New-York tribune., 1910-01-28
WOULDCLEAN HOUSE
OPINIONS At ALB4NY.
Many Willing to Take Wood-
ruff at His Word.
rHy relegraph to The tribune. !

Albany, Jan. 21.-Senator J. Mayhew
Wainwright. of westchester. whose political
notions generally accord we'll with those
of William J.. Ward. National Committee
man. declared to-day thatwhatever house
cleaning in the Republican party was
necessary in this state should be handled
right at the state capital. At the same
time he invited Senator Elihu Root in effect
to take charge of this house-cleaning.
Discussing the condition of affairs within
the party at present, Senator Wainwright
alluded to the speech of Senator Root in
Washington urging the various elements
In the party to get together.
Any movement for the reha habilitation OF
the party must begin right here in New
York and rot in Washington said Senator
W ainwright. The measures necessary to
accomplish that result must be adopted
right here at the state capital. There are
men enough in the party now in touch with
the state service devoted to the public
interest and to their party success to find
a way out if they will but cooperate in
spirit Of conciliation and highminded en-
deaYor. Thore is little doubt that these
men can dominate the course of this so as
TO carry out the things needed for a
restoration Of such part of the public con
noence as may have been lost To these
senator Root
similar men devoted to the cause Of our
party would be very welcome at this
time
IL Is the opinion cf many others pron1i-
nent in political affairs that houseclean-
ing within the Republican organization is
III order Many of these men will not talk
FOR publication at this time but say frankly
mat II radical policy of reorga nization is
not carried ont. the voters at large will be
so olsgusted that they will desert the Re
publican standard, and undoubtedly turn
this state Democratic next autumn Such
political overthrow. they continue would
he very likely to aid materially in throw
ing the country to Democratic President
in 1872
WOULD TAKE HIM AT WORD.
Timothy /. Woodruff the other day in
washington announced that if the partv
wanted him to give up the chairmanship
of the state COMMITTEES he would cheerfully
respond TO that sentiment MANY regular
organization men who would resent being
dubbed reformers are inclined to take him
al ms word. They say that with Mr. Wood
run his friends. Lieutenant Governor White
senator lothian P. Aids and Ray r. Smith.
ousht also to retire. Certain Hughes men
VINO term themselves progressive Republi-
cans say emphaticaIly that nothing except
inc most radical housecleaning from the
inside can save the party from defeat.
Three specific counts are Included in a
general indictment against the existing con
troi of the party by syndicate headed bv
state Chairman Woodruff. which these pro-
testlng Republicans say has disgusted and
ahenated many voters, These are the al
most simultaneous disclosures of the con
nertjnO M lent
the remarkable case of the Peoples Mutual
Life Insurance Association and League Of
Syracuse. now under investigation nv a
grand Jury; the Conger charges against
senator Aids and the charges of lobbying
brought by Assemblynan Bennett against
Ray B. Smith, clerk of the Assembly
Political leaders lament that these occur
rences, regardless of the merits Of the case.
have been seized by a large proportion of
voters as emphasizing a prevalent notion of
corruption in political life and the ineyi-
table publicity attendant on them has re-
acted on the party to which these men hap
pen TO belong. II is no secret here thst the
New York state Republicans in Washing
ton' from Senator Root down. are serious
iy worried over the situation It also is no
secret that Frederick Greiner. of Buffalo.
strongly condemns the state chairman for
what he considers needless forcing of
himself into the Senate majority leader
ship fight, where his attitude brought about
the election Of Senator Aids against the
protests of many leaders
VIEWS OF POLITICIANS.
Other politicians of greater or less degree
say that State Chairman Woodruff probably
mas been merely extremely unfortunate In
MS alliances and political actions; that
Senator Aids, the Lieutenant Governor and
Mr.. Smith may emerge from the turmoil
into which they are now plunged with mn
sulled regulations but that will not repair
the harm already done to the Republican
partys reputation, unless there is some stem
taken now to show that the party organiza-
ton desires to be above suspicion.
so. while there is not at present apyt,tns
which might be termed a movement to force
the retirement Of the state chairman and
MS IrlenoS. and perhaps two or three others
Of the so-called old machine leaders - thers
Is strong and growing desire that Mr..
Woodruff step aside and permit reorssni
cation of the party.
Senator Root advises all elements In tha
party TO get together and work in har-
mony III the coming campaign" commented
one prominent Republican tonight How
can We VINO are striving for proper stand
carry out the Hughes reform policies unita
with men who are fighting these things
and nov lie under charges which certain
portions of the public never will believe
disproved? So far as the prominent Re-
publicans in my part of the state are CON
cerned, there can be no union while men Of
this type remain in the party organization.
senator Aids may be innocent Of the Con-
ger charges; Lieutenant Governor White
may be eXonerated Of any improper part IN
that insurance casa. Ray Smith NAV
emerge with a clean bill of health, but the
public will be dissatisfied Just the same.
woodruff may have acted merely the mart
of disnterested friend III all his associa
ton with these men and of high minded
leader in his opposition to Governor Hughes
and certain Of the Governors reforms. Bur
the public in my county seems disposed to
hold him TO account for mighty bad man
agement, and leaders of my acquaintance
there and in neighhoring counties think he
ought to retire and take some of his ssso
ciates with him
THINKS THINGS PRETTY BAD
Another Republican. a co-leader and q
man of much sagacity, said Things are
pretty bad, undeniably I am plugging
along, trying to do what ! conceive to be
my duty day by day. I have no more re-
Hrxfrn 4.