New-York tribune., 1918-12-23
Candidate for Leadership
of Upper House Names
S m i t h as Conspirator

Legislature, especially the Senate. IA
suit their purposes
The letter bristles with charges and
sinister phrases, such as party mar
cenaries.' One charge made by Senator
Thompson mentions Governor-elect Al
fred E. Smith. On this score he said.
1t is apparent that it is intended bv
very. few people who hope TO contro,
the next Legislature to have an under
standing with the Democratic Governor
by which patronage will be divided. the
part which goes to the Republicans to
be distributed generously among the
few in control Of the organization Of
the Legislature, the Democratic Gov
ernor to approve such legislation as
shall be deemed necessary to continue
this faction in future power in the
party"
Would Change Senate Rules.
Senator Thompson declared that to
defeat any bipartisan combinations Of
a sinister sort the frst thing that
should be done by the Republican Sen
ators is to change the rules governing
the proceedings of the Upper House.
"The Senate rules are fundamental.
for they determine the conditions under
which the fight for everything that is
decent and right must be made" said
Senator Thompson.
with strangle hold upon the stu
alton through the rules Of the Senate,
the reactionary leaders can even use
the activity of the advocates of reforms
to compel the special interests, and the
forces Of vice and lawlessness, to fur
nish the money to enable the leaders
to continue in power"
Senator Thompson, after pledging
himself to have the Federal bone dry
amendment submitted in the first week
of the session. and to have the rules
changed so that all shall have square
deal, if elected leader, continues:
For six years I have seen the pub
lie defrauded in its expectations time
and time again through no fault Of the
ajority of its representatives, except
the existence Of the rules. Party pol
icies cannot be established by the ma
jority of members Of the majority
party because of the rules.
Failures Due 10 Rules
"Failure of public service commits
sions and remedial legislation, failure
of the state to inventory its vast nat
ural resources and apply them to the
service of the people, failure OF the
Legislature to exercise its consutu-
tional duty in regard to the ratification
of an amendment to the Federal Con-
stitution in relation TO Intoxicating
liquors, failure of any action to remedy
the high cost of living IN the cities
failure of the election laws and nu-
merous other failures, are all due to
the rules. 1t is of the greatest possible
Importance that these rules should be
changed. They can only be changed
by fight to change them at the time
of the organization of the Senate Oh
viously, now is the time TO make II.
The Senator charged that "a quiet
attempt is now being used to organize
the Senate in the same old way. by an
unauthorized use of Senate patronage
and promise of committee assignments,
in an endeavor to gain individual
pledges from Senator's
He referred to the need of changing
the rules. pointing out that this 70,
form was achieved in the House O.
Representative while Uncle Joe
Cannon was Speaker.
Wants Square Deal
Continuing, he said:
81 ask the support of every Senator
who believes that public business
should be done in the open and on the
level and who believes that the rules
Of a legislative body should be de-
signed to enable the majority TO trans
act business intelligently and promptly
and not for the purpose Of enabling
venal or weak party minority 10 re-
duce an Independent and sslf-respect.
ing party majority TO a condition OF
impotence.
Il ask the support of every Senator
who believes that legislation should
not be allowed to go through unless
1t represents the intelligent and cor
scientious conviction of q constitution
al majority of the Senate, and WHO
believes that any measure which. upon
its merits, has the support OF suen
constitutional majority. should not Dc
permitted to be strangled by a minor,
ity for reasons which will not stsno
scrutiny
Il ask the support of every Senator
who believes in majority rule WITHIN
the party, who believes that the Repuo-
lcan party should stand for deceney
and morality and against adverse IN
terests which have never hesitated 10
betray the Republican party when they
could noc prostitute il to their own
uses.
Would Rout Mercensries
81 ask the support Of every Senator
who believes both as a matter OF con-
science and political expediency tnas
the time r..' come to prevent foreVel
any control of vicious special Interests
upon the Republican party in New
York and for US so TO act that eaen
undependable mercenary whom We
drive ont of the party ranks VIII 10
replaced permanently by two righteous,
independent, self-respecting men anu
women voters whose support Will es'a'-
lish the dominance Of our party for 'a0
next generation
Opposing Senator Thompson IS Sen
ator j Henry Walters. of Syracuse
Senator Walters has not publicly sn-
nounced mis- candidacy, but he has nssa ssa
active in trying to line up sufhc.en'
votes TO elect him majority leader
Those in a position 10 know soy
the contest for the leadership OF sno
Senate viii develop into one OF mo
biggest political fights the Repuohcsa
party of this state has witnessed an3