New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-03
Practical Dictator of Legislation.

Under Platt and under Odell the state
committee was the practical dictator OF
LEGISLATION. Its power exerted through the
state chairman, passed or killed bills, de-
termined the attitude OF individual legls-
lators. save in unusual cases, and even de-
cided the precise length of the legislative
session. The state chairman and members
OF the state committee in less degree were
the arbiters in all questions of patronage,
elective and appointive offices alike Even
the day laborer got his job on the say-so
of the state committeeman OF one OF his
sub bosses his creature. The state COM
mittee had its great power by reason Of its
ability TO make the party's rules and regu-
Iatio1s and to decide questions OF regu-
Ia-irv'' by seating or unseatng delegations
10 the state convention. 1t retained its ex-
istence bv shaping those rules and manipu-
1ating circumstances to suit its purposes.
And not least in importance by any means.
the state committee was the body to which
came the '-dough'-the campaign contribu-
tons All of this at the present time is
lessened in degree but not in character by
The presence of Governor Hughes in official
life. the partial revelation of the scandals
10 which such a state of affairs led. and the
fact that State Chairman Woodruff hasn't
the poljticaI nature and ability of Platt and
Oden
Progressive Republicans in the Hughes
camp believe the direct election at the prl-
maries Of a state committee OF one hundred
and fifty would be virtually death blow TO
the style of leadership which now flourishes
They say il would not necessarily rid Al
bany County Of the leadership OF William
Barnes, If, for example, or some OF the
other counties Of the state OF the leader
ship OF other men whose machines are as
powerful as is Barnes's. They believe that
il would change conditions so that no pres
ent member of the state committee or
county boss would have absolute power 10
the degree which he now exercises. And
each year the state committeeman would
have 70 go TO the enrolled voters of the
PARTY, they point out, for a vote of conf
dence.
Therefore these Republicans argue that
this move on the part Of the Speaker and
his leaders, taken at its face value.
amounts TO a concession of the justice Of
the direct primary scheme in one OF It's
mos. iroportant features. IL the anti-direct
urinary politicians are willing to go this
far their fight for q retention Of the con-
yention Itself will be little except farce,
the Hughes men think. And II this Is fue'
they expect TO see the Human Green bill
enacted into law and the general investiga-
ton resolution approved.
Meanwhile they are waiting somewhat
anxiously for the next move Of the Speaker
and State Chairman Woodruff. They say
the next move is for the 'Old Guard
and should be to some extent an aid to the
solution OF the present "cxing question.
Surrender or trick?" TIL rect primary
men are pounding away 81 y day for the
enactment OF the Hinman-t reen bill, and
they saw they are gaining recruits 90 their
ranks Each day brings 10 Governor
Hughes a fresh sheaf Of invitations from
all parts OF the state TO make addresses on
his policies Moreover. the Governors
friends think that he viii accept many
Of these as he can with the great pressure
Of work on him. So where the anti-Hughes
forces a short time ago were standing
rat and advising mo quarter" now the
Hughes people are standing pat" while
The anti-Hughes people are making i'm
nor,ant concessions the Hughes men feel
rather .lated. but meanwhile are search
ing suspiciously for an explanation OF this
change Of front on the part OF their OPP
ponents.