New-York tribune., 1908-05-19
A PERYLOUS DEMONSTRATIONS.

A letter from Republican printed III Inc
Tribune yesterday calls attention to the danger
10 the party in the opposition of the bosses
TO Governor Hughes and in the denomination
of the Senators who voted In favor or race
track gambling The writer predicts that no
Republican State Senator who so voted Will
be reelected if renomnated. No doubt he re-
fleets the opinion of very considerable eie-
ment in the party. which feels that these
Senators who have defied public opinion should
not be and will not be returned TO Albany
The Rev @. r. Miller. the field secretary OF
the Reform Bureau, who has just finished
trip through the state, is of the same OPINION
as The Tribune's correspondent. He says that
every Senator who opposed Governor Hughes
and his bill is doomed 10 go down TO defeat
IF nominated The Rev. Mr.. Millers opinion
is important because his work has made him
familiar with the sentiment of the churches
throughout the state They have enlisted
heartily in the campaign against gambling, ana
no one can doubt what part they Will take
in the campa ign against the Senators VINO
voted for the bookmakers. In the face OF
Church opposition and the outraged moral sen
timent of the state it is going TO be very hard
for any Senator who voted against the anti
gambling bills TO be reelected
This means that ii all of the eight hepup-
licans who voted against the Governor are re
nominated the control of the State Senate will
he a debatable question. AS at present made
III, the Senate consists of thrty-two Repub-
cans and nineteen Democrats. loss OF seven
districts by the Republicans would make the
Senate Democratic Senator Wempe has al
ready been renomnated. Senators Cassidy ana
Wilcox are reported to be practically certain
of denomination. Mr. William Barnes, jr. has
the situation in Albany County so well in hand
that he can renominate Senator Grattan If he
do 10
pressed his approval of Senator Grattans op-
nosition TO the Governor The situation in the
other districts is still Uniformed. but there is a
prospect that at least two more Of the pro-
gambling Republican Senators VIII be renom-
mated If therefore. the judgment of ohserF-
ers in the upper part of the state is Justlneo
this policy of renominating the men who have
stood with them against the will of their CON
stituents is likely to render the control of the
next State Legislature by tne hepupiicdh
party doubtful.
What hetter evidence is needed of the posi-
tive injury to the party which the petty boss
infiicts? If half a dozen or more OF lhese
Senators who voted for the bookmakers are
renominated it will not be because it is the
opinion of the party that they are the strong
est candidates il can offer. Far from it. Up
state Republicans know too well the influence
of tbe churches and the potency of moral is
have defied the best sentiment of the commu-
nifty will make strong candidates 1t will not
he because the Republican constituents or
These men approve their course ana wish 10
return them to Albany. 1t will be solely be-
canse rhe bosses wish TO have them renom-
mated II is necessary for the bosses to show
70 their hesitating servants that they can
defy public opinion in doing their masters be-
hests They have got 10 demonstrate that
there is no penalty for doing what Grattan,
Cassidy Emerson Wempe and the rest OF
the eight did provided only it is done in
obedience to the boss. If these Senators-at
least such of them as desired to remain in pub
lie Iife-had not felt that against their bosses
or their alliances the aroused conscience OF the
state was powerless they would not have voted
as they did. It is necessary now to the syS-
fem that there should be demonstration that |
this confidence was not misplaced. The first |
step in that demonstration is a renomination |
The bosses doubtless know they are taking a |
risk hut they hope to win. and so are willing |
TO iInperil the prospect of Republican Sell |
ate in order to prove that in doing the viii OF |
his boss a Senator may safely defy the will |
of his constituents Discipline requires that |
he have faith that defiance of his constituents |
is without danger but defiance Of his boss Is |
ruinous.
If the voters really had their way in Repub- |
1ican nominations the weakest men-the men |
with the churches and the moral sentiment OF |
the community against them-would not be |
mt IIp for office Get the people on top in the |
Republican party