New-York tribune., 1904-10-23
HIGGINS TAKES OFFENSIVE
HE AND ROOT At BUFFALO
Er-SecretaTy E Declares There Is No
United Democratic PartY.


Wayland Higgins. who closed an active week Of
campaigning here tonight. showed by his ad-
dress to an audience OF six thousand persons III
Convention Hall that he had assumed an Of
fensive attitude in the fight for the Republican
State ticket. Of which he is the mead. Here
tofOre he had been forced 10 take defensive at
ttude by reason OF the necessity OF denying false
stories circulated by his Democratic opponents.
He feels now that the Democrats ard the few
Republicans who are hostile to him and his as
sociates the State ticket have burned al their
powder. and that the result was only a fash In
the pan. From now on until the end Of ths cam
paign he intends to carry the war into the en-
eny's country.
Ex-secretary Root made strong speech
IN which he declared that there was no consist
ent and organized Democratic party. and ex-
posed ths lack OF coherencs in sO-called Demo-
cratic opinions on important political issues.
The closing portion Of NIr. Higgins's speech
tonight. in which he discussed the ballot box
stuflng record OF the Democracy, under the
same leaders who now seek to be restored to
power. was one OF the strongest utterances hs
has made thus Far IN the campaign It was -
ceived with great excitement by the audiences
Upstate Republicans not deceived BY ths
cry OF CharIes F. Murphy that an attempt IN
being made TO disfranchise Democratic voters
IN New-York City. and they are thoroughly IN
sympathy with the Efforts which are bsfns
made TO cOTnDs an honest election IN the ma
tropolls. The issue OF honest elections. which
was brought 70 tae front tonight by Mr.. Hig-
gins. win be popular one up the State. Whera
IL is the current belief that the will Of the peO.
PIE has often been thwarted By frauds comult-
ted IN New-YOrlz and other cities under Demo-
cratic control.
Mr.. Higgins made another most sIsnIhcans
utteranoe when he said: TT does not seem neocs-
sary 20 increase our indirect tax OF seek new
sources OF revenue" This assurances that ths
revenues OF the State under the present tax Law
sufficient to pay the expenses Of the AlbanT
government was welcomed by the sEtensivs
liquor and brewing interests OF Buffalo. which
had been told by the Democratic leaders hero
that 1t was the intention OF the Republicans. I'm
the event OF the election OF Mr.. Higgins 90
raise the State liquor tax 80 and perhaps 100.
per cent. That nothing OF the kind Is intende8
is proved by the declaration OF the Republicans
nominee. and many liquor dealers OF this city,
who have been leaning toward Herrick because
they feared the election of Mp. Higgins would
jeopardize their business interests. came out IN
favor OF the latter Immediately after the meet
ing.
General Francis V. Greene. the former Polico
Commissioner of New-York, presided at ths
meeting 1t was the first great rally Of the
campaign here, and one Of the largest and most.
enthusiastic ever held in this city. The speak
ers. beside Lieutenant Governor Higgins. were
ex-secreasry EIi1u Root and Juegs = tsif-
fih of Indianapolis.
MIR HIGGINSS SPEECH
After referring to national issues and ex-
pressing his confidence in the success or the
Republican national ticket, Mr.. Higgins turned
his attention TO conditions IN this state. He
said:
Against the charges Of waste. extravaeance and
ADMINISTRATION of former years our Democratic
friends plead former conviction. Ny opponent
Democratic party in New-YOrk State to-day is. In
leadership: in character and purpose none other or
ago They assert that their party and its public
guided by policy and not by principle and they
would be speedily debauched BY success. Their
zeal is not for good government. but for Office and
in The methods by which the moneys OF the state
shall be expended as in the men by whom ths
My distinguished opponent has urged as rea-
son why the Democratic candidates should Be
elected that they should be perInitted to open and
charges OF dishonesty. he hints the possibility OF
to ali the people 81 the State that since the Rs
publican party came into power the books have nos
heeu closed to any Of our citizens. and Controller
Kelsey informs me that for weeks the sleuths %
the Democratic machine have daily been visiting
his office and freely examining the open books n.
The vain endeavOr 70 trace some error or some
dishonest acJ on which TO base an issue IN this
a remedy 10 improve it. He declares the law to be
a menace 70 the peace and safety OF the State
amendments to the present election law as VIII
simplify voting and insure to every that his
and honestly counted but reform looks forVaSSR
and not backward for improvements the present
law and 10 the party which has always stood for
a free ballot and a fair count rather than to tho
party OF Maynard and McKane.
MR. ROOTS SPEECH.
Ex-Secretary Root spoke follows:
n he fbfs til
paign is Of inferior interest to many which have
TO the present administration has presented no real
The Democratic party adheres to its old posi-
ton IN favor ot the free coinage Of silver. The
81 Louis Convention refused not only TO abandon
the position bat even TO cOncede that il had been
settled against them Their candidate telegraphsd
10 the convention that ne regarded the matter
settled, and they replied In substance I'VE don'c
want 20 discuss it now therefore your Views do
disqualfy as our candidate this time
The Democratic party adheres its old position
Slss PIo.etl3l Ls toCIety anu tnat tarr should
stance that the business interests OF The country
SAlse thTIe Is a tNepuo!5est1 senate which VIII
prevent Democratic tariff ideas from recefviuS
eor eset dGTtSs s next @ nis5I,i2n m Tari dis
The Democratic party demands sun further Leg
telling what should be- but their candidate savs
that the common law affords a complete REMEDY
are not needed. That appears 10 be an isz.ir iT
tne I5Irocr1tic party-not between them and ths
7 ne bemocrat'c party and the candidate insist
tlat We aSFilsvu NtHi1s,ullN the tiUe t0 the PAN
serton seriously when in ,he Same breafs t6ev
declare we should Keep the title aad p-orcoS IL
Both he party and tbe candidate saw that 40 e
inlperiaiisn for as 20 hold the Philippines Eat 10
Tie accidents OF war brought the philippines
disregard the ojlity which mus carae t6 as
bus tEat respoustoi..sy VIII be best sU1serred ~
preparing The isieuds as 1pidy as possible fe-
b