New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-15
Governor Rejects Murphy'S Bill
for Special Election to
Decide on COnStltu-
tiOnaI Convention.
TIME ALLOWED TOO SHORT
General Satisfaction Expressed
by All Outside of "the Organi-
zation'-Advocates of Fu-
sion in This City Great
ly Encouraged.
lBy Telegraph to The Tribune. J


Albany, May 't.-Governor Sulzer
vetoed to-day the McClelland bill pro-
viding for a special election on June 3
10 decide whether there shall be con-
stltutional convention. This bill was
attacked by Republicans and Progress
sives in the Legislature as a Tammany
attempt to confuse the fusion move
ment in New York City. II was sought
by Charles F.. Murphy, and its disap-
proval is another indication of the war
between the Governor and Tammany
Woman suffragists also opposed the
measure. telling the Governor it would
force them 10 make another campaign
for suffrage among the delegates who
would have to be elected to the con-
vention next fall.
Governor Sulzer takes the attitude
that the time is too short between now
and June for preparing Tor the special
election. and that il will cause an un-
necessary expense of $l.0000OO. He
says the pledge of the Democratic party
can still be strictly fulfilled by holding
the convention in April, 1919.
The state constitutional issues" said
Governor Sulzer should be clearly
stated and fully discussed by the
people before the selection Of their DEL
egates TO this constitutional conven-
ton, and for the purpose Of such dis
cussion and consideration of these vital
matters ] feel convinced that the ma
that the time between now and the
election cannot be considered suf-
ficient.
"In my judgment ii is highly i'm
portant that before the selection OF
their delegates to new constitutional
convention the citizens clearly under
stand and comprehend the fundamental
changes they desire their representa-
tives to make in the organic law of the
state"
General satisfaction was expressed
here last night over the veto by Gov
ernor Sulzer of the bill providing for
a referendum i'm June on the ques-
ton of eectng delegates To a consti-
tional convention next fall That Is TO
say. the satisfaction was general OUT
side Of Charles f. Murphy and his fol-
lovers who framed the bill What cer
tain members OF Tammany Hall had 10
say about the Governor was not fit for
publication.
There was a feeling that the bill was
passed by the Tammany Legislature
expressly to confuse the political situa-
ton in this city next fall. Advocates
of fusion expressed the hope that all
the anti-Tammany forces would get to-
gether on a municipal ticket i'm oppo-
sition to that which will be picked by
Mr. Murphy. 1t had been feared by
some that as there were differences of
opinion between the Progressivcs and
the Republicans on proposed changes
in the constitution, campaign FOR
delegates To a constitutional conven-
ton would divide the anti-Tammany
forces.
Among those who opposed the bill
were the New York Young Republican
Club, of which Philip j. McCook is
president: the Progressive state Com
mittee and the Citizens Municipal Con-
ference, organized to select an anti
Tammany municipal ticket. 1t was
pointed out that in addition to cost
ing the state about Sl,O00,OU for the
extra election. the Tammany scheme
would have injected confusing issue
into the campaign.
William II. Hotchkiss, representing
the fusion committee, frankly called on
the Governor TO veto the bill that he
might strike a blow at Charles F. Muir
ply through the medium of a success
full fusion campaign.