The sun., 1908-09-16
ROOrRuLED TaE CONVENTION
But . fB HAD THE BACKING
or THE BIG STTCE.
Hughes.s denomination Could Not Have
Been Accomplished So Easily but
Tor the Presence OF the Secretary OF
State-Parsons Was Also q Factor.

FOR the Presence OF tne secretary OF
State-Parsons Was Also Factor.
SARATOGA. Sept. 15.-GoVI Hughes's
denomination would not have been ac-
ccmplished SO handily to-day but for the
presence OF Elihu Root in Saratoga AS the
70 preventative OF President Roosevelt and
the Republican national committee Mr..
Roots influence here proved paramount
to the influence OF majority Of the dele
rates to the Republican State convention,
who would have been pleased II Gov
Hughes were beaten. After the late
conference OF the State machine leaders
last night which was attended by the
Secretary OF State. had adjourned every
one got few hours sleep and then went
at it again this morning.
Before the morning conference started
Herbert Parsons got his 1877 delegates
from New York county in conference
in the ballroom Of the United States
Hotel and he put the situation up to them
fatty. He had the roll Of delegates
called on the question Of supporting
Hughes, and as the roll call proceeded
and delegates here and there hesitated
Mr., Parsons strode among them end
looking them squarely in the eye de-
manded that they declare themselves
in the interest Of the party. There were
1850 delegates in the room and when MIR.
Parsons finished with them 15i had de-
clared for Gov. Hughes and only six
against him. This was followed later
in the day in the convention by Mr.. Par
sons voting all but four OF the 1877 dele
gates for Gov. Hughes's denomination.
just as two ears ago. when Mr.. Parsons
as the head Of the New York delegation
was largely responsible for bringing
about Hughes's first nomination for
Governor, Mr.. Parsons again at this con-
vention was the handspring OF the Hughes
forces among the State machine leaders
II NAV be true that much of Mr.. Parsons's
foroefulness might be due to the fact that
the other machine leaders were aware
of his Gloss personal and political associa
tions wit President Roosevelt, But
nevertheless Mr.. Parsons certainly has
shown that Of himself he is more entitled
to be called a leader in the State machine
than many others who might be men,
toned.
OF course the real influence in the re-
nomination Of Hughes was the big
stick" But IL Mr.. Root, as the repre-
sentative of the wielder Of the big stick.
had not attended the convention. while
Gov. Hughes undoubtedly would have
been reuominated, affairs would have been
much more nelddled tina they were be-
fore the nomination was accomplished
Having Mr. Root selected as the chair
man OF the State convention was Presi-
dent Roosevelts method of indirectly
continuing to press Gov. Hughes's re-
nomination without seeming direct
Federal interference in convention affairs
The remainder of the State ticket nomi-
mated to-day shows the Roosevelt in
fuence absolutely Francis Hendricks
OF Syracuse is as close to Roosevelt as
any OF the State leaders. Mr.. Hendricks
had Senator Horace White nominated
for lieutenant Governor.
Except where his existence AS polti-
cal entity is threatened, as he thinks it
is By Gov Hughes's administration,
William Barnes, Jr.. would not oppose
the President. Mr.. Barnes had his Mayor
of Albany, Charles H. Gaus, nominated
for State Comptroller. MIR. Barnes never
has been able to get as good recognition,
as this from any State convention, even
When the State machine named its own
candidate for Governor. The Office Of
State Comptroller through Mayor Gaus,
will strongly entrench Mr.. Barnes so
far as patronage and party influence
are concerned And il is the best Office
in the State to control from a political
stand dpoint aside from that OF Governor
If NIayor Gaus Is elected state Comp
troiler no political power on earth can
hurt Mr.. Barnes during the next two
years and he need not care what Gov.
Hnshes does unless the Governor sic
ceels in having the Legislature pass a
direct primary law and provide Tor the
Use OF the Massachusetts ballot.
Then there is Fred Greiner Of Erie
county, the leader In the western end oi
the State. He knows how long be would
last II he opposed Roosevelt. He Sc
cured the nomination Of Attorney Cen
k. ,O'Malley. HerbeI T. Parsons also got
a place on the ticket in the nomination
OF Samuel S. Koenig for Secretary OF
, State. MIR. Koenis deserted Odell for
Parsons after the last primary fight
saving that he was through fivhting
was nominated in order to please the
foreign vote in New York city
Frank r. Williams. who was nomi-
mated for State Engineer and Surveyor
comes from Madison county, adjoining
Onondaza. and Hendricks and Barnes
we're ior him. The other place on the
ticket, that Of State Treasurer, is an
nimportant office, and IL was given 70
George w. Aldridge. probably because
he did not lend his aid openly in the fight
against Gov. Hughes's denomination.
SO the influence which was paramount
in this convention can readily be seen.
The State machine leaders had their
own way about the platform. 1t contains
no reference to Gov. Hughes's racetraok
gambling fight or to his public service
commissions law by name. 1t practically
commits the party in the Legislature
against the Massachusetts, ballot and
direct primary nominations. There was
not much opposition to the adoption OF
the platform in the committee on resolu-
lions Representative James B. Per-
sons OF Rochester thought il was pretty
chilly as regards Gov. Hughes's admins
tration, and he told the committee so.
But that ended IL. There we're only five
votes in the committee in favor of direct
nominations plank. The platform was
adopted by the convention without
dissent.
As told in these dispatches from the
outset, Gov, Hughes denomination by
the convention to-day always seemed
certain. When Elihu Root reached Sara
toga he realized that there was an ugly
situation impending, He knew that much
would depend upon the manner in which
it was dealt with. He did not have much
10 say to the State machine leaders until
- Lal Aalivarod hia convention