New-York tribune., 1909-02-26
ROOT PRAISES HUGHES
AT BARNES DINNER
SAYS GOVERNOR IS TRUE
PARTY MN.
Senator-elect Surprises albany Coar'
ty Organization Chairman WOod-
ruff Replies to Brooklyn Speech.
LRy Telegraph to The Tribune

| Albany Feb. 25.-Instead Of denOuncing Cow
| ernOr Hughes as opponent of party ana
| speaking in opposition 10 his direct primary pro-
/ posal some had expected SenatOr-eiect Ellnu
| Root tonight at the dinner OF the Barnes
| County organization delivered a glowing eulogy
| Of party organization which brought his audi
ence to it's feet in cheers and then declared that
| he counted Governor Hughes true party ana
| organization
More than that. he went to outline the
feeling which has swept over the country thar
| party organizations were not truly representa-
tive of the sentiments Of the voters This mad
spread he said. from mere idle criticism TO
deep seated conviction the part of party
voters even. 1t was this which had brought out
as attempted remedies the Western ideas-direct
primaries the initiative and referendum and
similar propositions
'"The very great popularity Of Governor
Hughes" he said. while a laugh and a scattered
handicap went up his popularity not so much
In New York State as in the Western states. IS
based the idea that he has jumped on poll
ticians This is a fact We should look at II
and consider it. There can be no outcome from
this feeling but one. Any measure or any law
or practice which is adopted can be no other
than organization one"
The traditional bOmbshell would not have pro-
duced a greater sensation than this speech Of
Senator Root Everything at the dinner had
been arranged to carry an effect OF opposition
toward Governor Hughes. The speech Of state
Chairman Woodruff. prepared in advance, had
been devoted to taking up the Governors argu-
ments for his direct primary plan Interviews
had been given out earlier in the afternoon from
various leaders who had talked with Mr. Root
the tenor of which tended TO show that he was
|. against the direct primary plan Even the dec
orations of the hall omitted the Governors
name
BARNES WAS NONPLUSSED.
Then. to have Mr. Root fatfootedly indorss
the Governors attitude OF endeavoring TO make
party organizations representative. to have him
assume the character of mediator and monitor
in the stronghold OF the anti Hughes men-it
was too much. The faces of the men the
long table where sat the chief guests were
study in gloom. Mr.. Woodruff glowered at
Speaker wadsworth: Mr. Wadsworth stared his
astonishment at EIr. Barnes. Senator Raines
smiled somewhat sardonicaIly He always pre-
serves a saving sense of hurnor. And all ths
Barnes followers the sineyv OF his organization.
who had appIauded the earlier part OF the Root
speech. looked their astonishment and forgot
to applaud at all until he had finished
Mr.. Root who was introduced by Danforth E
Ainsworth, the chairman. as man who would
be the Daniel Webster Of this in the
Senate declared that first he hoped 20 be able
not to fulfil such predictions. but to make a
Senator worthy Of New York state Republicans
He said this dinner awakened many recollec-
tions of the days when he taking activs
part in political work a member OF the New
York County organization He naid tribute to
the work which had converted Albany County
from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican
stronghold
Il have no sympathy" he added "and perhaps
too little patience with those who think. OF think
they think. that republican government can be
continued or administered without party organ
ization. Among all the great increase of human
power in our century. above the great discOv-
cries and inventions and achievements of sci
ence which have multiplied. the productive
power of mankind. the discovery Of the capacity
of mankind for multiplying power by organiza-
ton, ranks the greatest. Put on an isle Of the
= sea- body of men competent for sen-gOvern-
ment. with laws customs. and they would
establish a government by the necessity OF hu-
man nature. They would organize into parties.
Organization is not a mere device. il is not
merely the best way discovered to carry on a
representative government; 1t is the only way
mankind has Organization always overcOmeS
dsorganizatop-
"I am one of those who believe. / know
YOU believe that the party organization ot
which YOU form a part the Republican party,
has been the backbone and strength OF con-
tinuity and effectiveness in the great ideas and
ideals which have made our country foremost
among the peoples Of the earth in the last halt
century Whenever wild and demagOgio :=sas
10 catch the fancy OF the multitude have been.
paraded before the eyes of men, fallacies Of ,
government ever liable 10 be brought 20 the
fore in new dresses. threatening the perpetutty
of our American institutions; when fallacies
financial and social and political have rnreat-
ened the prosperity and solidity OF our naflonaI
government. the organization OF the Republic
can party has been the recourse OF all men Eho.
in calrner times choose TO set themselves %
as independent thinkers. Let tnas N
this declaration of the necessity and the bene-
fits of the Republican organization ard the
organization OF the Republican party I count
the Governor of ,his state in agreement not in
dissent However he may disagree as TO meas
ures and methods. 1 count him. count al
thoughtful men. as agreeing on the necessity OF
organization and of our Republican Organiza-
tion.
HAS JUMPED ON POLITICIANS"
There is a process going in oJT country
to which we Republicans of the organization
should give heed-yes. and our friends OF tho
Democratic organization also-a process which
goes beyond the grumbIing and criticism OF men
sitting in their clubs or studies and finding fault
with everything in political affairs because they
do not agree with their ideas, a process abroad
widely in the minds and feelings Of the people OF
our country. There have been indications that
they feel their political organizations are not
truly representing them. think the blind and
curious efTOrts-curiOus methods and very curl
Gus in their results-in many OF the Western
states toward dispensing with party Organiza-
tons have indicated this feeling. The initiative
and referendum. the direct primary in many
states. the wide difference in the votes for Pres-