New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-08

by which the Brown amendment OBJ
jcctionablo 20 the Governor and the
Assembly. was passed This action
restored The bill with ono minor amend
mcnt 20 its original form. and the SEN
ate will pass It. perhaps tomorrow,
under an emergency message from the
Governor
So absolute was tho Republican sur
render that Senator !. Henry Walters
Republican. Of Syracuse. one OF the
"wilful four" who refused 90 stand by
the bill last week, offered 20 withdraw
another amendment which actually per
focted the bin so far as the election
laws are concerned. he was persuaded
20 leave the amendment ir the bill only
on the assurance of Senator William II.
ull and Senator Elon r. Brown. ma
iortt leader, trat DO would be accept
able.
Brown Moves to Reconsider
Senator Brown himself. Republican
leader and author of the amendment
that would have killed the MI before
the Governor. If not m the Assembly
moved 10 reconsider the vote by Whlch
the amendment was passed. ne amenu,
nort substituted one question, wet
or dry" for the four questions SUI
pitfcd IN town local options and now
proposed for city local options. IL was
apparcnt that the Governors drive
through the party executive commute
and county cha.rmcn had brought me
rccalcitraut members TO tasN.
The Democrats, who voted soHIly
acainst restoring the bill. sncered and
iCcrcd a. their helpless colleagues IN
what thew termed &n unfortunate
epcctacle.F Senator Henry u. sage,
EepubEcau. Of Albany, said he had been
willing previously to be goat, but now
humb.v followed as q sheep. Senator
Walker. Democrat. amended The express
sion and called the Republicans not
shocn but goats" Senator ogden l..
Mills. Republican. who also voted to
strike out the Objectionable amend
ment. asked significantly If 1t was 60
ing TO be necessary 10 revise the old
campaign against bossism in this state.
Senator Brown explained THAI he did
not favor local option as an efficient
means TO regulate the liquor traiic.
but that so close was his victory on
Friday that it was doubtful il IL would
stand TEST
Cannot Be a Party
After the vote them he said, it
was announced by the Executive ami
other high state officials that the BAL
would be vetoed in spite Of the fac.
that a majority of both houses OF the
Legi lature are in favor of local option.
/ cannot be a party 70 that. 1t would
be unbecoming for the Senate not to
give in on minor matter at this time
and doubt if the people would support
our taking part In action that would
bring on quarrel.
"But | regret TO say that there has
been a revival of q practice that /
thought obsolete-of calling upon the
party leaders in the different parts Of
the state to force the Senators to vc'e
a certain way ! do not lay it at the
door Of anything. but ! feel that /
would be less "a Senator If | did not
yield on TINS minor matter"
County chairmen and executive
committeeman have been called into
line to compel members to vote against
their honest convictions" said Senator
Mills. Not many years ago we had a
campaign against bossism in this state
is it going to be necessary TO revive
that campaign? APPARENTLY the Execu
tive and the Assembly are willing to
defeat local option if they don't get
what they want in every particular"
Wagner Is Sorry
81 am sorry" said Senator Robert F.
Wagner. Democratic leader, with
sympathetic sneer, "to see this UNI
fortunate spectacle tonight. Even the
big men i'm the Senate are giving way
to so-called bosslets on q petty politi-
cal question rather than moral ques-
lion. If il was a moral issue. the SEN
ate would stand on the amendment and
prevent the increase of low class hotels.
I feel sorry for the members Of the ma
jority for which | had some regard.
thought they were men who were men.
This spectacle shakes my confidence in
them"
Senator Brown announced after the
vote that he would amend his liquor tax
law amendments to include a provision
designed 20 prevent the increase Of
Raiues law hotels under local option.