The Washington times., 1908-09-03
Whole National Campaign Aquaiing
Republican Action in NeqU York,
And Democrats Hope for the Best
Murphy Corners Party Will Take No Action Until
Question of Hughes and His Platform Is
Settled by the @. o. P.
By 7. c. WELLIvER.

NEW YORK, September 3. 1908 The
whole national campaign is waiting on
developments OF the Republican politi-
cdi situation in New York
Such a 81 -uation as the present hold
up Of the entire contest on both sides,
because Of the local situation ia a
single State, has not been paraIleied in
the memory OF present active politicians
With increasing confidence day by day.
as the Republican muJdle over New
York becomes muddier. the Democratic
state and national managers insist that
New York is one of the most uncertain
propositions i'm the country.
Conners and Murphy, the upstate and
down-state bosses. are sitting tight and
saying not a word about their plans.
II is not their move. Politics never
looked more like a chess game than
right here at the center of things in
the Empire State. The Democrats are
figuring carefully or the various moves
that the Republicans may make. but
their course will not be determined un-
al they know what the Republicans
wiIl do
Fear Primary Laws.
From present Indications il seems
likely that If the Republicans are forced
10 nominate Hughes. against the win
at least OF the bosses and go in for
more reform, then the Democrats will
take a somewhat conservative course.
and appeal TO the sentiment which op-
poses Hughes on the ground that he
is forcing issues upon the state calcu-
lated 10 disorganize his party and pre-
cipitate a series of contests for which
il is Insisted the State is not yet ready
Thus the governor is more than sus-
Pected Of being in favor OF primary
election legislation. This not only looks
exceedingly bad 10 the State and local
politicians, but it's strength with the
masses is doubtful because there has
heen comparatively little agitation of
the primary question I'm the East
Out West where the primary has be-
come popular, the political organization
may be described as a railroad train
with the engine at the rear end. The
people are the engine pushing the
cars, which represent the nominal pO-
litical leaders Down East. the thing
is reversed; the leaders are coupled on
In front and represent the motive power
ana real directing energy. In the East,
the leaders actually lead In the West,
they are pushed along.
Too Mucn Trouble.
New York State. for example. having
been accustomed 10 organization, lead
ership and rule in some form or other,
ey er since George Clinton laid the foun-
dation Of Tammany, would be more
or less at a loss II the people had put
up to them the tremendous task OF
bossing their bosses, running their own
politics. and making their own nOmina-
tons Even before Western States. like
Wisconsin. Nebraska, and Ohio, went
in for popular primary laws, delegate
conventions in such States were vastly
more representative than in New York.
With a third or a fourth as many vot-
ers TO be represented IN the convention,
a State convention in one of these West
ern States would be from 50 TO 100 per
cent larger in membership than an av-
erage New York convention. Naturally,
the compact New York convention, COM
posed Of people who are distinctly poll
ticians, Would be more easily manage
able, more doCile. more readily subject
to the direoiiDl II established authori-
ty. than woulC be the big. unwieldy. and
approximately popular convention OF
the Western States.
Public Weaned Away
Generations OF thus delegating their
elemental political authority to leaders