New-York tribune., 1908-08-22
AUBURN FOR HUGHES
OPPOSITION TO WILCOX.
GoUernor Sure of Cayuga, Cortland
and Seneca Counties.
[Frorn a STAR corresponasnt Of rne 1r,eune. ]

from staff Correspondent of The Tribune
Auburn. N Y. Aug. 21-Auburn is for
Hughes. Cayuga County is for the Governor
So are Cortland and Seneca. the counties which,
with Cayuga- make up the district represented
by Senator Ben" Wilcox of Auburn, who
voted with the Democrats against the Gov
ernor's anti-gambling bills. Representative
Serene E Payne, chairman Of the Ways and
Means Committee, will head the delegation in
the state convention. He is for Hughes While
he will not TAX about 1t, he has satisfied himself
that nine out of every ten Republicans In his
Congress district favor the denomination of the
Governor Wilcox stands win at the pri-
maries on Tuesday next, but ii will be the fight
of his political career.
If Senator Wilcox is overthrown it will be on
account of his vote against the anti-gambling
bills The church people all through Cayuga
County certainly are the trail of Senator
Wilcox. II he can squeeze through at the
primaries and can control the, nominating con-
vention. he probably will be elected He will
run behind the regular ticket, but the normal
plurality in Cayuga and Cortland counties prob
ably pull him through.
The Democrats are trying to induce Thomas
NJ. Osborne, of the Public Service Commission,
ID District. to make the race against Sen
ator Wilcox. Mr.. Osborne is good deal of
philanthropist. and his friends say he doesn't
Service Commissioner is $4,000 a year; that
of Senator is $500 year. Mr.. Osborne has
plenty Of money of his own. but local Repub-
Hcans betting good 10-cent cigars that he
won't give up the $4,000 year job to run
against Wilcox with the chances In favor Of
the election of Senator Wilcox
FIGHT AGAINST WILCOX
Everything indicated easy going for Senator
Wilcox in his canvass for reelection until this
week when the yeomen, who generally have
mighty little 10 do with caucuses, got together
and organized a movement against him. the
smile which has hitherto Illuminated the hand
some face of the Senator has come off. and he
and his friends getting down to the serious
task of beating the yeOmen. Senator WILCOX
has the advantage of the backing of a we'll
equipped political machine His regulars, In a
primary fight, know how to get the votes
quickly The Senator also has the assistance
of Justice A. P Rich. of the Supreme Court,
and a host of Republicans who have received
favors at his hands in his career as political
leader and Senator.
The Senate district consists of Cayuga, Cort-
| land and Seneca Counties. Cayuga has nor
NAL Republican plurality OF four thousand 1t
gave Roosevelt a plurality of 800 Cortland
usually gives fifteen hundred plurality Seneca
is evenly balanced with Democratic tendencies
state committee. petftioned to have the basis
of representation in this Senate district
changed so as to give Cortland and Seneca equal
voting strength with Cayuga- The vote In the
Senate district F-onventfuH ueW L fixed on the
basis of representation in the state convention,
as follows: Cayuga, i; Cortland. 6; Seneca,
). This gives Cayuga the balance of power.
The Wilcox men insist that the representation
stay as it is 1t is understood that the execu-
I %E1 c~cT ar
has the controversy IN charge. viii decide in
favor of leaving the representation as it is As
sun1jng that they do this. it will give Cayuga
County control OF the Senate district conven-
ton.
The Hughes men have begun practical
| fight against Senator Wilcox all over Cayuga
County as already announced in The Tribune
George Underwood formerly county judge
and a. leading lawyer OF Auburn: Truman A
Mitchell. of Brutus. in the southern part OF the
county, and James A. Wright. of Moravta, q
lawyer, IN the northern part of the county, have
announced themselves receptive candidates
for the Seratorshfp nomination. They will run
primary tickets in their respective localities.
and these primary tickets will elect delegates
in favor of the denomination of Governor
Hughes and against the denomination of Sen
ator Wilcox The anti-Hughes people have
issued a small newspaper called "The Peoples
Advocate" which they are sending to every
voter in the Senate district The Hughes Re
publican Club of Cayuga County has been or
ganized, with Benjamin C. Mead president.
Charles s. Wright secretary and Irving Bacon
treasurer Anti-Wilcox tickets will be placed
in the hands of every voter
STRENGTH OF HUGHES MOVEMENT.
The Hughes or anti Wilcox. people
der the disadvantage of having made a late
start in the fight against Senator Wilcox. He
has been working hard for the last month in
every town and ward in the district and this
is the reason for assuming that he is in better
shape for the primary fight than his opponents
The movement in favor of Governor Hughes
has become so prevailing in Auburn that the
9th Ward organization this week, to hold its
line intact declared for Hughes and Wilcox
The organization is controlled by friends OF
Senator Wilcox. Representative Serene E.
Payne is not taking hand in the fight. His
Congress district takes in Cayuga, Ontario
Wayne and Yates. Mr.. Payne never concerns
himself very much about the control of the or
ganization here. Senator Wilcox has controlled
it. but never has opposed the nomination OF
Congressman Payne
The friends of Senator Wilcox assert that
ex-Judge Underwood and his friends are not
half as anxious TO help Governor Hughes
they are to get square for the defeat admin
istered seven years ago when Mr.. Underwood.
who served as county judge for twelve years,
desired TO be elected to the Supreme Court
bench II happened that year that the nom
ination was conceded to Cayuga County Mr.
Underwood lived in the same ward with Sen
ator Wilcox and would have been glad to have
the support of the organization leader, but
Senator Wilcox supported A P Rich now on