The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-16
denomination of Governor
Thrust Upon Them, They
Make Arbitrary Platform.
WOULDN'T REGRET
DEFEAT AT POLLS
Expect Executive to Go Before
the People on His Own
Policies for Reform.
By J. c. WELLIVER.

SARATOGA. y. Y, Sept. I6.-Yielding
3 grud6ing consent TO the nomination Of
Governor Hughes only when they knew
they could not possibly prevent j. the
New York Republican BOSSES were still
able, like Sampson, to pull down with
themselves the temple Of the governors
policies.
If they must have Hughes for gov
ernOr they would at least tie his hands
50 far as possible. So they had the reso-
lutiOns committee draw up and the con-
ventiou adopt a wonderful platform,
which declares against ballot reform and
the direct primary, the two chief fea-
lures o. the governors policy which
ne has not been able 10 force through
the Legislature
1t has been reported that the governor
would decline the nomination unless
these two proposals were indorsed by
the platform. There is no authority
Tor such a statement. however. and
IN all probability he viii accept. and
IN a speech or letter Of acceptance. do
just what Candidate Taft has been do
inG-set forth his personal views as a
supplement or amendment 10 the plat
form In this case It Will be necessary
Tor him 10 enter surely into a Joint
expects he win do Just that, repudiate
the work Of the bosses. and can on the
people to support him in the effort to
accomplish his purposes
Inc governor Is left in the anomalous
position of having been nominated
lheh pledged so far as party declaration
can pledge him not 20 carry them out
The situation is unique
A Curious Parallel
There is a curious parallel between
This convention and the Republican ma
tiOnaI gathering at Chicago. In each
the nominee was picked by the Presi-
dent; in each he was forced over the
goal by new political forces; in each the
old line leaders Of the party were de-
feated and disrupted as an incident 10
winning the victory for the Presidents
program, in each the anti-Administra-
ton forces were able To control the
platform making. though defeated in
the nomination fight. and now. all quite
b naturally. It follows that in each case
the candidate is forced largely to be and
TO make ms own platform before the
people. Tart has been doing it, and
Hughes also VIA
The bosses mean to fight to the end
enough legislative nominating conven-
tons 10 assure that the new legislature
will be with them.
Governor Hughes will have little SUD
port from the State organization. The
ticket nominated with him is character
lied as decidedly weak, the bosses com
placently admit it is weak. and it suits
them because IT is weak. The politicians
are not averse to inviting the governors
destruction at the polls
The opposition to TIE governor evan
GRATED rapidly from the time when II
became known that the leaders had de-
cided that their only remaining chance
was TO try forcing the nomination Of
Or. David Jayne Hill. ambassador to
Germany That proposal was received
everywhere with jeers. Scores of anti
Hughes delegates declared they would
go to Hughes rather than be used IN
such an absurd enterprise. II was All
the leaders had left. and when II was
gone they were bankrupt
Made Frank Speech.
The case OF the opponents to the GOV
ernor was stated before the convention
by William Barnes, jr., leader of Albany
county, in his speech seconding the
nomination Of Wadsworth for governor.
Barnes had been the most irreconcilabIe
Of the local leaders. His bitterness. To-
ward Hughes surpassed that Of anybody
else He was the handspring Of the
fight
Mr.. Barnes speech was a bitter at
tack on the governor and his Dolicies
II was the speech OF a man of fbe
political stone age, Of a boss defeDdfnr,
the divine rights Of bosses and boesl,i-79
out Of the fullness of fanatical convic-
ton that bosses are necessary desir-
able. foreordained, and Instituted from
on high. - o-4A