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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01152 1405
Gc 974.7 5m57h v. 4 History of the state of New York : political and governmental
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William J. Mullow.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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Einnave . by C. a.s. B. Hall N.Y.
Proglas & Higher
CHARLES E. HUGHES
Charles E. Hughes, statesman; born at Glens Falls, N. Y., April 11, 1862; graduated from Brown university, 1881; pro- fessor in Cornell law school, 1891-1893 and special lecturer, 1893-1895; practiced law in New York City, 1884-1891 and 1893-1906; counsel for the Armstrong insurance committee (N. Y. legislature), 1905-1906; special assistant to the United States attorney general in the coal investigation, 1906; declined repub- lican nomination for mayor of New York City, 1905; governor of New York for two terms, January 1, 1907 to October 6, 1910 when he resigned to become associate justice of the supreme court of the United States; nominated for president of the United States in the republican national convention at Chicago on June 10, 1916 and resigned from the bench the same day; defeated by President Woodrow Wilson; practiced law in New York, 1916-1921 and on March 4, 1921 was appointed by Presi- dent Harding as secretary of state of the United States.
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HISTORY
OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK
POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL
EDITED BY RAY B. SMITH
EXCELSIOR
VOLUME IV 1896 - 1920 BY
ROSCOE C. E. BROWN
THE SYRACUSE PRESS, INC. SYRACUSE, N. Y. 1922
COPYRIGHTED THE SYRACUSE PRESS, INC. 1922
1485711
CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV
CHAPTER I, 1896
THE FIGHT AGAINST SILVER
Preparations for the Republican National convention 15
Activity of the Mckinleyites in New York. 16
Platt's opposition to Mckinley 17
Genesis of the gold plank 18-21
Mckinley nominated. 22
The Republican State convention. 23
Frank S. Black for Governor 25-26
The Democrats at Chicago 26
Hill and the conservatives beaten; Bryan nominated. 28-29
Dilemma of the New York Democrats 29
John Boyd Thacher gives way to William F. Porter
30
The Gold Democrats.
30
Cockran's famous speech for Mckinley 32
Republicans carry the Nation and State. 33
CHAPTER II, 1897
VAN WYCK ELECTED MAYOR OF GREATER NEW YORK
Platt chosen United States Senator. 34-36
Presidential appointments.
36
Governor Black's assertive partisanship.
37
Starchless civil service. 38
The Greater New York campaign. 39
Citizens Union nominates Seth Low for Mayor. 41
Non-partisanship distasteful to Platt 42
Republicans run Benjamin F. Tracy. 43
Robert A. Van Wyck named by the Democrats ; elected 43-44
Alton B. Parker elected Chief-Judge 44
CHAPTER III, 1898
BLACK ABANDONED FOR ROOSEVELT
Platt seeks to restrain the press. 45
New Primary law; canal investigation.
46-47
Troops in the Spanish War. 47
Roosevelt found to possess the political asset. 49
The Citizens Union rebuffed 51
Black's fight for renomination 51
A question of residence.
52
Roosevelt the Republican nominee for Governor. 54 Augustus Van Wyck nominated by the Democrats 56 A close contest. 57 Croker's rejection of Justice Daly 57 Roosevelt wins the election 58
CHAPTER IV, 1899-1900 THE "SHELVING" OF ROOSEVELT
"Practical idealism" 59
Nixon's first election as Speaker. 59
Depew succeeds Murphy in the Senate. 60
The 1,000-ton Barge canal: cost, $101,000,000 61
Roosevelt reverses Black on the civil service 61
Taxation of franchises 62
Hill impresses Roosevelt. 63
The Mazet committee; assessment of judicial candidates. 64
Elihu Root in the President's cabinet. 65
The Ramapo contract. 66
Roosevelt nominated for Vice-President 68-70
Benajmin B. Odell for Governor. 70
Bryan again runs for President. 71-73
Democrats nominate Stanchfield for Governor. 74-75
Republican victory. 76
CHAPTER V, 1901-1902 PLATT'S POWER WANING
Odell and Platt differ. 77-78
Assassination of Mckinley-Rosevelt President. 79
New York City Mayoralty fight. 79
Fusionists elect Seth Low 80
Odell renominated; the Sheldon incident.
