New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-11
New York Republicans Adopt
a Conservative Platform
Strongly Urging PreSl-
dents denomination.
DELEGATES ALMOST A UNIT
Controller Prendergast Makes
Only Speech in Opposition,
and Resolutions Are
Adopted Without
a Rollcall.
nv releeraph to The Tribune. J


Roosevelt men voting in opposition, the
organization programme for the real
,,,oirees of the spring Republican state
Convention went through to-day wheh
tho denomination Of President Tart was
urged and four delegates-at-large TO the
Chicago convention were elected. A
conservative platform, including the
rlank urging the denomination OF Presl-
dent Taft. was adopted. 1t was adopted
however. by viva voce vote, Whlch
gave 10 chance for lineup TO deter
mine the positive strength of the Roose-
yelt men. and did not put on record any
pnstate Republicans who were not will
ing TO vote for anything which could be
construed as Taft instructions.
The Taft Presidential plank found an
opponent in City Controller William A.
Prendergast of New York, who made a
vigorous speech against the platform
and declared that President Taft could
not he reelected. His was the only
speech made in opposition TO the plat
form.
United States Senator Elihu Root one
Of the big four" selected TO go to Chi
cago. was the chief champion of the
platform. and delivered a speech. in
which he made a vigorous defence of the
American judicial system and sharp
attack on the recall of judges.
That the declaration Of eternal prin-
ciples set up by the people for their guild
snce is a covenant between arbitrary
and overwhelming power and the weak
ness Of individuals was the Senator's as
sertion 70 tell a judge that if he makes
an unpopular decision he will be recalled
makes a coward of him, he declared.
The perpetuity of the judicial system Of
restraint upon the people makes pos
sible the continuance of the country'S
free institutions.
The days session was given over en-
tirely to speeches on the platform made
by Senator Root, James w Wadsworth,
former Speaker of the Assembly; Mr..
Prendergast and Job Hedges, of New
York After the vote on the platform
large and their alternates the convention
adjourned, and most of the delegates de-
parted for their homes on afternoon
trains.
Chairman Barnes's Statement.
State Chairman William Barnes, jr.,
tonight authorized this statement:
There should be no mistake in the minds
OF Republicans and OF the electorate as a
whole as 10 the meaning Of the convention
which adjourned to-day.
IL was an earnest, sober appeal 10 the
electorate that it's will should be expressed
through mental conference and delberative
judgment rather than through histrionic
and ambitious declaration.
The platform endeavored TO show the con-
slstency and continuity of the develop
ment of American IDEAS and their formu-
letion into law In an orderly rather than a
diSOrderly manner The achievements OF
the Republican party have all been won
through sobriety and an appeal to reason
tather than to prejudice That party would
be false 10 its entire internal quality and
must change its physiognomy IL II offers
TO the people vain hopes and dreams in
stead Of substance.
No one disagrees with the fact that from
DAY TO day and year to year Improvement
In political conditions and i'm the admins
rauon Of public affairs should be made,
but where our opponents differ from us Is
In the method. The convention which ad-
iourned believed that under our form OF
government great results have come and
that that structure is amply able to fulhl
whatever demand may be made upon H.
The convention itself reflected the char
ecter Of the platform in the dignity OF its
proceedings and the deliberation which
characterized each successive act that IT
performed.
Prendereast Makes Protest.
Controller Prendergast entered em-
phatic protest against the programme in
speech which brought out a roar OF
cheers and jeers from beginning to end.
He took Senator Root DR.. Butler, ex-
Speaker Wadsworth and Chairman
Barnes to task for the stand-pat plat
form and speeches upholding it. He in
sisted Senator Root was wrong when he
declared the recall would make towards
Of judges
1t would make a coward Of no man
who wasn't a coward in the first place"
declared Mr. Prendergast You might
just as well say you'd make coward Of
a soldier by ordering him to the front"
critieises Dr.. Butler.
Mr.. Prendergast criticised DR.. Butler
for references in his speech yesterday to
political patent medicine men, exclaim-
ing:
protest. as Republican, against the
dna,ho en VINO ior seven years presided over the
uesumes of this country. with 4 record Of
,Ilendld administration with splendid
H,icsIN NS,neh,s belng headiined as a p0-
nsica patent medicine man. You know The
Nlld y medicine he. as President. pre-
s.ibcd Tor this country. This kind of.at-
tack is not fair. '''
1oo hedges denied later that the no
htical patent medicine men" pbrase of
~, butler was intended to apply %
Colonel Roosevelt. He said Il was meant
Tor Dr Woodrow Wilson. Whereat the
convention roared.
Mr.. Prendergast was even less aentIa
with Mr.. Wadsworth, who had spoken
al great length. attacking direct leglsla-
uon and the recall as retrogressiye steps
IN the political journey leading AWAY
rom representative government He
said
representative government liz a bogie
With Brother Wadswortb. Hes afraiJ ~
greet legislation and the recall We'll. he'll
bfOaden out one % these days He'll bnvs
TO- to be elected Governor.
Mr. Prendergasts speech was the feat
ure of the days session. Before he
spoke tho platform had been read by Mr..
Barnes, with nothing more than a rou-
Tine expression Of approval. Senator
Roots earnestness in speaking on the
judicial recall had Interested. the dele