New-York tribune., 1909-01-07
ANTI-HUGHES MEN SPLIT
GREINER NAY SIDE WITH
THE GOVERNOR.
Buffalo Nan Refuses to Agree to
Oppose Election Reforms -
Trouble OUer Patronage.
by Telegraph to The Tribune. !

TBy Telegraph The Tribune1
Albany. Jan. 6.-DifferenCes which have
arisen over patronage and place apparently are
splitting what at time was solid align
ment of the upstate Republican leaders against
Governor Hughes and his election reforms. into
factions. of which eventually by the very
nature of that split will be driven into support
of Governor Hughes 1t came to light to-day
that Francis Hendricks and William Barnes. jr-
anti-Hughes leaders were at serious odds with
Fred Cireiner. postmaster Of Buffalo and a lead
ing Republican of Western New York. and that
Mr. Greiner not only would not agree to side
with them In their fight against the Governors
election reforms. but might even be brought to
advocate direct primary nominations.
The election of Bernard ]. Haggertv. of-Roch-
ester sergeant arms of the Assembly was
tho crisis in this situation That place had been
held for about ter years by Frank ". Johnston
of Buffalo and while Erie County did not in
dorse his candidacy, 1t is declared here on high
authority that this place had been promised {"
an Erie County Then after an hours
campaign. the Monroe County organization got
the place. and Mr. Creiner. considering this as
a declaration Of war against him. told his
friends he ready to fight
AS told here by politicians on the inside. this
situation dates back about two weeks. Messre
Barnes and Hendricks having canvassed the
nominations and Massachusetts ballot PROPOSE
tions and found them generally unfavorable to
the Governors proposed reforms, sought to get
a definite pledge from each leader to all his
influence 70 defeat these measures when they
came ,lp In the Legislature. So far AS could he
learned the leaders gave that pledge unth MI
Greiner was encountered. He refused poSitiVe'N
10 give any such promise saying in effect th't
he had troubles in Erie county. as each leader
had in his particular bailiwick: that the state
organization had many troubles Of its own ana
II seemed to him not only a prudent but a "iS'
course 10 wait until this new proposition actual
" was urgent before taking ironh'und a''""
on It Thus Mr. Greiuer 1t Is said. prevented
the formation OF an offensive and defensive am
ance and gave rise to much sharp censure o'
himself from certain anti-HURhes men.
The next Development followed speedily Men
were recommended for appointment by Att"r-
nev General OHIaIley. who was NJ. Nreiner
candidate by the Hendricks and Aldridge or
canIzationz in Syracuse and Rochester. MI
C'MaIIey The Tribune's informant declared
after consideration and investigation answered
that these candidates were not the stamp "I
men he required in his oflc" and refused %
anpoint them He added that If thu orEaniza-
tions would recommend men of the kind be de
sired he would he very glad 70 appoint them
But neither rhe Hendricks nor tho AldridEe or
ganization recommended new candidates In
stead. this score was charged up 20 Messrs
Grener and O'Malley.
Then last night came The turning down Of the
Eric County organization in favor "f the Al
bridge organization. Speaker Wadsworth IS
said to have told Erie County men who com
planned about this treatment tnat the place
was never promised to that county Assembly
man Merritt majority leader the other hand
told them that he understood definite promise
made and broken.
In conjunction with that is told arotho~ incl
dent Senator Davis of BuraIo. after some
hesitation. had decided to give up the chair
manship Of the Senate Judiciary Committee to
take that Of the Cities Committee. on ,the
ground that there he could further Runalo's
interest better Lieutenant Governor White to
day. Daviss friends say, personally refused to
appoint the Buffalo Senator t. the chairman
ship Of the cities Committee.
Some OF this may he due to jealousy or
Grener personally, because, out in the western
part of the state, we believe he is right in lin"
for state chairman one IF these days" said one
of the men. who was telling the story But
it looks to us if a good part Of it was due to
the fact that he refused to join the anti-H Hughes
club. And we don't blame him bit for saying
that he is not looking for trouble. but he ism
avoiding fight"
The significant feature of this affair is that
in forcing the split with Mr.. tirener the anti
hughes are driving him straight into the
Hughes camp. Friends Of his say that he has
deep rooted antipathy to the direct primary
nominations scheme which Messrs Barnes
Hendricks and the other lenders are fghting so
bitterly
He thinks the organization in Erie could ger
along with that system all right. although I
don't think he in love with it, said one of
his friends. Even more than that. he might
try 1t out if the situation got hot. For eight
years there has been in the bylaws Of the Erie
County Committee permission to adopt the di-
rect nominations plan whenever it was deemed
desirable"
Discussion OF this situation and the Legislat-
ure's reception Of the Governors message by
the politicians here tonight was significant
Where week ago anti Hughes politicians were
declaring that the Organization men" We're a
unit against the Governor now they seem
ingly considerably perturbed. As eager. for the
most part to fight him ever, they many
chances for dissension in their ranks while the
Governor hammers away in advocacy Of his
forms: and they beginning 70 wonder
whether he is to win his election reforms
this year in spite of them. he last year
in the fight against the racetrack mea end gam
bers.
..Dc oapnNrp NAV npT TTCuNcr