81
Charles F. Murphy becomes leader of Tammany.
83
Hill proposes nationalization of coal mines. 83
Democrats nominate Coler against Odell 84
"Commercialism in Politics" 86
Odell reelected by a narrow margin. 88
CHAPTER VI, 1903-1904
ODELL IN CONTROL
Platt returns to the Senate 89
Masterful Governor Odell. 90
McClellan elected Mayor of New York 90-92
Odell assumes chairmanship of the State committee. 92
President Roosevelt renominated 94
Woodruff set aside for Higgins .. 94-96
Both parties support Cullen for Chief-Judge. 96-97
CHAPTER VII, 1904 JUDGE PARKER LEADS THE DEMOCRATS
Striving for a "sane and safe" Democracy. 98
New York Democratic delegates instructed for Parker 99
Bryan's hostility
100
The silver question in the Democratic convention. 101
Parker nominated 102
His telegram to Sheehan. 103
D-Cady Herrick heads the Democratic State ticket. 106
Parker's charges about contributions. 108
Accusations in the State campaign. 109
Brilliant Republican success 110
CHAPTER VIII, 1904-1905 ODELL OVERTHROW
Black aspires to be Senator 111
Depew reelected. 113
Odell's prestige injured, but he retains control 113
The ways of New York politics. 114
Water for New York City from the Catskills 115
Four-year term for the New York Mayor. 115
The insurance scandals-Charles E. Hughes 116-117
McClellan reelected Mayor over Hearst 118
Death of Speaker Nixon 119
Odell's counsels ignored. 120
"Two senile old men" 121
James W. Wadsworth, Jr., Speaker 123
CHAPTER IX, 1906
TAMMANY FOLLOWS HEARST IN VAIN
The Armstrong committee bills passed. 124
Eighty-cent gas for New York City 124
The elder Wadsworth suffers a defeat. 125
Governor Higgins decides to retire. 126
Republicans nominate Hughes for Governor 128
William R. Hearst nominated by the Democrats
128-131
An Independence League platform. 132
A bitter campaign. 132
Some Hearstisms; Roosevelt on Hearst 133-134
Victory for Hughes; Democrats elect other officers 134
Death of Higgins; character and administration 135
CHAPTER X, 1907-1908 HUGHES THE UNCOMPROMISING
Important recommendations of Governor Hughes. 136
Conflict with the organization leaders 137-138
139
Acceptance of his program; vetoes.
Growing antagonism. 140
Roosevelt's coldness. 141-142
Further Hughes policies
143
The racetrack issue
144
More vetoes. 145
Movement for Hughes for President. 146
Roosevelt checks it. 147
The ticket of Taft and Sherman. 150
Opposition to Hughes's renomination for Governor. 151
Failure of adversaries to agree ... 153-154
Hughes renominated. 155
Bryan's third Presidential nomination 155-157
State Democratic convention; Chanler for Governor. 158-159
Hughes and Chanler in discussion 162
Republican National and State candidates win. 163
Hughes heavily cut .. 163
CHAPTER XI, 1909-1910
THE TIDE TURNS AGAINST ROOSEVELT
Woodruff thinks his opportunity has come at last. 164
Disappointment
165
Root takes Platt's place in the Senate.
166
Hughes urges direct nominations. 166
The Hinman-Green bill. 168
The Governor fails to overcome opposition
169
Country telephones. 170
William J. Gaynor elected Mayor of New York.
171
Allds becomes President pro tem. of the Senate 172
Compromise Primary bill fails. 173-175
The Allds and other charges. 175-177
Hughes made Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. 179
Succeeded at Albany by Horace White. 179
Roosevelt declares for Primary reform 179-180
Organization legislators still obdurate. 180
Roosevelt resumes leadership 181
Dominates the Republican State convention. 182-183
His candidate, Henry L. Stimson, nominated for Governor 183
High praise of Taft. 183-184
John Alden Dix nominated by the Democrats. 184-188
Roosevelt makes an aggressive campaign. 189
Root's warning to the disgruntled. 190
Complete Democratic victory. 191
Palisades Park.
191-192
Passing of Platt and Hill 192
CHAPTER XII, 1911 THE DEMOCRATS TAKE CONTROL The Senatorial question. 193
Shepard against Sheehan
193-195
Sheehan receives the caucus nomination.
