The sun., 1918-08-26
Attorney Generals Depth
Bombs Fail to Bring Gov
ernOr to the Surface.
DIuLEST CAMPAIGN EVER
Gal" Smith, Democratic Candi-
date, Also Gives His Rival
the Silence Treatment.

toward a welcome conclusion. ohe
week from tomorrow Republicans will
decide whether they prefer Charles 5.
whitman to Merton e. Lewis and the
Democrats will choose between the en-
gaging Alfred E. Smith and the I'M
peccable William Church Osborn. But
nobody has displayed the least excite
ment or even interest, anf the candi-
dates themselves have held aloof as IL
the contest concerned them not at all.
Occasionally the Hon, Lewis lifts his
bolo. against Hearst, With u sideswipe
at the Governor. Occasionally the Hon.
Osborn dusts Off his familiar Views con-
cerning Tammany Hall or laments that
whitman Ia So keen on politics. But
who has heard anything much from
Smith or even from the Governor? 1t
is true that William w. Cocks from
time to time whispers languidly that
the contest is all over with his cham
pion as good as rehominated and re-
elected: 1t is true Democratic head
quarters lazily assumes that the Sara
toga conference will be vindicated and
that the name of the next Governor
will be Smith. but outside OF these &C.
casional lack lustre emanations there has
been nothing doing, nothing at all.
A Bit Of Pen From the Ladies.
Perhaps as puzzled statesmen, fore
gathering by habit in retreats where
thirst is properly soothed. have con-
cluded. the war is to blame for the dull
ness of things. They have 1t that the
attention OF the people is too intensely
fixed upon war news. war preparations.
war sacrifices and war aims ito bother
much about politicians and their ambi-
tons. No doubt the hot weather, as
some say, has sultried enthusiasm.
Perhaps an unusual scarcity Of cash
IN campaign strong boxes can be
counted among the reasons. For what
ever cause or causes the campaign Is
ending as dull as dishwater.
The only element OF pep displayed in
any quarter has been shown by the
women. Calorifc weather could not re-
strain their zeal for the great and only
cause or modify their enthusiasm for
the new found game of politics. They
Rave pinned every candidate to the wall
while extracting from him a declaration
OF principles and occasionally they have
raised their voices in the public street
for the various Federal amendments
= they desire. but the men have been
silent and morbund. Candidate Whit
binary for him. Candidate Smith hasn't
taken the trouble to make a speech. OF
late Candidate Lewis's statements have
lacked INT. No word has come from
Bennett with two is .for at least a
week. and so 1t has gone, all to the
dornf. as they say in those languages.
Barnes salient Holding Out.
Extraordinary effort produced from
". ~ Cocks yesterday the Arm predic-
tion Shat the Governor would be renom.
-inatSd handsomely. Mr.. Cocks visions
the governor winning every county of
the State save one from MIR. Lewis In
the little pickering which is 10 take
place on September 3. That county is
Albany, where William Barnes holds the
high justice. the middle and the low. As
for WestchesteT and the punitive meas
ures OF the Hon. Ward. they are shifted
at and pooh-poohed by the Hon. Cocks.
He and the Governor have no fears
about Westchester.
They assume to regard with glee the
tactics of Mr.. Lewis in whackng at
whitman every LIME he whacks at
Hearst. Mr.. Cocks opining that this is
all very displeasing to sensible people
who. he believes. are in the majority
And from sources close to the seat OF
great qualification" of the Republican
organization after the election. People
who thought they had the Governor or
tho run and FASTENED to speed his goine
with tn, point Of their toe are to be
dise'pSn<t whether they are in Kings
couf1f. Albany or Westchester.
Tha sole output from the Lewis head.
quarters yesterday came from the type.
writer OF Mr.. Lewis himself. just a little
thing 10 tide over a dull Sunday. Its
sentiments were these:
"Mr. William Church Osborn, a can
didate FOR the Democratic nomination
for Governor. calls attention to tn,
necessity for the election in this Stat,
of a real war Governor. Apparently h,
recognizes the fact. as do many others
that Gov. Whitman has not been n rea
war Governor. He probably recognize!
the fact also that Gov. Whitman is II
reality candidate for the nomination
for President In 1920. This. of course
is the fact. The Governor himself ha.
said so.
whitmnn's white House Chariot.
mot only is he planning to nominal.
himself for President. but he has Sc
lected the candidate 10 succeed Sena
tor Wadsworth, whose term will expir,
March 4, 1921. This candidate Is tn,
Hon. j. Sloat Fassett of Elmira Tn,
Governor, with the organization whicl
he has created and with the patronag
which he expects to control for the pur
pose of strengthening that organizat ion
plans to become the absolute dictate
OF the Republican party In this State
Gov. Whitman has occupied uniqu
position during his term as Governor
No other Governor during the past TWEEN
ty-nNe years has nntrOlle1 roucl
patronage and the expenditure of a
large sums OF public moneys as has he
There never was an Ssl ,00O,0 900 bulge
until this year
with the control OF the political ma
chinery which the Governor has acquire
during his term Of office and the con
troll which he will acquire during tw,
more years In office II will be easil,
possible for him to carry out his plal
TO bring about the nomination of Con
gresham Fassett and also to dictate fl
every district Of the State the choice O
delegates 10 the next national conyen
ton.
"lnstead OF having had a war Gov
ernor we have had an ambitious Gov
ernor Instead Of a Governor devotin
his best thought and energies for tn
welfare of the State we have had a
GRern"- a man constantly schemin
ff-r '.,s own further advancement
III the Republicans OF New Yor
State are willing to be tied to the wheel
OF Gov. ,Whltman's Presidential charic
they Will submit to his nomination o
September 3 for a third term as Go,
ernor. Otherwise they will oppose hi
in the coming primaries"
More Life Insurance Taken.
ALBANY, Aug. 25.-An increase In II