New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-26
ORGANIZE FOR PROTEST.
IN HOLD MASS MEETINGS.
Organisations Aiue to Danger Of
Passage Of Grab Bills.

-. f-9icnfion points 10 their passage. SdcE
=. hurricane Of opposition now aroused that
=. meetings Of protesl have been organized
-,-,o bodies and organizations have raised lhe
- Gag of revolt and have rallied around a
non standard, until to-day every shade ana
o.--lsxion % reputable public opinion Is ar
-aved against the bills.
-,e RepubIioan club which, through ITS COM
- city affairs. has heretofore been con-
s-..,,r & separate campaign against the blils'
-.--s.v threw I'm its lot with the other organ
,-.,,ons and q 5o;nt conference among repre-
.s-,at-ves OF this committee, the committee on
Law ard legislation OF the Transit Reform Com
-,ftee OF one Hundred. the Citizens Union COM
,r,,tee on legislation and ballot reform the
vrss, IND Associations committee on legislation
,rs scores OF others. is planned for to-day 10
consider ways and means 10 chloroform the
measures.
.-,-ebsDs,ons IN certain quarters that. were
,bs hills passed by both houses Governor odell
would sign them. received color from statement
made 70 a Tribune reporter by julius HeaTy
cober chairman Of the steering committee "1
Avs. representing hfty-five organizations
paul Cravath told me-" said Mr.. Cohen, mat
~ s,,l-,itted tn. bills 70 Governor OdeH as head
:, the state before their introduction INTO 'ie
,,ss,,hI, III. Cravath declared, also, that me
,o-no-ations interested IN the measures pau
NV taxes 10 the funds Of the State. ana 1ha'
-.,-ssentatives OF the corporations hoid Iarge
,r,s-ests in the Repubncsa party. The cor
rorations Mr.. Cravath added, Wou4a '''ei iei''e
-, nav q cent for their franchises.
.vou can draw your own interences' auee1
Mr. Cohen . g.. ana,
,osssr. Of grab measures ininical 10 the public
y,.si h., a Republican legislature, signed ny
p.,,,bfican Governor and future chairman OF
he FenubIican state Committee. grave menace
~ the Republican party at the next eiecio--
The danger TO the Republican party vas l-li-
cs,ed bv James s Lehnaier who Is Chairman
=, she executive committee Of the Transit Re
form committee Of one Hundred, ahd repre-
sents also. ffty-three allied organizations.
q 40 not believe that on sober thought" said
Mr.. Iehrnaier the Republican legislature VIZ
mass the BedeIl-Willcox bills, for nothing couid
De more injurious TO the party responsive loT
legislation than such course New-Nork Is a
suficiertlv doubtful State Of itself without the
party undertaking to go INTO the Fresioei-ll@'
carnnaign with the burden of explaining TO the
raople how il was that their transfer rights
were permitted 10 be tampered with or their
franchises voted away I'm perpetuity-
sI think that il the people Of this city VIII
ernphaticaIly demonstrate TO Governor odeA
that they DO not propose TO have these rights
interfered with he viii not allow these inlQultous
measures 70 become laws.
'lo one has had a more valuable experience
n political management than the future chair
man Of the Republican State Committee, and he
knows better almost than any one else how easy
n is 10 repel votes and 10 lose a State. IT, with
the character for conservatism which Goverr>or
Oden made during his first term. the reelection
Tv
small majority of a few thousand votes. it viii
naturally occur TO him that with party re-
sponsible for legislation and called on 10 explain
the passage Of these bad measures, the State
would readily be lost"
Mr Iehmaier added that the people OF this
city were Jealous OF the rights which the law
nov gave them as against the railroad cor
po-afions. and would rot tamely submit TO any
impairment.
Referring 20 the ranging OF the Republican
Club IN oDposition 20 The bills, Pratt A Brown.
who is the chairman OF the clubs committee OF
civ affairs. said that Mr Cravath had intimated
before the legislature that the consideration OF
the bills which led to-the clubs resolution On
Monday to oppose them was OF snap va
riety.
This is not so" said NIr. Brown. The bills
v.e~e mos; carefully considered. Prior TO Mon
aa,,s meeting the committee held three or four
sessions from three 20 four hours each IN
length over pending legislation. There was also
Individual work beforehand. There were not as
,n+,,,area thirty or forty bills considered. but
or,, about ten. We saw that the bills were
vicious. and therefore decided 70 oppose them.
Z consider" said Mr.. Brown. that the trans
fer and relocation Of route bills are the worst
of all You may say that the Republican Club
VIII now ioin with the other organizations and
.-f-fa 81, .---
uity and despoling Elm-st- without either COM
lensation or limitation. The contention Of the
corporation that the number Of suits brought
against Il in the transfer matter has become
scandal is an absurd argument The invoca-
lion o; legislation 10 prevent such suits is
equivalent 10 self-conviction
NJ Brown was eloquent on the menace to the
hep90lican party OF the passage Of the bills.
Entirely on their merits" said he the bills
appear disadvantag geous TO the interests OF the
city Further the Republican party is not now
In position when Il can trihe with such mat
terS ANY mistake is likely to cost the party
Gear AS its representative. may say that
the Republican Club VIII Join with the others
10 dght the bills. and that what the others de-
eide viii receive our support"
ar. Brown was confident that the fact OF the
clubs going on record in opposition would WELD
considerable influence IN opposition 70 the bills
Edmund Bayles OF Carter & Ledyard the
hrm OF John G. Mnburn. declared that. were the
Niagara. LOckport and Ontario Power COM
panys bin favoraby reported on by both houses,
hearing would be asked from the Governor 20
protest against the bin
William F. King, chairman Of the Commit
Tee on Franchises OF the Merchants Association.
believed that Governor Odell's signature would
De Withheld from the bills. Said he:
ne railroad grab bills may pass the Legislature
-. Lol one VIII be signed By the Governor The
sieeel bil Increasing the State Railroad Commits
80 rom three 20 five members. will not become