196
Bolt of the Twenty-five.
196
199
James A. O'Gorman elected Senator.
Governor Dix's measures. 200
Passage of the Blauvelt-Ferris bill 201
Appointments ; proposed N. Y. City charter; Boxing commission 201-202
Republicans regain the Assembly. 203-204
Tammany wields State power
204-205
Employers' Liability amendment 205
CHAPTER XIII, 1912 THE PROGRESSIVE SCHISM
Roosevelt's radicalism. 206-207
The "Invitation of the Seven Governors". 207-208
New York primaries carried for Taft. 208
Recall of Judges opposed. 208
Line-up at the Republican National convention 209
The steam-roller; Root chosen chairman. 210
The contests; Roosevelt beaten
211
Taft and Sherman renominated.
211
The Progressive party: Roosevelt and Johnson. 212-213
Democratic National convention 213
Bryan's activities. 214-215
New York for Harmon, changes to Clark.
216
Wilson and Marshall 217
Progressives nominated Oscar S. Straus for Governor.
218-220
Republicans nominate Job E. Hedges. 220-222
Democrats nominate William Sulzer. 222-225
Sulzer's personality 226
A triangular national contest. 226
Wilson elected.
227
Democrats carry the State and Legislature 227-228
CHAPTER XIV, 1913-1914
THE TRAGEDY OF SULZER
Sulzer says he will be The Governor; Murphy's retort. 229
Evolution of the trouble. 229-232
Wishbone or backbone ?- Morganthau's admonishment. 232
Preparing the case against Sulzer. 233-234
His explanations 235
The impeachment articles. 236-237
The Governor retreats to "The People's House" 237
The testimony. 238
Judge Cullen's analysis. 239
Sulzer's indiscreet telephone talk. 240
Conviction ; removal from office. 241
Constituents vindicate him.
242
Political overturn at legislative elections of 1913
242
Rosenthal case; John Purroy Mitchel elected Mayor. 243-244
Great majority for Workmen's Compensation 244
Martin H. Glynn Governor .. 245
Investigations and contentions 246-247
The new order as to party nominations. 247-248
Roosevelt seeks Republican-Progressive harmony. 248
Failure of his efforts. 249
State nominations of 1914 250-251
Whitman elected Governor, Wadsworth, Senator. 253
The World blames Tammany. 254
CHAPTER XV, 1915-1916
REPUBLICANS AND PROGRESSIVES JOIN FOR HUGHES
Official changes. 255
Removal of McCall 256
Alien labor .. 257
Barnes's suit against Roosevelt. 258-260
Constitutional convention of 1915 260-263
Democrats and Progressives condemn its work.
263
Judge Cullen's criticism 264
The cry of "Root's Constitution" 265
Overwhelming defeat of the Constitution
265
Tammany starts to come back.
266
Sing Sing prison. 267
Whitman wishes to be President. 268
Decides to lead the Hughes movement. 269
The ever-recurring Roosevelt question. 272
Republicans nominate Hughes for President. 276
Progressives nominate Roosevelt, who declines 277
Progressive indorsement of Hughes. 277
CHAPTER XVI, 1916-1917
WILSON RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT WITHOUT THE EAST
President Wilson and the European War. 278
Tammany's attitude toward him 279
Glynn's keynote speech at St. Louis. 280
Wilson and Marshall unanimously renominated 281
State nominations of 1916. 282-285
Wilson in the campaign. 286
Hughes's speeches; the Adamson law 287 The great public discriminates 288-290 East against west. 290
Hughes's fatal mistake in California. 290
Wilson wins 291
New York reelects Whitman Governor. 291
He takes the upper hand in party affairs. 292
George W. Perkins fails to secure an office. 294
Tammany comes back; Hylan elected Mayor 294-297
Republicans still predominant in the State. 297
Ratification of the State Woman Suffrage amendment. 298
CHAPTER XVII, 1918-1920
SMITH SUPPLANTS WHITMAN
Legislation in support of the war. 300
Onward sweep of prohibition. 301
Whitman's candidacy for a third term. 302
Francis Hendricks retires from politics 304-305
306
Whitman renominated.
