New-York tribune., 1910-02-22
CQNNERS BACKS
HUGHES PLAN
COMES OUT FOR d.
RECT PRIMARIES.
Chairman, 1ssailng Tam
many, Says He UH Beat
Murphy Coalition

After a dav of strenuous work in Fer-
Son,I conference and over the long dis
tance telephone. William j. Conners. -
his headduarters at the Waldorf last
night. expressed the utmost conhdehce
that Charles r Murphy and his otheT
enemies would not throw him out OF tne
chairmanship of the Democratic state
Committee at the special meeting IN Al
banv on Thursday.
Although he would not give out any
figures or indicate just what support ne
expected to receive. it was evident that
the state chairman was more than
pleased with the result of bis efortS
since he got here from Florida on sun
day.
Mr. Conners said that Tammany Han
wanted to extend it's system of auction
ing off judgeships to the state ana sen
nominations for Governor and other
state offices to the highest oiddeI-
Democrats UP the state would he\e
stand for it, he declared
I'm the course of his denuneiatloh VI
Nurphy and the members OF the Oehio
cratic state League Mr. Cohhefs
ctared with much emphasis that upstate
Democratic members of the Leslsiatuie
would support the direct primary 'iii
of Governor Hughes
..cood," exclaimed the state ehaH-
man. when he was told that reSoiu-
ton had been introduced in the Assem-
b,v for a special committee 10 lnVeStsd'7
his charge that Tammany Han nad auC-
toned off judiciary nominations IN TINS
CITY. When they make that 1nVestisa-
tion they will find that what said vas
true"
would YOU be willing to testify be-
fore such a committee?' he was asked
WILLING To TESTIFY.
Il certainly would" came the prompt
reply. If I should be invited TO go be-
fore the committee. I would be wiling 10
tell them what I have heard yes, also
what I know oh. it will be easy TO find
out all about it. All they've got 10 do IS
to ask the friends of any of the Iam-
many Judges what the nomination cost
them
In large suite on the tenth floor OF
the, Waldorf Mr.. Corners is conduct
ing his campaign. All day long he was
receiving visitors, but he refused to give
out any of the names Last night. 1t
nothing to say but finally the chairman
invited the newspaper men into his bed
room. being careful not TO let them see
who was iii the drawing ROOM
There could be no doubt that the
spirits of the chairman were al high
mark Il won't give out any figures.
h said but I don't think they have
got enough votes to do us
Won't YOU tell US whom you have
seen to-day"
Let me see that list he asked Of
John T Maher his secretary. but before
the list was produced he had changed
his mind again.
No. don't think Ill tell you.
won't tip off my hand To the other fell
lows There are some on that list whom
they think they have
e. Y. s. Williams. former head Of the
Kings County Democracy. the anti
McCarren organization. who is now in
the regular camp under the peace pact
of last fall. was one of the chIirman's
callers. So far as could be learned he
was the only BrookIvnije to answer q
summons sent out by Mr.. Corners early
Yesterday morning.
Mr. Williams was the head of the anti
NcCarren forces. which were recognized
by Murphy and COnneTs in the Carnegie
Hall convention. and selected the men,
bers of the State Committee who were
placed at that time instead of the men
chosen by Senator McCarren. These
seven men are supposed to be with Nur-
phy in the present fight Mr. Conners
only claims Conrad Hasenhug, the
eighth member of the State COMMITTEES
from Kings County
What did Mr. Williams have to say 20
the chairman was asked
'Oh. he's a good Democrat" was the
evasive reply.
DO | feel confident that 7 won't be
ousted or Thursday? Yes. l do
You only hoped on Sunday night: now
Won are confident What change has
there been in the situation
Il NEVER FELT BETTER.
Several persons haves changed They
are not so strong tonight as they were
last night. They will not be so strong
tomorrow night as they are now.
never felt better or more in a humor 10
fight
Apparently Chairman Ccnnsrs pe-
Ueves that he will be able to convince
those interested in his downfall solely
because they think it would strengthen
the Democratic party in the state this
fall that the kind of fight he Is pre-
nared to put up. if pushed TO il, VIII do
more harm than good
He intends 10 raise the cry that Muir
phy wants To TammanyiZe the state.
and Senator McCarren was able 10 keep
Murphy out of Brooklyn for many years
by Just such crS.
Now. the whole thing is simply THIS.
said the state chairman. adopting con-
6dential tone These fellows are un-
dertaking 10 do something that was
never done in this state before. There
is motive in all things. What they
want 10 do is 10 auction off the nominal
tions for Governor. for Controller. or
Secretary of state and the others. the
same as they have been auctioning off
nominations here to the highest bidder.
My policy has always been 10 find
out what the people of the state wanted
and 10 give il to them. our nominations
have always been for merit. I haven't
any doubt that Tammany Hall wants