The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-19


Ithe Republicans in Tie Assembly would
for the most part be agreeable to Gov.
Hughes's view Of the situation. Then. too.
President Roosevelt and his friends must
come in for consideration OF this all inn
portant matter. For some little time 1t
has been known by important Republicans
that Notwithstanding any understanding
hat NAV have. been reached as to Mr..
WoodruiH's candidacy for United States
Senator. he will be opposed by a number of
Republicans. some Of them still very infu-
entail in the party, and that the drift Of
the Republicans il toward the elevation Of
Representative J. Sloat Fassett. Both Mr..
Woodruff and Mr.. Fassett are compare
lively young men. Should Mr.. Plat resign
before January 1 il rs very probable, it was
aaid to-day. that Gov. Higgins might APP
point Mr. Woodruff but that should Mr..
Plat wait until the Legislature is in session
Mr.. Fassett will put up a fight against Mr..
Woodruff which wodld make things mighty
interesting in this sleepy old townof Albany.
All expect that this struggle il to take
place. For that reason many Republicans
are looking forward with more or less
anxiety to the organization OF the Senate
and Assembly, for without doubt the or
Ranization of these two OF the
Legislature will exercise a most potent
influence In determining the United States
Scnatorship. ....-
SENATE MUST BE R~EoRGANIZED.
There is scarcely a dissenting voice in
this town to-day that II President Roose-
welt and Gov. Hughes desire to perfect the
reforms which were started in the As
.embly last WintHc. th"rt mISt I've a thorough
reorganization Of the Senate this winter.
The old. hands who have been prominent
in the upper chamber have got into the old
nut and groove which are altogether politi-
cally questionable In these times Of politi-
cal hysteria Many OF the Republican critics
unreservcdly to-day that the Senate
needs new men, strong men. men acquainted
with the political drifts OF the present gen.
Grafton. This was brought out in the cleo
ton of young W~adsworth for Speaker OF the
Assembly last winter. The old hacks saw
their pictu res turned TO the wall. They
were relics of bygone Republican days.
II r. insisted that the Senate should be re-
organized by sending men to the rear who
depend upon politics for a living, with all
that that statement implies.
SENATORS AFTER GRAFT.
MANY OF JnDke WI ilhN btth UPPER iOSS
in the councils Of the Republican majority
in the Senate have seldom been heard to
speak Of the Republican party or OF it's
poll cies. On the contrary they have been
interested in personal bills, either for the
advancement of certain corporations or
to the detrlnent of certain corporations.
but always and ever these Republican
Senators have been for themselves first.
last and all the time.
The records of the ~Comptroller's depart
rnent and those of the State Treasurer's de-
partment show where Republican Senators
have used their influence in the party to
secure for themselves, outside of their
salaries, all sorts of ~picayune and detestable
graft. They nave not confined this to them
selves. but they have brought in their
families, sons, sons-in-law and others of
whom it would be ungsllant and unchival-
rous to speak specifically. Gov. Hughes,
u is said, has been made acquainted with
many of these matters, and Republicans
who have been loyal to the party and who
have never thought OF their pockets are
now waiting the outcome. Gov. Hughes,
il IL insisted, has a wonderful opportunity
in which to perfect reforms.
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER ON ELECTION DAY.
That the party organization is in bad
shape nearly all hands admit. Expert
political mathemetioisns said to-day.
after an Investigation Of the numerous
factionsl q~uarrels in the party, that no less
than 1900 Republican votes were lost to
the Republican State ticket on election day
in Cohoes, which is part of Albany county,
and in Orleans, Niagara, Genesee, Wyo-
ming, Livingston, Saratoga, Warren, Rens-
%selaer, Duchess. Broome, Oneida, Orange,
Tioka, Madison and Oswego. The Repub-
licans in these counties drove the knife into
each other up to the hilt. They thought
very much more Of. local candidates than
they did OF their State ticket. Their whole
bent was to get even with local leaders.
On the other hand. some of these local
leaders were just as keen TO defeat local
candidates of the Republican party. The
whole atmosphere of the party on election
day was the outcome of a strife to get con-
troll Of the party organization for financial
profit only, and with no consideration what
ever for the party's principles or the party's
welfare. II was this system of graft which
has grown up in the party that brought
about the disaster on election day.
GOV. HUoHKs's OPPORTUNITY.
Gov. Hughes, IL was asserted, will re-
quire all of the courage for which he is
known in order to lift the party from its
present low level and by persistent effort
TO make It impossible for either a local
leader TO. acquire within a few years a for
tame Of $500, 900 or for a State leader to ac-
quire within the short space OF a few months
a. fortune of something like 81 900, 900. 1t
was insisted by Republicans that there are
men eager to take office for the honor of
serving the State, and not, as in many
existing instances, for the opportunities
for pelf.
), The State Senate for the last few years
has been subjected TO very remorseless
criticism. And some Of these doughty
Senators have attemptedto reply by saying
that the newspapers have been altogether
too sweeping in their criticisms. Whereas
The facts az pointed out to-day have been
that for a number OF years a coterie or a
combination has existed in the State Senate
which would. put TO shame Jake Sharp's
infamous Doodle Board of Aldermen. 1t
was said here that the friends Of President
Roosevelt and Of Gov. Hughes are TO see TO
II that there is TO be a thorough reorganiza-