understand that Mr.. Coier unfamiliar
with his speech" said this Democrat 10
Tribune reporter last night. He had difficulty
in reading IL. and it was noticeable that when
he came 20 the hard words he stumbled It Is
doubtful If he had read the speech more than
once before he read II last night. Nj Hill man
aged the platform business I'm just the same
way II was thrust into Mr.. Raines's hands at
the Saratoga convention after Mr.. Hill had
fixed II he wanted it, Mr.. Raines himself
knew little nothing about the declarations Of
the platform until he read them his report
as chairman Of the committee resolutions"
Mr Coler's Democratic friends seemed TO think
that he had made fine speech. and they saw
nothing wrong with his equivocal position on the
coal plank one Of those who would not talk
about the speech was State Chairman Frank
Campbell Mr.. Campbell one day last week
gave out a column statement attacking the
Governor whom he charged with partial re-
sponsibility for the existence of the trusts and
for the coal strike. Mr.. Campbell would not say
a word yesterday.
Charles y. Bulger. candidate for Lieutenant
Governor however. was not so averSe TO speak
ing though he was eXcee dinghy brief. Il think,
said ne that Mr.. Coers speech was mastery
effort He expressed an old time principle when
lie said he was in favor OF home rule first. and
federal rule afterward-' The Interpretation
which had been put on the speech by some peo-
ME he said was entirely wrong. and any one
Lvho read il would see that Mr.. Coler stood by
the Democratic platform as a whole. and dld
not reDudiate any part of It.
no %barIes NJ Preston. the candidate for State
6,optroIler also made visit TO state mead
quarters. When seen he SAID MT Coler SPeeeH
met with his entire approval IL pleaseu me IN
tansaIv' said Mr. Preston, who is a resident or
KINGSTON n " the home town OF Chlef Juoge
Parker Of the Court OF Appeals / am N en-
tT tDo Won consider that Mt Coler repudioted the
coal plank in the Democratic platform: Mr.
!T9 ION read his speech carefully" responded
M preston We'll, if you did, you can see that
in speaks for itself. and that MI ooler S'aAH'
for the whole platform -, ,o,-
Walter : Logan. who tavors the SotI pIaIh' m
declared 10 a Tribune reporter yesterua-y - ma ne
tboupht Mr.. Coer had simply taken cohserFa-
-, ~ snaech he takes the position any con-
s.,,.a+iI man might take" said Ny Logan.
III says that he believes that every other
- ~ % sbouI5 be tested thoroughly before we
t1 ny poI mon the national ownership. Now
.ii,, ratl believe that about every method mas
p .,ad believe in the phrase OF lhe street
tIt e ne are up against il now MI Coler may may
Ia 5.. W -,,,h me about that. but can see that
,,tate. or straddles the issue faFor lhe
4,pratic 1Ie nlatfornl. but particularly IaEoE
DgIioGl II seems TO me that WITHIN the last
@ inns pr pIa NE have found in three cases-in ice,
~ t"o yEe yI .oaI-that combinations were nor 10 oe
@peel @ anu TUetaad Of having a nre IN our mousse
iusteu - ssen now 10 have II py mercy.
'y & rLsiio, &sa even the election OF MI Coles uoes
-. VI I cou the immediate or In Itself tne I9ture 9
nor mean az ~ mines by the government ooine
cohtrol OF .ban u-i John G. SAKE ran Tor Governor
yedTs ago on a Democratic ticket-anq YER
~ oi Vernon @ not very hopeful place toT Demo
nom NON. Mas Mjt5at te-he wrote poem. Ihe [eTaLh
- alS t 90 90 eansWered the many attacAs OF the
oI WhIch an" which charged that ne was 100
''I newsPapvi i"r ,ba Mace. That refrain was
Souhg & ioI t IA ia enough when | get H.
..,Io, oT link that by the time we nave taken
Ill. 81 the ,nI of coal we shall be old enough ana
% menu eollII0 eoh 70 have H. No. do not thlnk Mr.
Taiy TSaay eniated the coal plank. as far as am
able TO see.
.,, r,,er Day Line Steamers Last up trip
hudsoh fNs ..'t,unanal FOLIAGE Ausic-AnVt