Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-01
New York Executive Called a
Political Accident.
BREAK IN PARTY FEARED
Former Chairman Barnes Criticises the
Governor.
Machine Leader Replies to Speech
Urging Purity Of Methods-Attack
Causes a Sensation.

ALBANY, NJ Y, March 1.-Governor
Hughes speech of Wednesday night to the
county republican committee has been re-
ceived by politicians here with mingled
emotions. They interpret it as direct
warning to cease playing politics along the
old lines and pay attention to the needs of
the public. Openly most of them are say
ing it is q great speech, and there is no
doubt that the. governors policies will be
carried out. But there is an undercurrent
that asks what is to become of the repub-
lican machine if places are to go to the
competent rather than to the faithful. and
if friends of the party are not to be pro-
tected by the legislature.
Some of those who are openly grumbling
at the governors speech seek to make
much of what they term the def that
William Barnes, jr., launched at the gov
ernor at the banquet. This was in the
form of a speech made by Mr.. Barnes
hours after Governor Hughes had left the
banquet hall. 1t was not Mr. Barnes fault,
however, that the governor was not pres
ent. The latter begged to be excused i'm
medately after making his speech because
of the death Of Assemblyman Burnett.
Mr.. Barnes is state committeeman and
leader of the county organization. He has
recently has been hit hard in the matter OF
appointments under the new regime.
Intended as Direct Answer.
Part Of Mr.. Barnes speech was direct
answer to Governor Hughes declaration
that the best loyalty to the republican
party is that which gives the best service
to all the people.
Barnes was greeted with uproarious
cheers when. after Hughes had spoken and
left the banquet hall, he arose and ex-
claimed:
go to pieces because some one tells me we
cannot do this that. do not propose TO
let it go to pieces because certain politl-
cal accident who has a press agent at his
elbow finds faults with things. l do not
propose to ask Governor Hughes to blaze
the way for us to honest administration.
We led in that years ago.
ut is my regret that, in view of the dis
tressing circumstances attending Jean Bur
netts death, Governor Hughes is not here
now said Mr.. Barnes. 1T had been my
intention to call his attention to a few
things connected with the recent campaign
and the efforts made in behalf of him and
other candidates on the republican state
ticket who in this county received the
| same or larger majorities.
Il am not unmindful of that intelligent
public service which Governor Hughes in
tends to give this state and l want to say
to you organization men that he is as
clear, in my judgment in his opinions re-
garding the duties of the party and of the
! placed confidence in the past. But want
to say to him that new-found friends In
the democratic newspapers in New York
city will not stand in the year 1908 where
you will stand.
And although the duty that is owed to
the entire people is coincident with the duty
owing the republican party. there Is also a
duty to those who have labored day and
night most loyalty for many years in behalf
of those principles in which they believe as
confidently as they ever did.
"It is the intention of this organization to
support Governor Hughes in all Of his pub
lie policies and in all the efforts by which
he is endeavoring to better conditions in this
state, but it is not up to- him to fail to re-
| member what was done for him in those
days in last October. when you stood up.
and, through your efforts, gave him in this
city the greatest republican plurality ever
given to a republican candidate for a state
or national office.
There was never better republican than
Governor Hughes; one who has higher views
of his duties who is trying to carry out
his ideals of public duty. but want to say
this, as would have said it if he were here.
that in addition to the large number in this
state who believe in those things he is ad-
vocating and desire to support and will sup
port him, as all you will, he neglects, per-
haps, to recognize that there is another ele-
ment travelling under the banner of the
democratic party or that of the Independ-
ence League, who do not believe for one
minute in any of the moral propositions
winch he advances. They are our oppO-
nentS.
FaLgs Are Concealed.
While the fangs in Mr.. Barnes speech.
in nature are concealed by his statement
that the organization will stand with Gov
ernor Hughes. the speech. nevertheless, con-
tains some shots at the governor
1t is the first public speech criticisng the
governor that has come from the mouth of
an influential state leader since Mr. Hughes
has taken Office. 1t is regarded by some OBJ
serving people here as play for the state
leadership by Mr.. Barnes. While nominally
supporting the governor, Mr.. Barnes has
said enough to attract to himself that ele-
ment in the party which is opposed to Mr..
Hughes. Some of the politicians who do not
like Mr.. Hughes ways are already applaud
ing MIR. Barnes for having the nerve" to
say things. while they declare that Mr..
woodruff, the nominal state leader, has not
said word.
But the essence of the whole incident is
that the politicians are still afraid of Gov
ernor Hughes. They do not know how to
play his new brand of politics.