New-York tribune., 1918-02-26
Withdraws First Nomina-
tions to Forestall Further
Criticism
Vets and Drys Prepare
For Battle TODAY
Hughes, Bryan and Gompers
to Speak OH Prohibition
Amendment
Staff Coy1.cspOndencol

StnN Correspondence
ALBANY. Feb. Ex-Governor Whit
man withdrew from the Senate tonight
his nominations to the Farms and Mar
kets Council, and stated that he would
send in new appointments in the near
future. The nominations included John
Mitchell, as chairman Of the body, of
which Charles II. Belts is secretary.
The action, of which the Whitman
forces in the Senate had no foreknowl-
edge, will, the Governors friends be-
heve, prevent additional capital being
made out of the unrest among the
farmers.
A second surprise was furnished the
Senate by Senator George p. Yelling
ton, of Troy, when he served notice that
ne would move to suspend the rule to
discharge the Committee on Taxation
and Retrenchment from further con-
sideration of the Hill-McNab resolu-
ton calling on the Legislature to ratify
the national prohibition amendment.
Senator Wellington charged that the
committee furnished evidences of an
intent to kill the resolution.
The Legislature is anxiously await
ing the outcome of the fight of the
vets and drys, which will take place
tomorrow in the Assembly chamber.
Samuel Gompcrs and other labor lead
ers arrived here tonight to oppose
any bone-dry Legislation.
Hughes and Bryan to Speak
Charles Evans Hughes and George
w. Wickersham, who were also ex-
pected to appear against the ratifica-
ton of the Federal amendment. will
not, it is said, be here tomorrow
Austen G. Fox is scheduled to be on
hand TO represent the State Bar Asso-
citation, which adopted resolutions ,urg-
ing the Legislature not to ratify the
amendment.
William Jennings Bryan, the drys an
nounced, will be the principal speaker
for the prohibtionists. William H.
Anderson, head of the Anti-Saloon
League, and other noted advocates Of
prohibition will arrive here with Mr..
Bryan tomorrow.
Samuel Gompers SAID that he would
speak for organized labor in protesting
against the enactment of any prohibit
fcation of the Federal amendment.
"My office in Washington for some
time past has been flooded with let
ter from labor organizations all over
the country, containing appeals-urgent
appeals-for me to apepar here to-
morrow and speak against the ratiii-
cation of the national prohibition
amendment by the New York Legisla-
/ ture," said Mr.. Gompers. 81 am on
my way to Chicago. and only the fact
, that there is general and widespread
! opposition to the national measure By
labor prompted me to break my jour
ney. | am interested in no propaganda
either for or against the amendment.
! shall simply tell the Legislature why
/, labor is opposed to prohibition, and it
can do as it pleases about it.
Predict "Wet" Victory
When the vets and drys have had
their innings, and the prophecy Of all
we'll informed legislators is that the
vets will win, the decks will be
cleared for the farmers, who are due
TO arrive here Wednesday representa-
tives of the farmers, who have been
protesting against the personnel Of
the Farms and Markets Council and de-
manding the resignation of Charles II.
Belts, secretary to the council, will
meet here Wednesday to present the
demands Of the farmers to the Gov
ernOr.
But the Governor has forestaled to
TO the agricultural leaders. who, his
friends claim, were spurrcd on to
action through the Vaccinations of his
opponents in the Legislature, under
the leadership Of Elon r. Brown. ma
jority leader of the Senate. In his
message to the Senate withdrawing
the nomination of the members of
the council, numbering ten, of which
John Mitchell. the labor leader. is
oh bn
Whitman Sought Harmony
"Since the beginning of the war have
done my utmost for the cause of food
production and food conservation in
the state. To that end l appointed a
Council Of Farms and Markets, which
believed would work in harmony with
the merged governmental agencies, both
Federal and state, designed to produce
and conserve food Criticism has been
made at the meetings of various agri-
cultural bodies of the personnel of the
Council of Farms and Markets.
"The members of the council believe
that the best interests of both the state
and the nation at this time require
that the council should have the conf
donce and cooperation of all the farm,
ers and producers of food as we'll as
consumers, and have asked that theil
names be Withdrawn for further con
sideration.
'In the same spirit I hereby with.
draw the nominations heretofore trans
mitted on the 22d day of January
designating the members of the Coun-
Gil of Farms and Markets, on the
ground that no personal consideration
of any nature shall be an obstacle to
the great purpose of producing anc
conserving food for our state, our ma
ton and our allies.
81 shall transmit to your honorable
body in the very near future nomina
tions to the Council of Farms and Mar
kets.
The farmers demand that none but
tillers Of the soil be appointed to the
Farms and Markets Council. They wan
the secretary to be graduate of some
recognized college of agriculture.
Campaign Fund Evidence
To Grand jury March 1G