The sun., 1919-03-14
SCHEME TO REVIVE
CONVENTIONS SEEN
Arndt Accuses Smith of
DECKER in p. S. G. Deal.
Special Despatch TO THE Sun.

ALBANY, March 13-Walter Arndt,
legislative representative Of the Citizens
Union, issued a statement tonight
charging that the Republican agreement
to pass Gov. Smiths Public Service legis-
lation is a deal under which the Gov
ernors part will be to sign "A bill recon-
shutting the party State convention sys-
tenn of choosing candidates for state and
judicial offices.
1T has been many a long day since
the State has seen such a bald deal dis
closed" said Mr.. Arndt. The circum-
stances are extraordinary in themselves
The Governor tells you what the Legis-
lature is going to do. And 1t is a Legis-
lature controlled not by his own party
but by his political opponents in both
houses
I'VE have had bipartisan deals before
concocted in the quiet corners of the
legislative halls. Here is one arranged
in the executive chamber and promul-
gated by the chief executive. The Re-
publican leaders promise to give him his
public service legislation. Plainly speak
ing, that legislation Is ripper legislation.
And the chief reason is not that there
is really anything wrong with the pres
ent public service law, but merely that
| the present waterlogged and bankrupted
| traction interests, crowd of hungry
! Tammany contractors and the Hylan
administration cannot get along with
| theI existing commission and get away
WIFI things as easily as they would like.
"When The Republican leaders went
| to the Governor in regard to the aboll-
| ton of the primary he tried to persuade
them to put 1t off for another year. He
had enough troubles, he said, and did
not want to have to bother about direct
primaries Just then But the Republi-
can leaders were insistent. They needed
the State convention resurrected right
away How else could they save Jim
Wadsworth from the wrath of the
| women suffragists and the prohibition.
lists in their party?
If the deal does not go through just
as indicated it will not be because II
was not arranged, but because the voters
! of the State make Il known In no un-
certain terms that they are not going to
allow themselves to be hornswas gled in
this manner by those they have elected
10 office"
There is not a word of truth in it,"
| said GOV. Smith when the statement was
! shown to him. I'm view of the fact
! that I believe Mr.. Arndt to be man OF
ability. say it is deliberate, cold blooded
and political In the last degree, and EVIL
Gently issued to justify his position with
the Citizens Union"
Signs OF storm in the ranks of Re-
publican legislators became apparent
early in the day when 1t was announced
there would be separate conferences OF
q. O. 7. Senators and Assemblymen
Monday night to determine whether thev
will carry out the agreement of the r
leaders to give Gov. Smith the public
service legislation he wants.
As an offset to the Governors victory
in getting them to agree TO his public
service bills the Republicans permitte
the scattering of hints that practically
all the rest OF the legislative programme
he had outlined in his first annual mes
sage was as good as dead. along VII
such social legislation as the propose
eight hour day for women. additional re