New-York tribune., 1913-05-20
Governors First Plea to the
People to Support State
Wide Primary Fails to
Stir Up Enthusiasm.
MACHINE MEN STAND FIRM
Leaders Declare They Are Net
Worrying, and Sulzer Sup
porters in Tonawanda Are
Offended When He Re-
fuses to Talk to Them.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

EF Ielegrapn 10 Inc tribune
Buffalo, May 19.-Governor Sulzer
made his first appeal to the people to-
night for the passage Of statewide
direct primary bill at the extra session
Of the Legislature. In the stage set
ting were a band, red fire and an audi
ence OF 1900 persons. who for a short
time gave the Governor a respectful.
even a cordial, hearing.
With that the Governor had to be
content. The band, the red fire, even
the audience, were not for him. They
were there for the opening night of the
new Broadway Auditorium. formerly
known rs Convention Hall, which IS
being dedicated with a week of carni-
val. The Governor was simply an add
ed attraction on the first night, when
the place was turned over 10y the COM
mittee which had arranged the affair.
And IL must be recorded that that COM
mittee was pretty sore" because the
Governor chose to make his speech on
a political bject. though the commit
tee decided 10 pocket its wrath rather
than make formal protest against
the direct primary address.
The building was the same one in
which Governor Hughes made direct
primary speeches when he was trying
to pass the Hinman-G Green bill At no
time was Governor Suffers audience as
large as the one which jammed the
hall the last time Governor Hughes
spoke there. Five minutes after the
Governor began speaking his auditors
began 10 ESCAPE. BY the time he had
finished the galleries were only half
full. and there were big patches of
vacant seats on the main floor
Governor Sulzer got considerable ap-
pause. Never was it by any means
enthusiastic. As soon as he finished
speaking those who had remained
scrambled from their seats and left
There was no repetition Of the per
functory cheering which had greeted
the Governor when he began.
Later in the evening Governor Sulzer
spoke at two other meetings, one at
Dom Polski, in the East Side Polish
district Of the city. and the second at
ElmwOod Hall. q suburban residential
district. He had fairly large but rather
mresponsive audiences at each meet
ing.
Fails to Make Converts.
The Governors trip here has not
changed the attitude OF the old line
politicians. who opposed his bill be-
fore he came. 1t has awakened inter
est. but the local wiseacres say ii is
purely passing and has not measured
up to enthusiasm. 1t is asserted that
his Democratic support in the direct
primary campaign. at least that part
Of it which comes from men recognized
as posse ~ any particular political
Importance. Ina been purely job-get-
ting enterprise.
William J. COnners, formerly the
Democratic state chairman. and Hen
ry =. Burgard, a Democratic state
Committeeman, are the head of mi
nority faction here which is trying to
overthrow William II. Fitzpatrick, the
chief upstate lieutenant of Murphy
Of Tammany. Burgard and Conners
served notice on Governor SulZer to-
day that they must have all the jobs
which Fitzpatrick men now hold, and
must have them al once. If, they con-
Continued on fifth page. third column.