307
Hearst again a problem for the Democrats
307
His boom put to an end by Seabury.
309-310
Alfred E. Smith the Democratic nominee 310-311
The Socialist party in bad odor. 312
Smith's aggressive campaign. 312-313
313
Smith elected.
314
Other State officers and Legislature Republican .. 314-315
Governor Smith's moderate spirit. 315
National constitutional prohibition 316
State Income Tax law.
317
The Lusk committee investigates the reds.
317
Ratification of National Woman Suffrage.
317
New York City election of 1919
318-319
Suspension of the Socialist Assemblymen.
320
Conflicting views on the subject.
321
The Socialists expelled after trial 322
Sedition and other bills vetoed. 322-323
2.75 per cent. beer; rent profiteering; bonus. 323
The Governor's program fails. 323-324
Special session of September, 1920
324
The reelected Socialists 324
Three are expelled and two resign.
324-325
Rent laws.
325
The Lockwood committee. 325
Roosevelt declines to run for Governor.
The President's appeal for a Democratic Congress
CHAPTER XVIII
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1920
Republican unofficial State convention of February 327
Nicholas Murray Butler a candidate for President. 328
The Republican National convention and its platform 329-332
The contestants 332-333
Harding and Coolidge 334-335
Democratic unofficial State convention of February .. 335
San Francisco convention; platform 337-338
McAdoo, Palmer, Cox 338-339
Cox nominated; Franklin D. Roosevelt for Vice-President 340-341
Republican unofficial State convention of July.
341
Republican State platform.
341-343
Republican State nominations
343-345
Democratic unofficial convention of August.
345
Democratic State platform.
345-346
Democratic State nominations. 346-347
Other State nominations 347-348
The Presidential campaign 348
Harding's great triumph 349
Nathan L. Miller elected Governor. 350
Wadsworth reelected Senator. 350
Soldiers' bonus proposition approved. 351
ILLUSTRATIONS
with BIOGRAPHIES
Willard Bartlett 144
Archie Easton Baxter
32
Frank Swett Black. 48
William M. Calder.
288
Bainbridge Colby. 288
Edgar Montgomery Cullen
128
John Alden Dix
208
James Watson Gerard
224
Martin Henry Glynn. 240
John Clinton Gray. 144
George Brintom McClellan Harvey 160
William Randolph Hearst 176
Frank Wayland Higgins. 112
Frank Harris Hiscock. 304
Charles Evans Hughes Frontispiece
John F. Hylan
336
Robert Lansing
320
Seth Low.
80
George Brintom McClellan
96
Nathan L. Miller.
336
S. Frederick Nixon
64
Benjamin Barker Odell, Jr.
80
James Aloysius O'Gorman. 208
Alton Brooks Parker 112
Horace Porter. 16
Edward Schoeneck 304
Edwin Morse Shepard 16
Alfred Emanuel Smith 320
Nathan Straus 96
William Sulzer. 240
Benjamin Franklin Tracy
32
Irving G. Vann. 192
Robert A. Van Wyck 64
James Wolcott Wadsworth, Sr. 128
James Wolcott Wadsworth, Jr. 256
Horace White
192
Charles Seymour Whitman 272
Stewart L. Woodford 160
.
FOREWORD
The writing of history is a task peculiar to itself. The collation and recording of consecutive events con- cedely should be done concurrently with their happen- ings. The final estimate as to the actuating motives and ultimate effect, however, can be determined only after a lapse of time sufficient to eliminate all personal con- siderations and afford a viewpoint absolutely unpreju- diced and impartial, tempered by time in the light of succeeding events.
Entirely removed from all influences of party strife and dispassionately reviewing the events of the past thirty years, with the first twenty-five of which I had something to do, I find that my personal viewpoint has materially changed. Matters regarded at the time of their happening as of vital importance, when reviewed now from a distance, appear to have been really of little account on the other hand those seemingly of trivial import and practically overlooked, have developed into real issues of far reaching effect in both party and governmental affairs.
It has been stated that history should not be written until after the lapse of at least a half century. With this I do not agree. Events with their producing motives and causes should be permanently recorded within the lifetime of those responsible for them so as to be sub- jected to all possible living criticism, in order that the absolute truth may be sifted out and determined and permanently prevail.
