The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-22
MURPHY HOLDS
CONFERENCE ON
STATE TICKET
Democrats at Saratoga
Await His Decision on
Candidates.
PUZZLED BY ROOSEVELT
Hearst, Gerard, Walker, Os-
born and Smith Continue
to Nurse BoOms.
PUZZLED BY ROOSEVELT
From a star co,,e.posden. Of rns sus.

W 4NuISC DOOuios
From q sfdc Correspondent Of THs SUE.
SARATOGA SPRINGS. July 21.-Charles
r. Murphy. Boss" of Tammany Hall, Is
here. He has room cl3 at the United
States Hotel, out Of which. when he has
consulted such more humble Democrats
as he may care to see. will come the
Democratic candidate for Governor and
the remainder of the ticket. This Is the
general feeling tonight among the lead
ers and delegates who have arrived here
to attend the unoficiar State convention,
which win open at noon on Tuesday.
Thus is history likely to repeat Itself.
It will be remembered that at Rochester
in 1910 Mr. Murphy. then the acknowl-
edged State leader, sat In room 212 in
the Hotel Seneca and dictated the nomi-
nation OF John A. Dix for Governor.
There is not the slightest doubt that
the Democrats in this State were never
the selection of State ticket. The
injection of Col. Roosevelt into the
situation has caused them to lose their
bearings and they are drifting, uncer-
tain as to what ought to be done and
apparently incapable of making up their
mind.
Upstate Against Hearst.
Mr.. Murphy Is perfectly capable Of
making up his mind at the right time
and Of making his Will the will of the
convention. He has shown that ability
In the past and stands ready to assume
the role Of dictator again II II becomes
necessary. When he has decided what
is to DO done the $50 delegates. three
from each Assembly district. will
gather in solemn session and indorse the
Murphy slate.
II is probably perfectly true that the
Tammany leader. after his experience
with Gov. Sulzer. one of his selections,
decided that never again would he at
tempt to name State ticket This year
he gave the upstate leaders fair warn
ing that he did not want to have any
thing to do with the ticket. He told
them to go ahead and pick the man and
Tammany Hall would try to elect him.
The Syracuse conference was organized
II held several meetings. established n
preferred list Of seven and then threw
the whole job UP to the unofficial con-
ventions
Usually 1t is not safe to predict what
the Murphy mind will be thirty-six hours
before the start Of a convention. but II
seems safe to say. after a canvass Of the
leaders here. that William Randolph
Hearst will not be indorred. Upstate
seems almost solidly against him. and
while &C. F." Is powerful enough prob
ably to make them swallow even that
bitter pill. he Is far too wise to do SO.
Look to Warrington.
II Washington intervenes Mr.. Murphy
will probably permit them to pick the
candidate and be responsible for his
election. 1t is felt that, IL Col. Roose-
Welt should be the Republican candidate,
the only thing to save the situation will
be 10 make the campaign a personal
fight for the support of President Will
son and his handling OF the war
II the President should care to draft
Franklin d. Roosevelt Mr.. Murphy
would probably fall into this programme,
but he would want II thoroughly under
stood that the candidate was an Admin
lstration candidate and had the active
support of the Washington leaders.
II Is stated on what scenes to be the
ton had given no indication OF a desire
70 name the candidate. 1t has been con-
suited OH the platform. but has re-
manned silent on personalities
Soon after Mr.. Murphy arrived an at
tempt was made to get In touch with the
National Capital. Later he left the no.
tel in company with Norman f. Mack
o. Buffalo. former chairman of the State
Committee and former National Com
mitteeman. with whom he has collabo-
rated In many previous political situa-
tons After they have had thorough
understanding TIE business OF seeing
local leaders will begin.
Mr.. Murphy came up on the train with
Philip f, Donohue. Representative
Thomas F. Smith and Alfred T.. Smith.
There was the usual buzzing and craning
OF necks when he came into the lobby
Of the Grand Union. and the customary
attempt to get some line as to what was
running through the Murphy mind. He
did not say. as he has in past years
The convention will decide" but his
few crisp replies were to this general
effect
The Hearst boom has been quescent
to-day. David Hirshfield has been gum
shoeing around mysteriously, but has
said nothing for publication. strange as
II may seem. Thomas r. Gilleran, one
o. the old time workers in the Indeoend-
ence League. is on the ground, but II
he is working out any deep laid plot on
behalf of the publisher 1t has not be-
come apparent yet. The greater part of
the extensive Hearst suite Is SO far
vacant.
Mayor Walkers stock Dooms.
Mayor Harry C. Walker of Bingham M
ton is the outstanding figure tonight
OF all those who have been discussed by
tnt Syracuse conference. That may be
because he is on the ground and mixing
In good natured way with the delegates
and leaders.
The Syracuse committee of forty