The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-13
TAFTAT CONFERENCE
Reorganization in New York
Principal Subject.
BRIBERY CASE CLAIMS NOTICE
Question of General HOusecleauinE
at Albany Discussed by Repubii-
Take sides in Factions
In Sfate-NO Plan OuiIin

New York. Feb 12.-Si
Hughes, Senator Depew. SpvaAvr "aus-
worth, State Chairman Woodruff, County
Chairman Griscom. and Otto T. Barnard
discussed with President Taft at Mr..
Griscom's house to-day the condition Of
the Republican party in this State, and
principally, so far as could be learned
discussed the desirability of reorganiza-
ton and the question whether It would be
better TO uncover now other cases Of
bribery which the Aids case threatens to
bring to the surface at Albany and have
a general housecleaning, or just 70 limit
the inquiry now opened to the Aids case.
President Taft, according to all ac-
counts. did not commit himself 10 an
opinion. Gov. Hughes and those who
supported him. are understood to believe
that II the legislature widened the scope
of its inquiry similar cases would be un-
covered.
Party Reorganization Urged.
II was learned that Gov. Hughes. Mr
Griscom. and MIR. Barnard urged re-
organization OF the party in the State
while Senator Depew, Mr.. Woodruff, and
Speaker Wadsworth held that even II
Senator Aids should be- found guilty Of
accepting q bribe, his case could not be
construed as typical. and that It would
be unfair 10 draw an inference that Re
publican members Of the legislature were
in the habit of taking money for their
votes
In reply. it is understood, the conferess
who took Gov. Hughes side contended
the party in the State was in a bad way,
and that the best way to meet the situa-
tion would be 20 come out openly and ad-
vocate a reorganization, just as the Dem
ocratie state League is doing to the Dem
cratic party.
Objection vas made TO this suggestion,
and Mr., Taft, taking neither side. the
conference was evenly divided From
what could be learned, it was left TO Mr..
Taft to say which of the two policies ad-
vocated should be adopted. 1t was ex-
planned for him that he was at the con-
ference more as Il listener than as an
arbitrator. and that as President Of the
whole country he did not conceive that It
was fair to ask him to take sides in what
he thought was to large extent a fac
tional dispute in the State. His position
was described as being that while he
would be willing to give such advice as
might be asked Of him to bring solidarity
in the party Of the State, it could not be
expected that he would do anything which
might be construed as taking an active
interest in Republican politics here.
GriscOm Does Talking.
At the close of the conference Mr..
Griscom was asked by President Taft and
Gov Hughes TO give out whatever news
he thought was Of public interest.
What particular line did that talk
follow?" Mr.. Grtscom was asked.
1t had a great deal to do with the
legal aspect Of the Aids trial In Albany
by the legislature" Mr.. Grlscom replied.
In answer to a further question as to
what the legal aspects of the case were.
Mr.. Griscom thought that probably they
conceived the right of the legislature TO
so further into the Investigation than
the single case Of Senator Aids.
You don't wish to give out the i'm
preston" the reporters suggested to Mr.,
Griscom, that president Taft, Gov.
Hughes, Speaker Wadsworth and the
others who were upstairs at that two
hour conference talked OF nothing but
the legal side of the Aids investigation" ?"
NO, perhaps / ought not to do that"
fNrfG ~
fact, there was great deal Of discussion