New-York tribune., 1916-07-18
NEW YORK MOOSE
TO BACK HUGHES
But State Committee Is EX.
pected to Ignore Gov
ernOr Whitman.

The Progressive State Committee at
its meeting in Syracuse on Saturday
will indorse Mr.. Hughes, but will ig,
more Governor Whitman, according to
present indications. The Perkins men
claimed last night TO have ninety OF
the $50 votes in the committee lined
up for the Republican candidate for
President. They were hazy as 20 their
strength to bring about an indorse-
ment of Governor Whitman and his
administration. however and they ex-
pressed their belief that the meeting
would ignore state issues.
An effort will be made TO bring about
an Endorsement Of Justice Seabury as
the Progressive candidate for Gov
ernor. The Perkins men hope to be
able to table any resolution OF this
kind. and go home without taking any
action on the Governorship. They are
not so sure that they can accomplish
this, as the Seabury element in the
committee is very strong.
Governor Whitman had confer
ence with George W. Perkins yester-
day. but would not discuss it. Friends
of the Governor said he expected TO
receive the votes of most of the Pro-
gressives on Election Day, but did not
expect the Endorsement of the Progress
sives as an organization. The Gov
ernor it was said, believed that his ad-
ministration would appeal TO the rank
and file of the Moose.
Fight Over Seabury.
According to some Of the prominent
anti-Perkins Progressives OF this city,
il the state committee indorses Justice
Seabury he will at once resign from
/ the bench and get right into the fight.
/ The fight for this Endorsement and to
prevent the Endorsement Of Mr.. Hughes
! will be led by Bainbridge Colby and
/ Mr.. O'Connell. The latter declared
Yesterday that the figures of the Per-
kins men were astray, and that the
Hughes hackers had a surprise In store
for them at Syracuse.
A clever coup planned by the Perk-
ms men on the State Committee for
its meeting was spoiled by Mr.. O'Con-
nell last night. He sent out call
for a special election on Thursday TO
fiji vacancies on the state committee.
caused by the new reapportionment IN
this county. and as result OF TINS
move he will be able to 90 to the
Syracuse meeting with lot OF proxies
that will stand the acid test.
Under an amendment to the cleo
ton law passed last winter. when two
or more state committeeman are
/ thrown into a district by a reappor-
tionment their places are declared va
cant and a new committeeman from
the district must be elected by the
members of the county committee
therein after three days notice from
the county chairman.
O'Connell Was Posted.
Walter Johnson. chairman OF the
Progressive State Committee and
other Perkins supporters on the com
mittee, knew about this provision, but
they did not think that Mr.. O'Connell
and the anti-Perkins Progressives here
were as well posted. Consequently
thew figured that Mr.. O'Connell would
GO "a the meeting armed with proX-
les Of committeeman who had not been
chosen under the new provisions of
tho election law. The Perkins men
planned TO inform Mr.. O'Connell of
this fact Mt the meeting and gently but
firmly decline to let him vote his prox-
les on the ground that they were
Illegal.
Under the new reapportionment act
New York County's representation Of
state committeeman was reduced from
thirty-one to twenty-three, and com
mitteemen were doubled up in nine OF
the districts. II Mr.. O'Connell had not
called the special election he would
have found himself with only fourteen
valid proxies. instead of practically all
from this county. which he expects 20
have when he gets to Syracuse.