The sun., 1918-08-14
GOVERNORS SILENCE
STIRS LEWIS'S IRE
Whitman Depending Upon OF.
ficeholders for Election,
Says Acknowledgement.
ASKS LIGHT ON ISSUES
Explains His Own Attitude on
Prohibition, Public Service
and Party Conventions.

Why does Gov whitman continue to
remain silent on the issues OF the pri-
mary campaign? asks Attorney Gen.
ersl Lewis in a statement last night
His own attitude Is we'll. known. the
Attorney General asserts and the people
are entitled to have some explanation
from the Governor. He suggests that
Mr.. whitman may be relying entirely
on his army of offlceholders to bring
him success in the primaries.
The Attorney General said
In other years the daily newspaper
which did not carry a speech from Gov
Whitman, delivered before some organi-
zation or society was curiosity
Doubtless his silence is due to the fact
that this Ia campaign period. He prob
ably realizes. or at least expects that
his Public Service Commissioners. ten
In all. at $4,000 per year his Indus
trial Commits sioners at $4,000 each. and
secretary to the commission at $4,000.
together with his swarms OF subordi-
mates, and subord hates of his subordi-
mates. are entirely competent to de-
liver the votes of the enrolled Republi-
can voters to him on primary day
I'm a halfhearted way he permitted
himself to say for publication that he
approved the interview given by his
reputed manager. Congressman Cocks.
who repudiated the support by Hearsts
newspapers. This population, II is un-
derstood, came near costing him the
support of the papers. Mutual explana-
lions and apologies were sufficient
doubtless to bridge the threatened
chasm between the Governor and Mr..
Hearst. 1t will be noticed that Con-
gresham Cocks has made no similar
mistake.
Then There IL the shuttle Failure.
On the second occasion on which
the Governor permitted himself to be
quoted he offered an abb for his Public
Service Commission in New York city.
The shuttle system had broken down
and hundreds of thousands of people
mad been disconnected and some Of
them injured. Commissioner kracke
repudiated the Governors proffered
alibi and volunteered to assume his
share OF the responsibility for the de-
fects in the plans Of the shuttle sys-
tenn.
The Governor Of course was hu-
inflated and annoyed both by the re-
pudiation Of the Hearst support BY
Congressman Cocks ana by the re-
pudiation of his alibi by Commissioner
Kracke. Evidently he became discour-
aged and has concluded that the less
he may say in this campaign the better
~ chances Of a nomination for third
term.
The farmers would particularly like
10 have him appear before them at meet
!ngs which they would be glad to at
tend and Justify his conduct in connec-
ton with agricultural legislation for
which he made himself the sponsor.
''One of the great and really impor-
amt questions to be determined at the
November election is the question as to
whether or not the Federal prohibition
amendment shall be ratified by the next
Legislature without the submission OF
the question to the voters for their ap-
nroval. The Governor Is on record in
avor OF such ratification. lie would
prevent the voters from expressing their
will upon the subject, and II will be re-
membered sent message to the Assem-
bly, in which he denounced the member RS
of that body for what he termed their
cowardice in even considering the prop
osition of securing an expression from
the people on the subject He has stated
that he favors the ratification OF the
Federal prohibition amendment by the
state Legislature.
The Party Convention Issue.
men, 100 tnere Is the great question
OF the restoration OF official State con-
Sentions. great many enrolled Re-
publcans are of the opinion that party
welfare requires the restoration of the
party convention in order that the party
policy may be determined by delegates
selected at direct pr.a;ay!e for the pur-
pose OF attending such convention and
giving expression in the party platform
to the party will. The Governor opposes
the proposition and prefers that his rec
ord be deemed to ba u sufficient plat
form, ard IL not thar he be recognized
A. the head OF the party and conse-
quently authority to determine what the
party platform shall contain.
MY attitude upon these questions is
generally understood. favor the res
foration OF the party convention and
favor the submission OF the prohibition
amendment to the voters OF the State for
their deliberate and we'll considered ac-
ton"
Lewis headquarters in the Murray Hill
Hotel that a Lewis primary campaign
committee OF 500 members has been
formed in Albany county. Senator Henry
NJ. Sage is chairman.
One OF the hottest fights the Prohibi-
tion party in this State ever had Is be-
ing waged to make Comptroller Eugene
M. Travis its candidate for Comptroller
In place OF Claude V. Stowell OF Corn
ing, who Is being backed by an intiu-
entail group opposed to the Comptroller.