The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-04-10
TEMPORARY SESSION COLD.
speech Of DR.. Butler Only Feature Of Con
ventiOn's First Meeting.

ROCHESTER. April 9.-There was only
one feature to the first session OF tho
Republican State convention, which as
sembled at noon to-day in convention hall.
which il the old armory It was the
speech of Nicholas Murray Butler. presi-
dent Of Columbia University. as tempo
rsry chairman.
The preliminar les OF the first session
had been conducted by William Barnes.
committee. and Lafayette b. Gleason,
secretary Of the committee. All Of the
LOIS delegates and alternates were in
their seats and many women were in the
galleries.
|, was mighty cold convention. though.
that ascended as the delegates took their
seats were for ex-senator Chauncey NJ.
Depew. There was a handicap or two
for William l.. Ward. Republican ma
tional committeeman; Francis Hendricks.
George W. Aldridge and Samuel s. Koenig;
but other wise there wasn't ripple.
The various committees were appointed
and then came DR.. Buffers speech His
attacks on Col. Roosevelt and Woodrow
Wilson were perfectly well understo ood
and were received with applause and
laughter. Especially were Dir. Buffers
references to the patent medicine men
in politics enjoyed. IL must be stated
though to keep the record straight
, that DIR. Buffers speech came in for
pronounced criticism. which was about
equally divided between the Taft men
and the adherents Of Col. Roosevelt
without regard to geographical secti ons
OF the State.
RESULTS MAY BE- UNHAPPY.
All spoke of its mastery rhetoric and
OF its schOlarly arrangement. but the
critics among the delegates felt that il wat
destined TO result in unhappy conclusions
later. say on election day. II may b.
stated that Otto Barnard OF New Yorl
city. a personal friend Of President Taf,
and an intimate of DIR. Butler, was one OF
the foremost critics of the speech.
! The main criticism of DR.. Buffers
speech was that IA temporary chairman
Of Republican State convention anC
acting in an official capacity he resortec
to utterances which may be resented by
the Roosevelt voters in the State. Tn,
point Of the criticisms was that II may b,
all very well for Republican newspapers
to attack Col Roosevelt. and it may b,
all very suitable for Republican orator
on the stump to attack the ex- President
but that DR.. Buffers speech as temporary
chairman Of Republican State conven
tion will be interpreted to mean the officia
utterances Of State organization.
The Roosevelt adherents were cross
over the speech. while many friends o
President Taft wished that DR.. Butler hat
not been 80 pointed in his references (,
the ex-President
DIR. BuTLER's ADDRESS.
DR.. Butler said in part
Since March 4, 1897. Republican poll
cies and convictions have been repre-
sented and voiced In the highest execu
tive ONCE under our Government. w
are to ask for renewal OF popular con
fdence and support, We are to poin
not only to what has been accomplis shed
but to what we propose to do II entruste,
for a still longer period with the exccu
tive control OF the Government OF tn
United States.
What criticism is made Of the Re
publican administration of the nation dur
Ing the past sixteen years. There Il
first. the honest and fair criticism O
our opponents from whom we differ Il
many matters OF fundamental politica
policy, which criticism we expect TO NEE
and to answer before the people whc
the issue IL Joined.
Second. there is criticism Of a new an
unusual kind. II comes from an Gle
ment which. however numerous. is Ger
tanly In fun possession of It's power
of speech, and which IL found in pal
within the ranks OF our own party an
IN part within the ranks Of the Demo
cratic party. II includes the whole G
tho Socialist party. as well as som
or those whose mental condition Is on
IT such blissful elevation that they car
not find any political association quit
satisfactory TO them.
These critics tell us that we are bs
nina the times that we are. In III
significant language OF the gaming tai
stand patters' that we have lost touc
, with the march of progress; that We a,
out of sympathy with the satisfactio
OF the deepest human needs and with th
alienation OF human suffering, that v
/ put property rights above human rights
! and that some means-vtolent n possib