New Britain herald., 1914-08-27
MURPHY PICKS GERARD
 FOR J. s. SENATOR
Isnlmany's Finger Directs D(me-
 cratic Platform Conference.

saratoga, Aug. 27.-Iammany Kept pretty we'll in the background at the democratic statewide conference that ended last night after three formal sessions yesterday. However, Charles F. Murphy was able to take some of the starch out of the plank on executive reform through the pro- test of Representative John J. Fitz- gerald, of Kings county, in open ses- sion.
 Now Murphy will go back to New York and determine the slate for state offices he wishes his followers to support. The tip last night was that he has decided on Ambassador James ! w. Gerard for United States senator. It has been impossible to get any 1 word from MT. Gerard in Berlin, at his friends have said that "Barkis is willin''' and it is said that nomi- hating petitions will be started at ] once Although many of his best friends acknowledge that Governor Glynn will be weak candidate for reelection, the organization is In no position to turn him down. Slate Can Wait.
 As for the remainder of the slate, 1t walt. NO HlHuIdlCc WILL OC placed on anybody getting into the race for the nominations. Care will be taken, however, to see that the organization choice files his petition, and the tip will be passed around on the organization slate.
 William F. McCombs chairman of the national committee, and Will liam M Osborn, chairman of the state committee, both expressed themselves as highly pleased with the conference, which, like the republican convention, confined itself to the adoption of platform and the selec.' tion of a ticket of candidates for the fifteen places as delegates -at-large to the constitutional convention.
 Wants Politics in Open.
 One of the features of the confer. ence was a red-hot speech by MT. McCombs, in which, although not by name, he rapped John A. Hennessy and Franklin D. Roosevelt for their assertions that they have the support of the federal administration.
 'The direct primary law he said, lis contrary in spirit to the use of any oppressive power which may be exercised by those holding politi cal office or leadership. There arc allegations in some quarters which would seem to indicate an attempt to control the primaries, the subtle ale. gation being made that persons men, tioned for nomination have this or that influence in support of their can- didacies
 "This is not the time for political intrigues or backstairs conspiracies,' he continued ""This is time for con- structive democratic politics in the open and in the clear. As chairman of the national committee, let me say that, without seeking political pre- ferments I shall always be at the service of democrats"
 These are the names of the f1f- teen men suggested as delegates-at- large and for whom petitions will be prepared by the special committed which picked them
 Judge Edgar M. Cullen, of New York county; former Governor John A Dix, of Washington; Judge D. Cady Herrick, of Albany; William F. Me- Combs. of New York; William Church Osborn, of Putnam; Martin w. Littleton, of Nassau; Michael F. McGodriclk, of Kings; Samuel Un- termyer of New York; Herman Rid der of New York; James M. Lynch, State Commissioner of Labor, of Onondaga; Robert R. Van Cortland of Westchester; Judge Morgan J. O,Brien, of New York; Thomas B. Lockwood of Erie; Senator John F. Murtagh, of Chemung, and former Senator Harvey T. Fleming of Oneida.
 Murphy Receives Reports.
 This list was picked by a committee appointed by Chairman Osborn, over which Murphy had no control. It was headed by Charles E. Treman, of Ithaca. Murphy did not know where the committee was meeting, but he sat on the piazza rail and received re- lorts of the progress of the body from Lieutenant Governor Robert G. Wagner, who represented him.
 Both Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch, of the Woman's Political union, and Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, of the Empire State campaign committee, expressed themselves as much pleased,