New-York tribune., 1910-04-13
WARNED BY HOTCHK|SS
He Predicts a Legislative Rev.
oIution at Albany.
WARM PRAISE FOR HUGHES
Says Sweeping Investigation
Will Result Not Only in Pun
ishment, but in Regenration.

Utica. N Y. April 12-The annual din
ner Of the Republican League Of Oneida
County was held this evening and attended
by seven hundred men. chiefly Of anti
organization sympathies. The speakers
were Charles J. Bonapsrte. former Attor-
ney General Of the United States; William
II. Wadhsms. OF New York; William II.
Hotchkiss State Superintendent Of Insur-
ance and Congressman George ". Norris,
Of Nebraska. Everett Colby. ~ New
Jersey, was prevented from speaking by
illness
Ex-Assembyman NJ. X. Hart, president
OF the league. In his Introductory remarks
said the people are as hard TO fool as in
L.incon's time, were not deceived by the
yne-Aldrich tarif bill and are tired Of
continued disclosures about politians for
revenue only"
Mr. BOnaparte was first presented and
his address was an analysis of the meth
ods OF bosses and rings. q protest against
the methods OF both and plea for return
ing political power to the people. Regard
ing the political boss. ne said when the "old
man" is the whole thing in public life;
when what he says goes in legislation and
administration: when his smile makes and
his frown unmakes oUr legal rulers. it is
a matter OF detail whether he wears a
crown or a plug hat he is 1.-THE people"
The mass Of our citizens habitually
come 10 the polls not 10 choose their rul-
ers. but to record a preference between
nominees Of two usurping mOnOpolies," he
said
Mr. Bonaparte said the portioning out of
Offices by q leader cultivated absence Of
prejudice against tips, sugar and the
plugging corporations, and he declared
leaders have made their trade so danger
GUS odious and noisome that against it
every force that makes for righteousness
must be directed tomorrow as il should be
to-day"
Speech of Mr. Hotehkiss.
Superintendent Hotchkiss, who followed,
said:
IN a message which still reyeTberateS. the
Governor Of New York last night recon-
mended AN immediate. impartial, thorough
and unsparing investigation into legislative
practices and procedure. That same great
executive, a few DAYS ago made a speech,
already historical, in which the public de
mand for the uncovering OF the secret
places Of political power and Legislative
favor was voiced as IL was never before
by the chosen spokesman Of people.
Thus within a week. have two blows
been struck al a sysiem-ratheT. a system
within a system-of which New Workers
have become weary. and whose power is
now only a survival of other and unre-
generate DAYS. We may. then. well turn
aside tonight and consider what these
thin Es-the events OF 1910. following others
only less stirring IN the three preceding
yearS-mean. Executives OF great states DO
not speak thus without extreme prOvOca-
tion. In the olden times a ruler of men
might thus have crippled or destroyed
But New York's first citizen had a nobler
purpose. As J read that purpose II was not
merely that the present system OF party
management might be destroyed and some
thing better. more responsive 10 the wishes
OF the electorate established: that tight was
all but won. Nor was u that WrOngdolng
might be exposed and the penalty Of pop
ular condemnation decreed: that work was
pretty well done. Nor yet was IL that
statute OF limitations-mght be convicted
and punished In the long run sporadic
trials for political crimes and Nerolcts an
nounced years. or even months, after the
facts are known are far less valuable than
a few sharp headlines and terse recital
Of such facts in the daily press Nor Vet
was IL even that a great party might again
prove its capacity 10 purge itself OF evil
transcribed all questions a. TO our elec-
tOfal and primary machinery. II took small
account of men. big or little. u cast aside
partyism and political eKpediency. Instead
il boldly asked whether legislative proc
esSes at present arc not wrong. even 10 an
extent corrupted. and, so asking, directed
attention 10 recent events and the remeoies
In short. it demanded an investigation as
broad as IS legislative activity; an invesu-
cation Of legislative action by the Legs
iature: an investigation without sham, no
matter how much Of shame results
And II was time When that hopeful
combinatiOn-a lawyer who cannot law
fully reveal the secrets Of his client. and
lobbyist. skilled in the addition, division
and silence Of his trade-interyenes be
tween the COWa riice Of corporation ask
ing special privileges and the cupidity of
a laW-getter who has a vote. what hope
is there save in exposure. the lawyer Of his
shameful secrets and the lobbyist OF his
devious ways. until with the light shining
in. the people may know that the Legis-
'ature is again their Legislature and the
laws once more their laws,
Through what period have We been
passing Until recent wears. cOnSldcra
tiOns on the side seem TO have been smiled
at by the cynical-the boasts Of some Of
these in back room talks led toward sew
eral Of the disclosures I'm the inquiry now
closing. What an atmosphere was that Of
the Capitol City-said one witness. This
Is not a Sunday school. this Is Albany -
where graft has been subject for joking
and the distributors Of IL honoTed In song.
What a commentary on that ancient en-
acting clause The People OF the State OF
New York, represented in Senate and As
semby,' when strike bills Vie with hold
ups. and stories OF expense money and
envelopes that feel good" are passed
about with gUsto, but, until recently, With
oflf denial.