New-York tribune., 1908-04-15
CHARGES FOR SANFORD?
NAY GO TO GOV. HUGHES.
Wemple URemths Lac Which May
Hit His Boss.
LBv TeIegrapb % rhe Tribune. J

Wemple. Republican of Schenectady. who voted to
kill the antiraceradl gambling bills, unearthed TO-
day section of the Penal Code prescribing imprs-
oument and heavy fine for those who attempt oY
/ intimidation 10 compel the passage of legislation.
and then tried TO stretch it to apply to tho Govern
ors attitude on the gambling proposition, he eNl-
IDENTIFY forgot the Biblical edct. For all they that
take the sword shall perish with the sword
! Senator Wcmples political boss is John Sanford.
a member of the state Racing Commission. who has
been active in the campaign against the passage OF
the anti-gamblir.g bills Senator Emerson, OF WAR
ren. has admitted numerous occasions that ne
voted against the bills largely because of Mr. Ssn-
foTd's opposition them and a desire not TO get
that important parsonage in had humor with him.
And within half hour of tho time Wenlple tnen-
toned his Interpretation Of the Fcnsl Code the cor
rIdors of tho Capitol were bIzzihg with runors that
charges might he preferred 10 the Governor against
Sanford state officer, because OF lHe part he hds
taken against the bills.
OF course Wemple's application Of this Penal
code provision the Governor and o her advocates
of the anti gambling bills is ridiculous but the way
that particular section fits the actions Of some of
the opponents of the has been the subject
of admiring comment all day. Before this pro-
vision unesrthed. many people here had eiassed
the editorial printed In the newspaper OF William
Barnes jr., calling on Senator Grattan' his poHtoal
henchian, vote against the bills, as one Tarlety
Of intimidation. Crattan had pledged his word 70
vote for the bills Subsequently Barnes PUBLICLY
assumed the responsibility for Grattans shift
Penal
brought into the snti-gamblng fight Is Title J. Sec
ton IS of the Code. 1t provides that "a person
who wilfully compes attempts to compel mem
ber Of the Legislature 10 pass, amend or reject
bill shall be punished by imprisonment of not less
than five wears nor more than ten years, or a fine
of not less than 500 nor more than 81 2On both
This Senator Wemple was sure, would apply to
the Governor th, various advocates Of the AZ.
new-Tart bills who have appeared before 1egisla-
tive committees or argued with individual lesisia-
tors
Its application 10 others. including Wemples
boss. seemed obvious 10 many in The
legislative circle Mr. Sanford. who is large
owner, breeder and of horses. in addition 10
his state jot prominent the floor of the
Senate during both of the fights over the anti
gambling bills 1t a matter of common
sip, long before the bills were reported from
committee, that Wemple whose Senate dis
triCt includes Mont teomery County would vote
against the measures because of the Sanford in
fuenee But legislators were little astonished
when Senator Emerson who elected in a06
from Il district which Included Montgomery Coun-
~, but whose present district is without the Sam
ford of influence should attribute his oppc-
sition 10 the measures to MI Sanfords argu-
ments
Yet he did this on many occasions. finally going
50 far TO give public interview in which
he declared that Sanford hard fighter and
bad man to oppose IN anything IN which he was
interested
why, he once spent N5oGn 10 defeat man
VINO displeased him" walled Emerson. and Id
hate to have him spend any part of that sum 10
defeat me
The Governor asked to-day if his attention
had been called TO the activity of Mr.. Sanford, a
stats official He declined TO discuss the affair. The
only way In which this could come befote the
Governor would be formal charges. Immediate
ly after the Governor had been asked about this
affair there were many rumoTs that of the
Schenectady or Montgomery County citizens who
are indignant at the defeat of the bills would pre-
sent such charges. None of these could be con-
firmed. however, and charges before the
Governor yet.
II is probable that there will be ma ss meeting
of business men and others interested in the sue
cess of the anti-ganbling bills here on Sunday at
which the Governor will speak. He will not address
a meeting under the direction of the Civic League
alone because of the appearance political parti-
sanshp which would be attributed his speaking
before organization lighting William Barnes jr.
Mr.. Barnes visited the Capitol to-day to see
| Speaker WadsWOrth, Later he declared frankly
that he and the Governor had no political views in
common, and, therefore were bound to be opposed
bitterly since each believed in the correctness OF
his own Judgment. lie said
The Governor has said to various Republicans
politicians and men of my position in nubc life:
We don't need you; thero is no necessity for YOU
in public life. He's perfectly honest and sincere
and don't think there's anything personal in this
I've been in politics for twenty years. I believe
in organization in politics, and have tried through
the organization to give Albany good government
I believe that when the Governor started out 10
get his legislation through he should have called
the Speaker and the President pro Tempofe of the
Senate and the state chairman into consultation
with him. They would be convcrsant with the po-
litical and legislative situation, and together could
work out proper means for carrying through the
Governor programme. But he didn't do this ana
went about his way. lie said that old nav
useless and wrong
81 believe the old way WITS right and this now
way the destruction the Republican marty
and driving thousands OF votes into the Democratic
fold Since am a Republican | am against this
It's very plain: there the two ways OF doing
things. They have come into conflict now and Tho
people must decide between them the polls |
assume their decision will he registered the next
election.
Mr.. Barnes said the Governor was welcome To ad-
dress meeting here if he cared to; II was his
right. He deemed the racctrack gambling issue
small thing to excite the people. The meet
ngs at Utica and other cities the state he con
ceived TO he merely Sporadic outbreaks which
would not take place in other cities Senator Graz
tan in his represented accurately the views Of
his people, said Mr Barnes. ana would not be
changed now even by party caucus.
Governor Hughes would not talk about his
plans of campaign FOR tho anti gambling bills
Besides the projected meeting hero. he IS cx-
pected 10 speak at various other cities around the
publicans who voted against the bills. It is hard
" likely, though, that he viii do much sneeCb- |
making until after tho adjournment of this SOS |
sion, as he has on hand a tremendous amount Of |
routine work nov, which is keeping him busy
night and day. During the campaign 10 elect a |
successor to the late Senator Franchot from the f!
47th District he will make several speeches in |
Niagara and Orleans counties The information |
received here from that district is that the two |
Republican factions will unite . candidate |
John A Merritt. the Nadsworth state committee !
man. says that the Republican candidate will be !
IaA1