New-York tribune., 1909-03-21
RUMOR OF COMBINATION
TALK OF BIPARTISAN ONE.
Object SAID To Be to Beat Primary
Bill and City Charter.
[By Telegraph .to The Tribune,l

IBy Telegraph Nto The Trbunel
Albany March 20.-IndicatiOns to-day point 10
a revival of the bipartisan combination against
Governor Hughes which defeated his nomina-
ton of Professor Cook for the State Highway
Commission. TO beat his direct primary noni-
nations measure and the New York CITY char
ter. The Tammany Hall Democrats are counted
on to stand with the upstate and New York Re
nubIicans who dislike a proposition to reform
rrir,aries so the voters actually can nominate
the candidates they desire if in turn the Re-
pnbIicans will help them slaughter the proposed
charter with it's precautions against o11c4Sl Ga
travagance, contractors rings and the IKE
No chances will be taken with either propose
tion. The Senate last year passed q dlrect PEi-
mary nominations measure, trusting 10 the AS
ser,b1v N kill it. While the Republican leaders
know the Speaker will be on guard in the lower
house this year. using all his resources TO pre-
vent the massage Of such legislation tne oend'e
is not going to leave anything TO mouse "HoS0
members would come up for re-elecuoh III 'n0
fall The Senate with members elected TOT TWO
wears, where the bipartisan combination na'
hourished for many years. will be the oateie
field, with the Assembly as sort u
force for the anti-Hughes men
rrar,r,anv Hall. from all that has appeared
here breads the proposed charter especially th's
wear with municipal election Impending
Tammany also is not keenly deslrous OF any
system of nominations which would teno 10 oe
prive the boss of his power over ofnces- D"'
among many upstate Democrats there mas oeen
2 pronounced feeling in favor of direct prl-
naries. particularly among the anu-ConLei
Murphy element With the division among re
publicars over the primary reform proposition
now evident it would not need a great oea4 OF
Democratic support to swing the scales in the
a~fin
learned. the Republican adversaries OF Governor
Hughes are relying on the Tammany domina-
ton of the Democratic legislators to swing all
their influence against the Governors plan IN
return for Republican influence or votes II nee
essary against the Twins charter.
Under all this men long in touch with legis-
lative and political affairs see one guiding IN
fuence-that of the non-partisan contributor 10
campaign funds who looks for benefit to his in
terests as result Of affirmative action or nom
action on matters where he might require let
ting alone"
ITS easy enough to trace the connection" de-
clared one man to-day, and if you look care
fully you can see linked in opposition to the
Governors direct nominations bill and the pro-
posed charter the same influences which fought
the public service legislation. his antiracetrack
gambling measure and. before the Governor
came here. the insurance legislation and the
corrupt practices and anti-Iobbying bills. Why?
Because anything which touches special inter
ests touches the political bosses. If you affect
the special interests adversely you tend 10
diminish the campaign contributions OF the po-
litical bosses, and II you remove the power Of
the political bosses you make them useless 10
the predatory corporations It works both ways
so you see the two groups shaking hands and
agreeing to slay this new and fantastic scheme
out Of hand. Maybe the plain voters will let
them do it too. but I doubt it"