The sun., 1908-08-29
DODGING THE HUGHES ISSUE
CHAIRMAN WOODRUFF'S ADVIS-
ERS GIVE NO EXPRESSION;
While wosdrur Himself Says the People
Haven't spoken-Primaries in Tf,ls CITY
Expected to Foreshadow Result at Sara
oga-Nlalby Speaks Against Hughes.

Haven't Spoken-Primaries In This City
Expected to Foreeliadow Result ut Sara.
toga- Malby Speaks Against Hughes.
Every member OF the executive COM
mittee OF the Republican State committee
was on hand yesterday morning at State
headquarters. which are now sort Of an
mex to the Republican Club in Fortieth
street. The members Of the committee
are Chairman Timothy l.. Woodruff, Treas
urer George J. Smith, Secretary Lafayette
B. Gleason, and Benjamin B. 0dell, Jr., Of
Orange; George w. Dunn Of Broome, Her
bert Parsons Of New York, William l.. Ward
of Westchester, William Barnes. Jr.. OF
Albany; Francis Hendricks Of Onondaga.
John T. Mott Of Oswego, George W. Aid
ridge OF Monroe, Fred Greiner OF Erie. j.
Sloat Fassett OF Chemung and John +.
OBrien Of Clinton.
1t had been spread broadcast that at this
meeting Of the executive committee some
expression was to be made as to the status.
from an organization standpoint, OF Gov.
Hughes as a candidate for denomination
in the State convention which Ia to assem-
BILE at Saratoga on September ID. Before
the committee went into executive session
Chairman Woodruff was asked II any action
was contemplated in the Governorship
matter
Chairman Woodruff replied:
II is absurd to suppose that the executive
committee or the State committee would
under any circumstances take any action
such as that indicated in your inquiry do
not zee how any one can assume to know
what the sentiment Of the great Republican
.io io al fha Of7rial priuna finR
and caucuses have been held. the delegates
elected and the convention assembled.
As / have sale to all who have conferred
or corresponded with me on this subject. the
delegates to the Republican State conven-
ton called TO convene at Saratoga on Sep
tember IL will number 1910. representing
constituencies amounting to over three
quarters OF million Of Republican voters and
elected by $50 Assembly district conventions,
composed in the aggregate OF about $4,000
delegates, who represent In turn every one
Of the 4,5z2 election districts In the State.
Only these State delegates when they get
together in convention can convey to the
public positive knowledge as to what the
sentiment OF the party actually is through
out the State. No other means is at hand
or obtainable for determining II. not even
the attitude of the public press. These dele
gates alone have the power to determine
who our candidates shall be. There is no
authority vested. anywhere else. either to
direct or make q nomination.
The President, National Chairman Hitch
cock and Mr. Taft and Mr.. sherman have
repeatedly assured the public and individuals
with whom they have discussed the subject
that they have no desire or intention OF in
fuencing or debating who the State can
didates OF the party shall be. Should the
President, highly as his political Judgment
ts valued, or should our national candidates.
M - ah~sI oh n
man Of the Republican State committee.
or should the committee itself, attempt to
direct the course OF the forthcoming conven-
tion for OF against any candidate such
course would invite Republican disaster In
this rnomeptous national and state campaign.
The temper OF the public mind is such as
TO resent interference In the discharge OF the
duties of the accredited representatives OF
the people Beyond all this these delegates
can be trusted TO voice the untramrnelled
sentiment OF our party, which has given our
eraat states Afteen- consecutve yetrs o. ef
ceptionally able and incorruptible admins
tration of it's affairs. Any effort to interfere
with the free and independent action OF the
convention should he opposed by every in
diyidual who is interested in the election of
Taft and Sherman and the preservation Of
the country from such disaster as Is sure to
epsue from a Bryanized administration OF the
Government of the United States.
The counties OF Erie. Monroe and Cliuton.
represented respectively by Mr.. Aldridge.
Mr.. Greiner and Mr.. O'Brien have already
declared for Gov. Rughes's denomination.
Concerning Albany and Schenectady coun-
ties, Mr.. Barnes said:
The delegates from these two counties
ar. 10 meet on Monday evening next and
they will determine the attitude they viii
take on the Governorship in the Saratoga
convention. Further than that do not
care to cay at the present moment"
Mr.. odell and Mr.. Dunn were asked for
their views on the situation. Beth asked
to be excused from saying a single word
Mr. Parsons said that tho enrolled Repub-
licans OF the Nineteenth Assembly district
would have q chance at the primaries on
September q to record their approval or
disapproval OF the candidacy Ct Gov.
Hughes for a second term. The name Of
Gov. Hughes has boen put oil the ticket
for member Of the city committee. with
the idea that the vote cast for hin, will
be accepted as representing the sentiment
OF the district regarding his denomination.
Representative William 8. Bennett, Re-
publican leader of the district. had con-
ferred with Mr.. Parsons. president OF the
new Ofk hcpuOhC8u COuhty Somhhseoo,
on this plan and had submitted 1t to Mr..
Parsons. Mr.. Parsons has accepted 1t.
Mr.. Bennet. explaining the plan. said that
two primary tickets had been prepared
which are Identical. except that on one Of
them appears the name Of Gov. Hughes in
stead OF one Of the names on the other
ticket. When the enrolled Republicans
Of the district 60 to the polls on primary
day they get the two ballots. II is be-
ieved that In this way test may be had
Of the Hughes sentiment In the Nineteenth.
MIR. Wards county Of Westchester has
declined to instruct for Gov. Hughes. Mr..
Hendricks, when asked for his views said
that he had nothing TO add to his statement
issued In Syracuse several days ago. Mr..
Mott did not care to express any opinion
on the present situation, and neither did
Mr.. Fassett.
Representative George r. .Malby. the
political ohum Of John +. O'Brien. Presi-
dent Roosevelt's new Collector at Platts-
burg. 10 not member Of the State eIecu-
Al ~ hAa Arxtto rfo