New-York tribune., 1908-04-29
BLOW AT RACE BETTING
TO BE PUT IN PLATFORM
Conference of Republican Leaders
SAID to Haze Decided 1t.

Timothy /, Woodruff chairman of the Repub
lican State Committee. Senator Raines and Fran
els Hendricks, the Onondaga leader, were IN con-
ference yesterday at state committee headquarters
concerning the special session OF the Legislature
called by the Governor consider the racing bliis
and other measures not acted by the last Legs
lature AS Il result OF the talk It is practically
certain that the platform Of the state convention
next fall will contain definite pronouncernent n
favor OF legislation TO do away with betting at
racetracks.
Mr. Woodruff Senator Raines and Mr.. Hen
dricks are not particularly in sympathy WIN tie
Governors reform measures. II IS a IacI now
,-ar that all three realize that the Governor has
raised an issue will not be settled until Il -
settled right and they are determined II possible
that the Republicans in the fall campaign shaI not
he nut on the defensive either by the Democrats
or the Hearst account Of a failure 10 de-
clare strongly against gambling eVi4S such aS I"O0
track betting and bookmaklng
Mr. Woodruff has had the Agnew-Hart Olli
cornpared with the present restrictions against
racetrack gambling At state headquarters II "ds %
said that Mr. Woodruff was convinced that t'o
Agrew-Hart bill was no Improvement on 'he pres
emf law and that something better would nave
To be devised sooner later than the Agne"-
Hart bill Senator Raines said
The special session Of the Legislature VIII %
called to order on the evening Of May Il and
ustar To the Governors message informing the
members in accordance with the constitutional
provisions, what measures they may consider me
referred the proper cOIIlIlLLeS
and considered carefully. Then the members VIII
vote on them according 10 the dictates OF their IN
diyiduaI consciences."
Senator Raines said he did not know whether
any Senator had changed his mind about the bills
since adjournment Asked about Republican pros
poets in the Niagara Orleans district where sue
cessor 10 Senator Franchot is 10 be elected ne said
The district normally Republican, but It has
been known go Democratic
DO you believe Senator Cassidy VIII vote IN
,A- Tho lie at he
= haven't seen the Senator since Adjournment
he said After the taken, al Congress
man Fassett's request. I conferred with Senator
Cassidy TO See II he would support the measures
if they were reconsidered. He considering the
matter when Senator FOelker's Illness put all hope
OF reconsideration out OF the question
Senator Faines said he had not been invited 20
attend a meeting OF the Chicago convention dele
gates at the Hotel Astor tomorrow Mr.. Woodruff
saiG yesterday that he expected attend the con-
ference and that Representative Parsons was com
ing on from Washington attend It.
1t is unusual thing for such q meeting 10 Be
held" said Mr.. Woodruff. 1t is the custom 70
wait Till the delegates get TO the national conven-
ton Just what General Woodford wants TO do
I do not know. He has not consulted me about
it. Some Of the delegates have told me that, i
any attempt is made 10 elect a chairman of the
delegation or TO pass any binding rule of any sort
they will out. Three OF the upstate dis
tricts have not elected their delegates. that
there Is no chance that there viii be fuu attend
ance OF the delegates"