New-York tribune., 1909-10-05
MIR. BELTS ON POLITICAL TRAGEDY.
he Accused The Tribune of Misrepresentation,
but Himself Is Guilty Of Suppression.
E Edlt0r of Ma Tribune


ticles which appeared in last weeks issue OF "The
Lyons Republican" on the political situation in
Wayne County. I sending YOU these articles for
your enlightenment The New-Yorli Tribune, which
was once regarded clean, conservative, intelli-
gent and reliable newspaper. of late has seemed 10
change its character somewhat and has been in
dulging in the sensational misrepresentation and
falsehoods characteristic Of the yellow journals OF
day For instance. a few months ago there
appeared an editorial in The NewYork Tribune IN
which it was alleged that the Republican eonven-
tOns in this county We're snap conventions, ana
that they illegally called No greater false
hood has been published in the state during the last
| ten years. Both OF the conventions were called
regularly ana legally, every committeeman joining
in the call, and the notice was given the same as
il has been given the last fifteen or twenty years,
and the Assembly convention called in the same
manner, two of the three committeeman joining In
the call. Both conventions we're called this year
month later than they We're last year. and the
Assembly convention, at which Mr.. Greenwood was
nominated. called one month later than the con
ventOn which nominated Mr.. Hamn last year SO
much for this.
You have also repeatedly stated that Mr.. Hamm
declined a denomination and was not a candidate.
This another fasehood. Mr.. Hamn announced
his candidacy in the local Lyons paper, which is his
organ; the two Palmyra papers also announced his
candidacy and after our Lyons caucus was called
| in Mr.. Hamn's own town ne canvassed for dele
gates two days and, failing 10 get any support
whatever. he obliged throw up the sponge
and withdraw from the field He then put in can
didate for member of Assembly in town OF
Savannah against Greenwood and he turned out 20
be a direct nomination candidate. The Republican
organization IT. Savannah put no candidate In
against him. but opposed his having the delegates.
In the primary MIR. SouIe the direct nomination
candidate. made a speech in which he said he was
for direct nominations and for Governor Hughes
and all his policies. and result OF his effort
he was turned down in the primary by vote Of
three to one. and secured only thirty-four votes
I the whole town.
noticed editorial in your paper last week
( entitled a Political Tragedy which abounds in
the usual amount Of misrepresentation and false
hoods and every Republican in this county knows
them 70 be such. Inasmuch you used my name
in connection with the editorial, feel II my duty
to enlighten you the situation in Wayne
County and / think am as close 10 the situation
and know much about II as an editor nearly one
thousand miles away. do not know where you
got your information. neither do I care. but do
know that your information is misinformation.
When I in Albany during the Kelsey trial
one OF the Tribune representatives, told me that he
instructed TO suppress everything favorable TO
Kelsey and magnify everything against him. This
seems to be your method of conducting news
paper in advocacy of the sociastic direct nomina
tions. In other words The Tribune plants its feet
dishonest and immoral basis and then yells
/ reform. Is it any wonder that the daily papers
are fast losing the confidence Of the people and
their influence with the public when they con
Quoted in this manner? I have, therefore, great
sympathy for the editor of The NewYork Tribune
For many years The Tribune has been intelli-
/ gent, conservative and reliable exponent of en-
Ightened Republican principles and policies but
all of a sudden it has swallowed the soCiaIistic
direct nominations BILL first prescribed by DR.
William Randolph Hearst, and il is not TO be Won
dered at that the editor of The Tribune is uncom-
Portable.
II would be interesting If YOU would have the
courtesy 10 republish your editorial "A Political
Tragedy in parallel columns with The Political
Tragedy I am inclosing you Your editorial has
literary finish. but is destitute of facts and truth
My editorial literary finish, but il has abun
dant facts and truth Everybody here knows that
have stated in the nclosed articles the real stua-
tion in Wayne County, and I live 50 near TO the
people and so close them that I cannot afford 20
indulge in misrepresentation and faIsehoods, like
an editor nearly one thousand miles away
II might interest you to know that I believe in
direct primaries and that 1 believe that
have direct primaries, and have had ever since the
foundation of this Republic / know OF other
kinds of primaries but direct primaries We had
them in this county this year, and the organiza-
tion in the direct primaries in Wayne County
ried fourteen OF the fifteen towns and Mr.. Hamn,
as a direct nomination advocate. had four blank
votes the Assembly convention, he being OF
the blanks I realize that the ordinary, ignorant
aCy ocate direct nominations does not know the
difference between direct primaries" direct
primary nominations" Direct primary is thing
and direct nomination is another I know of no
:
lieve that a large majority OF the Republicans in
the opposed 10 the Hearst socalistic
scheme of direct nominations
Assuring YOU of my distinguished consideration.
am sincerely yours G. II. BELTS.
Lyons y Y. Sept. y. 1909
The inclosed copy of The Lyons Republican"
10 which the foregoing letter refers contains an
article on the efforts of the direct primaries adj
vocates 10 obtain a pledge from AR. Greenwood
10 support direct primaries. Mr.. Greepwuods
statement was as follows:
To the voters of Wayne County.
J am in receipt of an omen letter signed ny the
Hon. +. r Sexton. the Hon T. ". Hamu. the Hon.
ennessat and others asking me n" state nv, nc
hene6t Of All voters aud I gladly take this means
of answering their questions CategoriCallv.
Iirst-Are YOU IN favor Of direct primaries?
i'm most neaIluN anu en- cn.uisl lasIcSil{ IN alor
voter and the official ma closer touch with each
Second-NiIl Won vote for the biIi ON that oues-
tiou advocated by Governor hughes
If ! have the opportunity I shall for the
bill that in my Judgment after careful exami-
nation, Will best tend TO bring about the desired
should have very little respect-and ] do not
believe that would have any than for
law making body blindfolded and with his hands
tied down by promise 10 vote for any bill simply
because il was recommended by particular man
In ali matters my own conscience and Judgment
not willing TO trust TO that standard then / am
some one else Nj / GREENwooD
lAlF Bettss paper suppressed ali but the last
two paragraphs Of II. creating the impression
that Mr.. Greenwood was against direct primaries
Marked copies al this paper have apparently
been sent all over the state Thus while ac-
cusing us Of Misrepresentation Mr.. Belts fur
IA. III,