New-York tribune., 1912-02-17
nemocratiC State Committee
Proves His Tool, Only One
Member Daring to Oppose
His Programme.
PALMER SUCCEEDS MACK
Tammany Boss Obtains Election
of Schoharie Man as Chair
man, and Convention Will
Be Held in New York
City in April.

pnles adopted by the Democratic state
Committee at a meeting at the Hotter
Knickerbocker. in this city, yesterday
,Ju make absolutely sure the control pE
charles =. Murphy, the Tammany boss
~ the ninety district delegates from TINS
state to the Democratic National con-
ycntion at Baltimore.
Murphy clearly demonstrated what
,oo, he has in the state committee, not
only by putting through these rules
against the objection of only one mem
her but also by obtaining the election OF
caoree NJ. Palmer, of Schoharle, as
chairman Of the committee to succeed
Norman F. Mack. It was decided TO
hold the spring convention for the cleo
tion Of delegates TO the national conVen-
tion in this city on Thursday. April IL
This will be another factor in enabling
Murphy to do as he pleases in the con-
ventiOn.
Convention to Name Delegates
The rule which will give Murphy power
over the states delegation to the ma
tional convention provides that all deie-
gates to that convention shall be elected
nv the delegates to the state convention.
In other words, it means that Murphy
can have nominated before the conVen-
tion as delegates from each Congress
district men whom he can control. Oth-
ers may De nominated, but as Murphy
will control the state conventlon-no one
doubts that-the convention will elect
the Murphy delegates in spite of the pro-
tests Of any one who may nave ihue-
pondent inclinations in any Of the varl-
Gus Congress districts.
The meeting of the committee was
held in four sessions; two were open anu
two were in secret. Called 10 meet al
room. II was after l o'clock before Muir
nbv and his allies in an upper room in
the hotel had mapped out their plan OF
campaign. AS soon as the committee
was called to order William H. Fitzpat-
rick of Buffalo, offered the resolution
naming tie place and date OF the spring
convention. 1t was carried without OPP
,osition and then Daniel Sheehan, Of
Elnira. moved that the committee go
into executive session
In this session it was DECIDED 10
name committee of fifteen to draw up
rules for the conduct of the organlEd-
,ion under the new direct primary law
Senator T. Harvey Ferris. OF Uuca'
nrasent ON a proxy from William Town
send. was made chairman OF the COM
rnittee. as he was one of the authors oI
the direct primary law Adjournment
was taken until o'clock TO give the
committee time TO draw up the rules.
They went into secret session in room
unstairs. and it was 6 o'clock before they
returned and made their report at an
other secret session of the committee.
Senator Ferris read the rules, long
and largely technical document rapidly
When he had finished Chairman Mack
was about to put the motion for their
adoption. when up jumped Charles f.
Rattigan. of Auburn. Mr.. Rattigan is
friend of Thomas Mott Osborne, the
leader of Cayuga County and the bitter
foe Of Tammany Hall. He had dis
cerned a Joker and he wanted 10 know
about II.
Denounees Steam Roller Tactics.
"Do I understand" said Mr.. Rattigan,
that you propose to have the dele
gates to the national convention elected
BY the state convention as whole?'
Senator Ferris acknowledged that there
was such a paragraph in the rules.
do / understand then" added Mr..
Rattigan, that we are to have repeti-
ran of the disgraceful steam roller tao
tlcs of the Infamous Carnegie Hall con-
vention of few years ago?"
Assembyman Thomas F. Foley, also
present on a proxy, said that it had al
ways been the custom Of the Democratic
state conventions to elect the delegates
t. the national convention. Mr. Rattigan
said at that time the organization was a
law unto itself, and whereas IT nomi-
nally passed on all delegates they were
really chosen by the delegates 10 the
convention from each Congress district
The convention, he said, had never dared
10 override the choice Of these Congress
district groups merely ratifying such
N'+oiNcs ANOH, ne Sdlu, li4C tiiINb biA7
mary law governed. and the rules had to
be formed in accordance with that law.
He believed il impossible under the law
to select delegates by vote Of the en-
tire state convention.
Both Senator Ferris and Assemblyman
Foley talked at length on the law, ex-
planning that it gave the organization
rower to provide by rule for the selec-
ton OF delegates to the national conven-
ton III one Of two ways, either by vote
OF the state convention or by direct vote
OF the people at the primaries.
Then Mr. Rattigan offered an amend
ment to the rule providing that the ma
tonal delegates be elected at the pri-
maries This suggestion was promptly
voted down. Mr. Rattigan's being the
only vote for it.
Not daunted by the fact that ne was
al alone in his fight. Mr.. Rattigan then
moved an amendment providing that the
delegates be first selected by the Con-
gress district groups and be offered 70
Inc convention simply for approval. he
was told that this could not be done
under the law, and his amendment was
ruled out Of order All that was left Tor
MIN to do was 10 vote against the rules
and Mr.. Rattigan registered a solitary
vote agairst them.