New-York tribune., 1908-01-09
ATTACKS GOV. HUGHES.
HERRICK Il CHANGE COAT.
Former 4dmirer NozC Assails Coz
ernor-Er-Justice O'Br1en SPEAKS.

In mis- speech, Mr. O'Brien had placed upon the
President the blame of the recent financial panic
and had criticised the administration severely, put
the climax did not until the closing moments
| of the evening, when D. Cady HeTrck, who was
/ defeated for Governor by Higgins. sprang sensa-
tion by bitterly attacking Governor Hughes Some
of his auditors could not suppress a smile when MI.
| Herrck began his arraignment OF the Governor
| They recalled that in this city, not many months
| ago. the speaker was guest at the dinner
| of the Genesee Society, and that theme of his
| speech that occasion, as last night, was Gov
| ernor Hughes, but at that time Mr.. Herrick de-
! lvered himself of glowing euogy of Charles r.
Hughes Recalling this, his change of attitude last
night somewhat startling, even to his friends
and political associates.
! Mr.. Herrick had been speaking in mild manner
about the Democratic party and, usual about
| the much mooted question of What is a Demo-
! crat?' when suddenly he switched to Governor
| Hughes and hastened to give his views on his fit
| ness for the Republican nomination.
This country" said he, wants an honest man
| for President, but be President one has to be
| more than merely honest man. There are
| plenty of these. No is fitted to be President
| until he has had experience in and has studied
| national questions.
Il notice there has been considerable agitation
| on the part of some people TO make man of this
| state a Presidential nominee. We all know that
| this is honest and conscientious. But what
| has he done? He drafted S0-cent gas bill
that was declared unconstitutional by the courts
of this He has passed insurance legislation
that is pronounced from all parts of the country
| the the statute books. He has drafted
election bill meant to fit particular case WHICH,
too. has been declared unconstitutional He mas
put in office Public Service Commission Whlch
| has already expended $1,250,000 and has employed
hordes of employees, the success of which has not
been shown, and the constitutonaHty OF the act
| creating it has yet to be proved
A buzz of comment followed these unexpected re-
| marks of Mr.. HerTiCk
The BRYAN men were noticeable by their absence
| Protests had been made to officials of the cluo
| from some of them because Judge O'Brien VINO
| differed from Mr. Bryan, on matters, was
to speak. It generally accepted as TACT that
Democratic party this state as represented al
! the dinner was initiating a movement TO carry the
party back its old principles and TO purge IL OF
any tinge OF socialism.
Throughout the dinner there was more or less
discussion of the absence of Bryan Democrats and
the attitude some of them had taken When eN-
Justice o Brien, in closing his speech replied TO
| letter which the club had received from lieu
tenant of the Nebraskan declining an invitation to
attend the dinner because Mr.. O'Bren, who did
not agree with Bryan to speak, he was
| greeted with enthusiastic applause.
| MAYORS LETTER IGNORED.
Letters of regret read from Grover Ceve-
land and many other prominent Democrats. Each
| in turn was generously applauded until letter
from Mayor Mcclellan was read Instead of ap
plause there profound silence Not a single
handicap greeted the reading of the Mayors letter
| This especially accentuated few moments
| later, when similar letter from Charles +. Murphy
heartily appauded.
This incident too the subject for much COM
ment among the diners. Apparently it was entirely
| unexpected There touch of the ludicrous,
too, the secretary before reading the letter had
announced with something of flourish, Il have
| here letter from the Mayor of New York
Among those present were Alton B. Parker Will
! lam B. Ellison, former Senator Lindsay of Ken
| lucky; E. NJ Shepard Justice FitzGerald Herman
/
and 2 X Pendleton. Justice FitzGerald presided.
Ex-Justice O'Brien, ex-senator Lindsay and Mr..
| Herrck the speakers.
| Mr.. Cleveland's letter of regret follows
| very much regret that am inexorably obliged
to attend the jackson Day dinner to be given by
the National Democrats Club on e the Sth thin inst
vive genuine and effsctive Democratic Sentiment
and confidence whose necessity TO our party's sue,
cess and usefulness has been SO often demonstrated
1t is but natural that those who have followed
inely desire their partys success; but this
enot be gamed by either shouting Gmr party name
profoundly impressed by the conviction that
land e has directed their attention more to their re-
lief from conditions that alarm and startle them
than the empty satisfaction OF partisan su-
our country needs conservatism, recuperation
from nervous prostraton INST me- 81 & con sf
and prudent Americanism, scrupuious care OF every
person and every interest entitled to care, and
:
before the law ar. under constitutional guarantee.
These things still among the possessions of
ty and wisdom demand that our party in this time
OF should unitedy offer them TO our country
Ny regret that must be absent from Jackson
Day dinner, where the atmosphere must he SO thor
oughly Democratic is intensified by my close friend
shin and admiration for the guest whom your club
will especially honor on the occasion. 1t would he
an unusual and memorable qualification If l could
add my tribute of praise to one who, by nature by
by Of iTa nsrt otrne has so well earned
n tip enc nd a J.
OBrien.
Justice FitzGerald introduced the speaker of the
evening. ex-Justice O'Brien. He was applauded
enthusiastically he to speak Mr. O'Brien
appealed to Democracy to stand together the
old fundamental principles of the party. In that
Law the chance of success. he said. Commenting
the panic. the speaker said thai the of
il was easily discernibe." He pointed the
national issues that he thought the Democrats
should fight for, and the position they should take
them. and said that the question of u standard
bearer of subordinate Importance to a clear
declaration of principle.
Ex-Justice O Brien said in part:
While nature has been maturing magnificent
crops malisn influences have been at work which
have shaken public confidence in the integrity
of our banking and industrial systems and the
value Of railroad and other securities that
the worst panic have known since 1873 is para
living our constructive energies and closing
is that r. occurred in a Year of bounif,i % cr,nn ,
when granaries filled with the product OF
The country far greater than it January /.
1907. suffering the effects Of a financial and
industrial panic which has DESTROYED confidence and
enterprise, which has driven capital from its
which has STAYED the hand Of the mechanic and
laborer and which has inflicted misery upon all
our people
not far to seek and as they are essentially
nected with the adminisra ton of public affairs
take its rightful place in directing national
policies