New-York tribune., 1918-03-07
Nomination by Anti-Whit-
man Leaders Precipitates
Bitter Dispute
Governor Steals March
Renames Mitchell, but Brown
Disputes Appointment as
Illegal
| Stnf Correspondence

ALBANY, March 6.-An attempt by
ference to name Douglas Robinson,
brother-in-l of Colonel Roosevelt, as
head of the Farms and Markets Council,
precipitated an all-day row to-day
Rural Republicans, although lined up
against Governor Whitman, rebeled
against taking action until they had
found what the sentiment of their dis
stricts was with respect to Mr.. Robin
son.
The fight was waged behind locked
doors up to 5 o'clock. when Senator
Elon f. Brown on the floor Of the Sem
ate took parting slam at the Gov
ernor. All believed the row was over
tor the day when the Governor sent to
tlons to the Farms and Markets Coun-
ell. And nowhere in it was the name
of Mr.. Robinson. For head of the
council the Governor renamed John
Mitchell, the labor leader.
Senate To Go Ahead
Later Senator Brown said that the
surprise blow of the Governor in no
wise affected the situation and that the
@Ai~NO ti0N q & III W tlSCI iltilUtl > Ol
the Farms and Markets Council He
said he believed the Legislature would
go ahead with its programme.
1hls includes the obtaining of an
opinion of three former judges of the
Court Of Appeals-Nathan L. Miller
and Irving G.. Nann, Republicans, and
Edgar NJ. Cullen, Democrat-as to the
right of the Legislature to elect the
head of the council.
This was made necessary because an
opinion rendered by Attorney General
Merton E. Lewis held that the Legis-
lature had no right to elect the head
of the council.
This is the second march the Gov
ernor has stolen on his opponents in
the Legislature. The first was a fort
night ago, when the Senate was about
to refuse to confirm the appointments
to the council. Before it could act
the Governor withdrew the ten names
Io-day's names include four of the
original council which was the target
OF caustic resolutions of various agri-
cultural societies. Besides Mr.. Mitch.
ell, those renomnated were James II
II. klllough, Of Brooklyn. q commission
merchant; Frank W. Howe. dean OF
Syracuse University Agricultural Col
lege; John Y. Gerow, of Washington.
vile, ex-president of the Dairymen's Is
League.
The new nominations are headed BY
Miss Mary B. Van Arsdale, associate
professor Of household arts and direc
tor of the department. of foods anC
cookery, Teachers College, Columbia.
The others are Datus c. Clarke, OF
Peru, dairyman; John G. Pembleton, OF
Owego dairyman; William f. Dana, oil
Avon. dairyman and breeder; william
F. Pratt. of Batavia, farmer and trus
tee Of Cornell University: Lewis l.
Morrell. of Kinderhook. fruit grower
When the name Of Douglas Robin
son was presented by Speaker Swee
the father Of Senator Robinson, one O
brother-in-law of the Colonel.
AssembIyman Schuyler NJ: Meyer, OF
hearing the name, inquired if it wa
Sweet hurriedly replied it was. Thel
speech, seconding the nomination. H
said that Douglas Robinson was MAJ
of large affairs and would be credi
to any branch of the government.
"He lives in my district" continue,
Mr. Meyer, "and he is one of the larges
real estate men in the city of New
York One Of the estates he manage
is the Astor estate"
Upstate men began to wonder if AS
semblyman Meyer had gone mad. Blu
inquiries developed that what he sal
was true, and rural Republicans, VIII
had believed Mr. Robinson an up-stat
farmer, asked time to consult thei
I