New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-09
Republican Chairman Says
He'll Not Use Office to
Direct Legislation.
ASSERTS FUNCTION Is
THAT OF GOVERNOR
Wadsworth Criticises u. ). war
Attitude and Handling of
Mexican Affair.


fourth annual dinner of the New YORK
Young Republican Club at the Hotel
Astor last night. made it clear that ne
would not use the power of his ONCE
as chairman of the Republican State
Committee to influence legislation at
Albany. The two hundred members
and guests Of the club present received
the state chairman's ultimatum with
approval
The other speakers were James W.
Wadsworth. United States Senator
elect; Henry l.. Stimson, Edward A.
Tburston. chairman of the Republican
State Committee Of Massachusetts;
William f. Gorcelon, president OF the
Massachusetts Republican Club, OF
Boston; Judge Jerome p. COug Teton, OF
Newark. and Philip j. McCook, presi-
dent of the club. who was POSTMASTER
Mr.. Tanner said, in part:
cit has become quite evident 10 me
the last few weeks that large NUMBER
Of people still think that the state
chairman should exert the power OF
his position TO compel or prevent reg
islation. | have on my desk more than
twoscore proposed bills or legislative
schemes, most of them presented 10
me bv persons interested in reform and
civic movements, with the request TO
get behind this or that measure.
During the last Year there has been
a marked return to clear poiitlcsl
thinking. This is a good time, right at
the beginning of the legislative ses
sion, TO have our attention Drougnt
back TO first principles. Inc kepuo-
lican party has stood hrmly lot the
idea Of maintaining distinct branches
of government Legislative, executive
and judicial with clear lines OF de-
marcation. The function OF the state
chairman is separate from these ana
nothing in the law gives MN power
over them.
at is true that there have been at
tennis to exert such power, but they
have been wrong in principle and gen
orally disastrous in practice. am
we'll aware that many people thlnK
that Capitalization Of the legislative
power in the organization tends 70
build up the organization. That may
be true temporarily. but after that CEN
tralization begins to destroy.
THE demand that the Republican
chairman should direct legislation has
steadily decreased. and his power has
been exercised less and less IN that
direction. To-day the best political
intelligence in the state places the re-
sponsibiity for the passing OF laws
and their execution where 1t belongs
that il. upon the Governor and the
Legislature. .
what have outlined does not mean
that 7 have not and will not consult
and advise with the Governor or other
state officials. No intelligent man
could expect the state chairman, or any
other person, to give up his rights as
a citizen. Ii would not be rational 10
ask him to remain silent on a SUBJECT
in which he might be interested LOT
the simple reason that he is state
chairman. To advise and consult IS one
matter. attempting to drive Legislation
through by means OF patronage or the
party whip is quite another.
"To those who have urged with con-
siderable insistence that ! take an ac-
tive part in legislation | wish TO say
that / do not think that the prinelple
of such participation by the state CHAIR
man is sound, nor is there necessity
for such action. The Republican Leg
islature can direct its own atalrs. II
il is as incompetent TO perform its
functions as was the preceding Legs
lature there would be small Justlhca-
ton. from the point of view or the
public interest, for the sweeping change
in the Legislature brought about IN inc
last election. The Republican party
has been and is the party OF inteIll-
qence. | have confidence in IT, nave
confidence in its ability to frame prop
or legislation, making for the highest
welfare of the state and the Creates
prosperity of its people.
President McCook reviewed the
activities of the Young Republican
Club during the last campaign and
Maid HIGH tribute TO State Chairman
Tanner The club now has more than
four hundred active members. Mr..
McCook read congratulatory kilograms
from Governor Whitman, Representa-
tive James r. Mann and Thaddeus H.
Sweet. Speaker of the Assembly. Char
man Tanner. SenatOr-elect Wadsworth
and Mr.. Stimson commended the nigh
lv efficient work Of the club at the
last election, particularly in reference
70 the MONDAY meetings IN Union
Square.
Mr.. Wadsworth criticised the war
policy of the national administration.
Particularly that relating TO Mexico.
He said that our relations with the
warning nations of Europe were fairly
satisfactory, and probably would re-
main so as long as sensible poilcy
was pursued.
Former Secretary Of War Stimson
called attention 70 the great responsi-
bilitv resting upon the Republican
marty at the coming state Constitu-
tional Convention. He said that the
most grave mistakes of the state gov
crnments in recent years lay in the
failure TO locate definite responsibility
for definite acts on definite indi-
yiduals. and that the most important
work Of the Constitutional Convention
would be 10 provide for the location
Of definite responsibility in the state
government.
State Chairman Tkurston. Of Massa-
Chusetts. created a laugh By saying
that his state had also suffered IN the
"late rebellion" and could sympathize
with New York. The last election had
practically righted the situatior, 49,
said in giving Massachusetts, a COM
piete Republican government, with the
exception of the Governor, and that
the state stood ready TO join New York
in the great constructive work which
lay before the Republican party
throughout the nation. Mr.. Thurston
spoke in place of Lieutenant Governor
Grafton d. Cushing, who was unable TO
be present.
In the course Of Mr.. Tanners re-
marks he referred to the coming cleo
ton of officers OF the Young Repub-
lican Club on Monday and congratulate
ed the club on nominating Robert McC.
Marsh as its next president.
Others at the speakers table were
Charles ID. Hilles. chairman of the Re
publican National Committee; Samuel