New-York tribune., 1910-06-10
AWAIT HUGHES'S SPEECH
Politicians Around the State
Show Apprehension.
RUMOR OF A COMBINATION
Bosses Said To Be Arranging
One Against Governors Di-
rect Primary Reform.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune. /

By Telegraph to The Tribune
Albany, June 9.-Politicians around the
state are awaiting Governor Hughes's direct
primary speech at the dinner of the Board
OF Trade of Batavia tomorrow night with
much interest and no little apprehension.
Word came here tonight that to offset the
effect they realize this speech will have OF
the voters, and consequently on the work
of the extraordinary session, the anti
Hughes bosses were trying to arrange
combination against the Governors direct
nominations reform similar to the one pro-
posed by Barnes and Aldridge at the begin
ming of last years legislative session.
Apparently their fears about the effect OF
this speech are we'll founded, for the mere
voters arc displaying an extraordinary
amount of interest in what the Fighting
Governor Is likely to say at this beginning
of his last big fight. Applications for seats
at the dinner have literally swamped the
committee in charge of arrangements. Dele
cations will attend it from all the Western
New York counties From Buffalo and
Rochester will go representatives anxious to
hear and cheer the Governor.
4 good part OF the politicians anxiety,
according to information received here. Is
due to the fact that influential representa-
tives are clamoring for the enactment of
the Cobb direct primary bill to save the
Congress situation. To many the outlook
is gloomy. and they predict that unless
something is done speedily to hold tho In
Republicans in line Congressman
all over the state will be slaughtered and
the state ticket probably handed over to
the Democrats. The narrow escape OF Dali
zelI has hammered home the Aldridge les
son. they say Word comes from Brooklyn
that the organization is almost in panic
over the prospects. Upstate continuation
of the present drift might send many Demo
Gratis to Washington on the trail of MI
Havens. politicians fear. This drift toward
Democracy in the state is said by Republt'
cans who have analyzed it to be due quite
as much TO disgust with Republican boss
ism here as to any national issues. Many
prominent Republicans who have been mere
during the last two or three days consider
il high time that something be done to
check it. They declare that the Republl-
can state ticket may have chance under
favorable conditions. but that radical treat
mont will he necessary on the Congress end.
And thew realize whether or not the anti
Hughes bosses do. that loss Of Republican
Con gressmen in this state virtually would
he stab at tho Taft administration which
would have damag ging effect all over the
country.
AS result considerable quiet work -
beine done In some quarters to bring about
a favorable reception of the Cobb direct
bill at the extra session. ms
action is taken on the theory that there IS
general dissatisfaction with Repubiicanism
on the ground that the party is boss ruled
and moss backed Thus. enactment OF
progressive measure like a real direct NOM
nations law would go far to reconcile the
to continuation Of Repuo-
lican administration. they figure.
Whether this work will be taken UP by
federal Republicans is a problem which
politicians here say depends very largely
on Mr.. Roosevelt. They have a notion he
will be deeply concerned at the situa-
ton which they conceive to be menacing
TO the administration of his friend ard
successor They feel that he will have only
10 sav the word and things will begin to
be smoothed out for the general beneft,
peace and harmony OF the entire Repuoli-
can fold
But unless Roosevelt does something of
this sort" declared a politician who was
discussing this phase of politics tonight,
the Barnes -Wadsworth- Woodruff combi-
nation which has opposed Governor Hughes
and his direct nominations will succeed
in defeating about half our congressman
They are after the state convention, of
course AS things stand. they have got
control of affairs. too. They proved that
through Wadsworth in the Assembly. IL
they can hold the Assembly at the extra
session, so far as 7 can see they will have
established their grip on the state so no.
body could go against them IN the conven-
tion-nobody save Roosevelt But the Ques-
tion in mind is this: If they were permit
ted to carry their campaign TO that point,
could even Roosevelt avert disaster at the