The sun., 1910-02-13
TELL TAFT ALBANY SCANDALS
UIGHES WOULD TAKE OFF LID
SND REORGANIZE PARTY.
Dspcw. MoOdrutT ami WadswOrth Oppose
-GrIscOm ami Barnard Back Hughes
President Docs Not Commit Himself
Was Listener. Not an Arbitrator.

Six men-Gov. Hughes, Senator Depew.
speaker wadsworth, State Chairman
Woodruff. County Chairman Griscom
and Otto T. Bannard-discussed with
President Taft at Mr.. Griscom's house
Yesterday the condition OF the Repubh-
can party in this State. and principally,
30 far as could be learned after the con-
ference, discussed the desirability OF a
reorganization and the question whether
L would be better to uncover now other
cases of bribery which the Aids case
threatens 10 bring TO the surface at
Albany, and have a general houseolsan-
ing or just to limit the inquiry now opened
10 the Aids case.
President Taft according to all accounts
did not commit himself to an opinion.
Gov. Hughes and those who support
him are understood to believe that il the
Legislature widened the scope OF its
INQUIRY other similar cases would be
uncovered. 1t was learned that Gov.
Hughes, Mr.. Griscom and Mr.. Barnard
urged a reorganization Of the party In
the State while Senator Depew, Mr..
Woodruff and Speaker wadsworth held
that even if Senator Aids should be found
guilty Of accepting bribe his case could
not be construed as typical and that it
would be unfair to draw an inference
that Republican members of the Legis-
lature were in the habit OF taking money
for their votes. In reply IL is understood
the conferees who took Gov. Hughes's
side contended that the party In the State
was in bad way and that the best way
10 meet the situation would be to come
OUT openly and advocate a reorganizaI
ton just as the Democratic State League
doing to the Democratic party.
Objection was made to this suggestion,
and, Mr. Taft taking neither side, the con-
ference was evenly divided. From what
could be learned it was left to Mr.. Taft
TO say which of the tw o policies advocated
should be adopted. II was explained for
him that he was at the conference more
~ listener than as an arbitrator and
= that as President of the whole country
he did not conceive that il was fair to ask
him to take sides in what he thought was
10 a large extent a factional dispute in the
state. His position was described Us
being that, while he would be willing to
give such advice as might be asked OF
him to bring about solidarity in the party
Of the State. it could not be expected
hat he would do anything which might
he construed as taking an active inter-
est in Republican politics here.
Ernrv, GtatA (vha;.,ao
from others who were at the meeting it
was learned that it was not suggested that
he should retire.
Not once was there any. hint made at
the conference" Mr.. Woodruff said, that
it would be best for the party for me to
get out despite the fact that there was a
lot Of talk about reorganization. Had
there been any such indication I might
have had something to say, hut there was
none and l expect to remain chairman
until the end OF my term. which expires
in September
Apart from the talk in the conference
was there no suggestion made privately
10 you that it might be better for you to
give up the chairmanship?' Mr.. Woodruff
was asked
Absolutely none, I can assure you.
said Mr.. Woodruff Il will continue at
the head of the State committee until
September and think that IL will be
who will conduct the State campaign next
fan
At the close Of the conference Mr.. Girls
com was asked by President Taft and
Gov. Hughes to give out whatever news
he thought was Of public interest relating
10 the gathering. Mr.. Griscom said that
the greater part Of the conference was
taken up in an exchange Of views between
Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Hughes concerning the
situation in this State.
What particular line did that talk
follow" Mr.. Griscom was asked.
1T had a great deal to do with the legal
aspect Of the Aids trial in Albany by
the Legislature Mr.. Griscom replied
In answer to further question as to what
the legal aspects OF the case were Mr..
Griscom thought that probably they
conceded the right of the Legislature
10 go further into the investigation than
the single case OF Senator Aids.
you don't wish to give out the inn
PRESTON the reporters suggested to Mr.
Griscom, that President Taft, Gov.
Hughes. Speaker Wadsworth and the
otheTs who were upstairs at that two
hour conference talked OF nothing but
the legal side OF the Aids Investigations"
NO, perhaps ! ought not to do that,
Mr. Griscom answered. AS a matter
Of fact there was a great deal OF discus
sion on the many features Of the Repub-
ilcan situation in this State, but l would
ike you to make it clear that in every
matter that came up tho President and
the Governor were entirely in harmony.
hr Griscom explained by this that the
President and the Governor were OF one
opinion in their desire that something
should be done TO counteract the unfor-
Lunste developments recently in the
Republic an party of the State.
Mr.. Griscom added that nothing was
determined upon as to how this could
best be accomplished.
While the conference was going on In
the upper rooms Of Mr.. Grisoom's houss
The lower floors were filed with Repub,
lean district leaders, Senator's, Assembly
men and Aldermen who had been invited
10 meet Mr.. Taft. but the reception lasteC