New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-05
Whitman to Stump
For New Food Bill
fstah Correspondeneel

ALBANY, Aug. 4.-The situation in
regard TO state food control reached a
point to-day where it appeared the old
lighting alignment between Governor
Whitman and the Old Guard in the
Legislature would be reestablished.
Charges and counter charges of play
ing politics are passing from one side
to the other. Before leaving the Capt.
toll for the week end the Governor
started the offensive. He was In a
militant mood.
1--WE are goirg to put through my
BILL" he said emphatically, land am
going to name the three members OF
the State Food Commission"
Having slept over the bill introduced
by the joint war committee OF the
Legislature, after a careful study OF
the measure with his counsel last night,
the Governor to-day was even stronger
in his denunciation Of it as highly IN.
adequate" and 'inane." He declared
that there was little possibility of the
proposed bill being amended in any
way that would render it satisfactory.
The issue will reach an acute stage
when the Governor introduces his own
bill in the Legislature Wednesday
night.
A vigorous publicity campaign for
the Governors bill will be started early
this week in New York City and up
state. The Executive himself will start
upstate Wednesday to explain to the
farmers his ideas of real state food
control and show them that his bill is
in the interests of the producer as well
as the consumer. He will make his
first speech at Sodus and probably
speak in Chautauqua Saturday.
II is understood that Mr.. Whitman
and Herbert G.. Hoover had agreed upon
the members of the Food Commission
before the Legislature anticipated any
appointments the Governor might
make. The Governor will probably in
sist upon having these men, salts
factory to Mr.. Hoover, upon the COM
mission. George W. Perkins was one
of them, but as the Governor has prom
ised Mayor Mitchell of New York that
he will urge special legislation to per-
NIT the Mayor to appoint Mr.. Perkins
as City Food Commissioner without re-
signing as president of the Palisades
Interstate Park Commission, which he
cannot do under the city charter, it is
believed the Governor will not insist
upon the appointment Of Mr.. Perkins.
The Governor declined to say at this
time what other man he had in mind
for the commission. 1t is not thought
likely that Judge Morgan J. O'Brlen
or James W. Wadsworth, who with
Colonel Roosevelt were suggested by
the legislative war committee, will be
selected by the Governor. Judge Ell
bert H. Gary and Charles E. Hughes
have been mentioned as men who
would be satisfactory to the Governor.
The political aspect of the situation
shows in the contention being made by
the Old Guard legislators that the
farmers are strongly prejudiced TO any
food control legislation, and particu-
larry adverse to having Mr.. Perkins
on the Food Commission. The Barnes
men in both houses have Joined the
upstate forces in determination not
TO advance Mr.. Perkins to any 20
sition of greater political power. They
are afraid he might try TO boss
things. They don't want to place him
in a position where he can dominate
the Governor" as one Senator said, or
where he could more handily nurse the
political ambitions of Governor Whit
man.
On the other hand, the Old Guard
members from upstate are being
charged with having themselves in
stigated the prejudice Of the farmers
against Perkins and the food control
programme of the Governor by direct
ing the editorial policy Of some Of the
newspapers in the rural districts, and
through other sccelleratory methods.