New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-06
MORE H1NMAN TALK
SUPPORTERSINTOUCH
WITH WASHINGTON.
Republicans Interested ah
Party's Welfare Say Drastic
Action Is Needed.
lev TeIecranh to The Tribune.

[By Telegraph to The Tribune1
Albany, March 5-Whether to support ioi
| temporary president of the Senate
Hughes man of comparatively recent VIII
tage like Senator Davis. of Buffalo, or an
out-and-out Hughes man like Senator Hun
man. against Senator Cobb, the Woooruh-
BarnesWard candidate. is the questioh
which is puzZling several Senators. Inc
solution of this problem may put an end 10
the practical deadlock which now prevents
the selection of successor to Jotnam T.
Aids.
Both sides in this fight have made the
issue the support of Governor Hughes ana
in general the Hughes policies. But IL is
recognized by all in the Legislature ana
political leaders in this state and in WASH
ington that the election of a temporary
president is only an incident in the large
political game in which the d1sposltion OIL
the Aids bribery case, the decision as 10
general investigation of legislative affairs
enactment of the Hughes legislative pro-
gramme and the nomination of Republi-
can state ticket are parts.
Senators in Touch With Washington.
In view of this. renewed mention OF the
name of Senator Human, who originally
was the so-called Hughes candidate against
Senator Aids. is significant Even more
significant Is the fact that several Senators
who are now working in Humans interest
have been in communicat ton for. several
days with eminent Republicans in Wash
inston and with Lloyd c. Griscom. the new
president of the New York County Repuo-
lican Committee, who is closest of all the
leaderc now to the federal administration
Senator Human for two years has intro
duced Governor Hughess direct primary
legislation, and has fought On the Hoor OF
the upper house for the rest of the Gov
errors legislative programme Here he Is
regarded virtually as the leader of the
Hughes Republicans in the Legislature, al
though he disclaims any such part. In ad-
dtion to this. he is a straight organization
Republican, but not of the Woodruff Barnes
type He has in Broome County his own
organization, which he says he endeavors
to keep as close to the people as can be
done by an informal direct primary and
liberal party rules.
His Fitness Recognized.
His fitness as a lawyer, legislator and
Republican for the place of temporary
president was recognized at the beginning
of this session. He was defeated because
State Chairman Woodruff and one or two
others of the old line leaders threw their
strength to Senator Aids. When Aids re-
signed as temporary president on the eve
of his sworn denial of the Conger bribery
charges Senator Humans friends again
wanted to put him in nomination for the
place He declined to become candidate
on the ground that it would be improper
for him to seem to advance mis- candidacy
on Alldss unfortunate position.
Since the practical deadlock the general
situation here has changed, and Hinman's
ideas on that subject are said to nave
changed with it. What many Hughes Re-
publicans characterize as an eXtraordl-
narly bold attempt to get a new grip on
the organization of the Senate is being
made by Woodruff, Barnes and other pro-
nouncedly reactionary Republicans by
pushing the candidacy for leader of Senator
Cobb. Events in this fight have made clear
the Hughes and anti-Hughes issue in
volved.
Running on Hughes Programme.
Senator Davis of Buffalo. now supported
by most of the Hughes men in the upper
house has declared himself and has been
declared by his friends to be running on
the progressive. or Hughes, platform. Sew
eral Senator's however, have told Hughes
men in the Legislature and leaders outside
it that they could not discern any great
difference between Senator Davis's record
and Senator Cobb's on the Hughes issues,
and that they could see little choice be-
tween the legislative qualifications of the
two men.
So the word has gone around that the
progressive Republicans here and some OF
the leaders in Washington deem the situa-
ton important enough, in view OF all that
is involved, to have in the field a candidate
about whose record there could be no mis-
understanding. And certain Senators who
again are working for Human say he VIII
take up the trying work of temporary pres
ident If the Republican caucus chooses him
for that place. Clearly the situation de-
mands drastic action, say those Republi-
cans who desire to see their party remain
in power and regain a prestige with the
public considerably diminished, they fear,
since the Aids case disclosures.
Woodruff and Barnes Back Speaker.
Speaker Wadsworth. in the lower house.
has taken q stand on the question
Of further investigation of legislative
corruption pronouncedly in opposition to
Governor Hughes's ideas. He is just as
positively opposed to some OF the Cover
nor's legislative measures. Behind him are
the Woodruff Barnes group of leaders.
Control by those leaders of the Senate
would enable them to defeat the Hughes
progra NINE, stave off any investigation OF
legislative corruption, and put things in
shape for the nomination in the fall of
a. reactionary state ticket
What effect it might have on the decision
of the Aids charges hardly is discussed
openly by politicians, although reports of
political influence in connection with the
decision are rife here.
Governor Hughess position on all these
matters is well known. 1t is also well
known, say those Republicans who are sup
porting him. that his position in general
has the approval of President Taft and
Senator Root
These progressive Republicans, 1t is said.
consider the great trust voters of both
,,artiac bava In the Governor q almost the