New-York tribune., 1909-02-27
MIR. ROOT A MEDIATOR
SPEECH IN ADMONI1ION.
Great Diversity of Opinion Among
Politicians at albany.
1Rr relsrrnnh to The Tribune

Ey Telegraph to The TTiDune-I
Albany Feb 26-Ellhu Root left here to-day 40'
New york where he has dinner engagement 10
night He had nothing to say ABOUT ms SPeO
the Barnes organization dinner last night
No greater diversity Of opinion has existed at any
stage of the direct primary discussion than tha1 u
,aIoned to-day in the interpretations OF MI f1oOt
speech. Stanch Hughes supporters declare tiien
can be only version of it-that MI ROOT Aiui
Gated If he did not state explicitly MS approFa u
the Governors efforts to make party organizations
truly representative of the party voters Most OF
the organization leaders. on the ether hahd' saS
that the Root speech glOrincation OF organ
ization men and methods. and by inference snap
at the Governors primary reform plans
The idea seems TO have penetrated only 10 le"
that Mr.. Root last night occupied the position Oh
mediator-in fact. of monitor, for that o~ccdsiCii ~
which was indicated in The Tribunes dispatches
when he first visited Albany earlier In the year
His speech, as those interpreted it, was plea
and an admontion to those party leaders opposing
primary reforms not to too far lest they lhJuIe
their organization irretrievably. Studiousy aVOld-
ing taking any attitude the merits OF direct prl-
maries as opposed to the convention system. MT.
Root in the opinion of these men. marked out the
danger line of failure of organizations to be truly
representative and strikingly commended the Gov
ernor for his efforts within organization lines 10
bring about reform.
INVITATION TO WIDER VISION
Really, the affair is yet a little too close at hand
to permit most of the leaders to get a good per
spective on IT, They. saturated with organization
methods and unable to get away from the organi-
zatlon line Of thought and habit Of CHASING MI.
Root the exact kind of organization man they
are. cannot realize that he is inviting them to
wider vision and a fairer country which he and
the Governor visit That. at least is the dag
nosis of those who decline consider Mr. Root
party boss but attribute TO him all the qualities
Of the highest class Of leadership.
And the opinion of these men, as II Is the opinion
Of most Of the Governors supporters, Is that MT
Roots speech last night will mark the beginning
60 ar In lin
with the Governors efforts and probably with MS
plan itself.
Mr.. Barnes at the dinner last night seemingly
took all Of Mr. Roots laudation of organization
as JUNCTION to his wounded spirit. He made then
no direct alluson to the Senator-elects praise ol
the Governor or commendation of his efforts TO get
in line with the people. Tonight MI Barnes mas
only this to say Of the episode;
The significant idea in Senator-eect Roots speech
to the Albany County Republican organization ia5t
night was that responsible and accountable orSanI-
zation represented in the sphere Of politics oy po-
lltical parties is fundamentally sound .t-,
Men are nothing Parfnar Pa iita Esg9jzat9n try
REPRESENTATIVE OF people who constitute II such
and G the eo aS Of the
preston OF the broad principles OF social indus'rl
Those who do not recognize this and who do not
world through the agency of organization make
their activity contrary to the principle which un-
Party organization is the only sound basis for po
liticaI activity.
displeased over the way MIR. Root went out of his
way to boos. the Governor"
SENATOR RAINEs's VIEWS.
Senator Raines declared that he did not think
senator-elect Root took sides n this discussion
L don't believe he looking for trouble at the
beginning of his term as Senator, said Senator
Ranes And how you say whether or not he
is for or against the Governors plan, when NOBODY
vet knows actually what the Governor S plan Is 2
Wait until we see the bill For my own part l
U-ont them to frame bill which will really do the
things they say it will. When that bill comes ln
we can talk about the Governors plan. and not a
minute before I gathered. though. from MI Root 5
speech that he not in favor OF making holh.-
nations by committees instead OF ny coiNeI''O'S' "
that's the point at issue.
Sneaker Wadsworth declined to hazard guess
rs TO the inner significance of the Root speech
Senator Aids was sure he knew exactly what
Mr. Root meant .
IN. believes we should make such changes in
our urinary laws as will guarantee 10 the voters
the carving out Of their wishes by the party ea
ers But he does not approve of the party noIh-
mating committee plan. anything Ike H. de
cIsred the chairman OF the Finance Committee
senator Heacock of Herkimer County, another
one of .he guests at the Barnes dinner SAID lhe
Root speech reminded him of the experience or a
friend who hoped to get from lawyer I'sN VI MS
an opinion free. .
..T found him puzzing a ten-page letter
said Senator Heacock. -Four pages were devoted
to one side the four pages to the Other and
sides so equally that friend was eNaCIIS dS wen
on as he was a the beginning
big Tim Sullivan declared that Mr. Root was
.o, Tood dfplornatist be anywhere outsideN OF
Tammanv Hall since he could make both sides feel
so good. - ,,.,,, - r-..,+,,ol,,. q, q
letter to the Citizens Union. Of New YORK C,ity,
which is securing expressions or opinion tesiircllls
direct nominations from those who have had prac-
tcal experience with this system, points out the
Of those safeguards for direct primary
law recommended by Governor Hughes In his an
nual message He says in his letter which Is dated
February @ 1909: . -, -. A. ,H,,,
The proposition in New YORK that me pu9rc pubic
cipal objections To our law. --.
I'VE have not specifically corrupt practiceS act
though we have penalties for such practlce Dul II
,bers we're one i should be extended 10 the prl-
rrmorfas and IL would be wise. in both primaries
md rsyiar elections to make very rigid limtta-
tinn on the total EXPENSES