New-York tribune., 1910-10-02
METZ BLOCKED SHEPARD?
Little Chance of Harmony IN
Democratic Ranks.
SORE SPOTS UNHEALED
Former New York Controller
Upsets Plans by Dividing
Kings Delegation.
ERv Telegraph to The Tribune.

IBy Telegraph TO The Tribune
Rochester, Oct. 1-Stories regarding the
struggle between the Democratic leaders
in making up their state ticket, which was
placed in nomination here yesterday, Wouid
seem to indicate that the harmony whlcn
John A. Dix, candidate for Governor, trleu
so hard 10 bring about as state chalrinah'
was rudeIy shattered.
There are many sore spots as result
of the things that happened behind closed
doors. and there was every indication Wheh
the lea 1ers separated to-day that they
would not be healed before Election Day.
One story is that plans which had been
carefully laid for the nomination OF Ed
ward VI. Shepard for the head of the ticket
were absolutely broken up because OF
peculiar succession of circumstances. Her
man A Metz is credited with being the in
nocent cause of the breaking of these plans
by dividing the Kings County delegation
on Mr.. Shepard. When Mr.. Metz reached
here on Thursday he did not have the
slightest idea of being q candidate for OIL
fee. but his friends in the Kings County
delegation started q boom for him. EX-
uberant and enthusiastic. Mr.. Metz thanked
his friends for their kind activity, but de-
cIared that he would not be candidate
But his friends persisted in their endeav-
ors, and insisted on trying TO pledge the
Kings County delegation for him in caucus.
The caucus ended with a dispute as TO the
meaning Of the resolution that was passed,
which was that John II. McCooey, leader
of the deIegs ton, should poll the vote i'll
the convention as cast in d caucus TO be
held on Friday morning.
Accused MIR. Metz.
The friends of Mr.. Metz declared that
this meant that the unit rule would not
hold and that each vote as cast should
he announced The next day the caucus
was held, and no vote was taken. The
Metz men declared they would present his
name TO the convention.
The friends of Mr. Shepard accused Mr..
Metz of dividing the Kings County delega-
tion and preventing his nomination, as it
was out of the question to nominate a
man who could not get the solid delegation
from his own county. Mr.. Shepard had al
ready announced that II nominated he
wished to be nominated from his own
county.
The friends of Mr.. Shepard and Mr. Metz
got into such wrangle that it seemed out
of the question 10 try TO nominate Mr..
Shepard and his name was dropped from
consideration.
After it had been decided to nominate
Mr.. Dix q German was wanted for the
nomination for Lieutenant Governor. and
Mr.. Metz was placed on the slate. Then,
according TO the story, Mr.. Shepard in
formed the leaders that if Mr. Metz was
placed on the ticket he would not support
1t. So Mr.. Metz was scratched.
ol,]1 <,yt
come than Mr.. Metz. He declared after it
was all over that he had not taken his
boom seriously and was simply pleased at
the kind way in which his friends were
mentioning his name. He had wanted the
Kings County delegation to support Mr..
Shepard so long as the latter remained in
the race for the governorship nomination,
but it was impossible 70 get some of them
to do so.
The Monroe County leaders arc exceed
ingly sore because of the way in which the
boom of Congressman James =. Hsvens
was treated They did not even present his
name in the convention. because they were
afraid it would be treated as was that OF
Congressman Sulzer, whose name did not
have serious consideration in the conven-
ton.
Murpi1Y's Harmony Attempts.
Charles F. Murphy, leader of Tammany
Hall, and now the undisputed boss of the
Democratic organization in the state. re-
mained in Rochester III an effort to placate
the organization here. With him remained
Philip F. Donohue and Daniel T. Cohalan
the chief lieutenant of the TaInn1any chief
tain They spent most Of the day with
Thomas ". Finucane state committeeman
I TNo;y H.
chairman. They are to stay over Sunday
as the guests of Mr.. Finucane.
1t was announced to-day that the state
committee would meet for reorganization
in New York on Tuesday.
Most prominently mentioned as Dix's sue
cessor is State Committeeman Fitzgerald,
from Erie County Mr.. Fitzgerald is said
to have the backing Of Charles T. Muir
ply OF Tammany Hall.
The only other candidate discussed was
George b. Van kennan, of st. Lawrence
County. William a. Huppuch, chairman
of the Washington County committee. who
was slated for the nomination for Con
troler until the nomination of Mr.. Dix
made il ineXpedieut 10 have another man
on the ticket from the same county, prob
ably VIII succeed him as state commit
teeinan from Washington.
Mi. DIX nau an engagement 10 01ne TINS
evening with Bishop William c. Doane in
Albany and left here for that city on the
Empire State Express this afternoon From
Albany he will go Immediately to his Adj
rondack camp at McKeeVer TO spend three
or four DAYS. Before he departed this
afternoon tie candidate gave cut the fol-
lowing statement:
The nomination came to me unsought. |
consented to become a candidate only on
the request of the other candidates and the
delegates from all over the state. If ! am
elected Governor every citizen of this com
monwealth may justly expect, and will
have. such an administration of business
methods applied 70 the conduct of the
the taxpayers shall be returned to them
In sound progressive and honest work.
Regarding his campaign plans Mr.. Dix
remarked: There will be no spectacular
prence about the state"
Alton B. Parker said to-day Of the nomi-
nation for Governor:
We have tried lawyers for that great
office, who speak well-and spend most of
their time doing it--until the state is about
broke. Indeed, it was only saved an empty
treasury this year by postponing payments
until next by means of the executive veto
So the Democratic convention decided to
drop the lawyers and try a successful buSi-
ness man.
have known Mr.. Dix for many years
He is a public spirited man of character
and modest force, approaching as near
men ever do to the ideal citizen.
Edward NJ. Shepard, before he started
for Brooklyn this morning, issued the fol-