It is true that many men, each participating in some degree in a certain event, will each have a different ver- sion depending upon the part taken and the individual degree of participation. So it is that differences of opinion arise, capable of determination only by those who were in a position to know all of the surrounding facts and circumstances.
In this work, matters in doubt or controversy have been submitted personally to those who were in a posi- tion to know or the conflicting versions have been im- partially stated. On matters open to question and not capable of personal verification the most reliable au- thorities have been accepted.
To Willis Fletcher Johnson, Roscoe C. E. Brown and Walter W. Spooner, each of established reputation as editor and writer all credit is due. To our many friends, men who were active participants in the events chronicled and who have given freely of their time and effort in helping make this work accurate and authentic, we owe much.
Mindful that in all matters pertaining to public af- fairs the primary object to be attained is to help people to better know and appreciate the fundamental princi- ples of our government, the real signicance of our insti- tutions, what and why they are; what we should do in order to help our country fulfill its destiny as the leader of nations in firmly implanting the principles of free- dom, justice and humanity throughout the world; we submit this contribution to our national literature.
R. B. S.
CHAPTER I THE FIGHT AGAINST SILVER 1896
W HILE Morton was being put forward as a Presidential candidate in New York, the real struggle for the nomination was going on between William McKinley and Thomas B. Reed; for no one except the Governor took the Morton boom with seriousness, or believed it anything but an attempt to hold the New York delegation to serve Platt's purposes. Of the two leaders Platt preferred Reed, but Mckinley had many friends in the State, and their campaign to pick up district delegates wherever Platt's domination was not overwhelming contributed greatly to his final success.
The Tribune was friendly to Mckinley but slow to commit itself to him. On March 1 it published conspicuously a letter signed, "A Republican Since Fremont," which said: "If the one thing the people want is to get back to where they were, a natural response to their desire would have been the nomination of General Harrison. He himself prevents that. What is the next natural response? Is it not the nomination of the man whose very name expresses to every voter the system which was abandoned in 1892 and which he
15
16
POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
[1896
wants now to restore as quickly as he can?" Though the Tribune for some little time in its editorial columns continued to maintain benevolent neutrality, its influence was strongly for Mckinley. Cornelius N. Bliss did active work in securing Mckinley delegates. In an interview he declared: "Mr. Platt says that he is honestly for Governor Morton for President. That I am not inclined to doubt, but I fear the Governor will get little from an advocate who deliberately so acts as to make it impossible for self-respecting men to be allied with him, even for a good purpose."1
Milholland and his friends organized the Mckinley League and made a demonstration at the State conven- tion, in New York City on March 24, intended to break the force of any claim that New York was solid against McKinley. Cornelius R. Parsons was temporary chairman of the convention and George N. Southwick permanent chairman. A platform was adopted declar- ing that, until there was a prospect of an international agreement as to silver coinage and while gold remained the standard of the civilized world, the Republicans of New York favored the firm and honorable maintenance of that standard. The convention instructed for Mor- ton and chose Platt, Depew, Miller, and Edward Lauterbach delegates-at-large. The Mckinley men offered a resolution to substitute General Samuel Thomas of New York and Mayor Edgar B. Jewett of Buffalo for Platt and Lauterbach, with instructions to the delegates to support Mckinley as a second choice if Morton was not nominated on the first ballot. This was
1New York Tribune, January 28, 1896.
HORACE PORTER
Horace Porter, diplomat and soldier; born at Huntington, Pa., April 15, 1837; educated, Lawrence scientific school, Har- vard; graduated at United States military academy, 1860; 2d lieutenant U. S. A., April 22, 1861; 1st lieutenant, June 7, 1861; captain, March 3, 1863; colonel and aid-de-camp to Gen- eral Grant, April 4, 1864; colonel of staff and aid-de-camp to the general in chief, U. S. A., July 25, 1866; assistant secretary of war, 1866; executive secretary to President Grant, 1869- 1873; ambassador to France, 1897-1905; orator at the dedication of Washington arch, New York City, May 4, 1895 and at the dedication of Grant's tomb, New York, April 27, 1897; re- covered the body of Paul Jones at his personal expense in Paris, April 7, 1905; delegate to The Hague peace conference, 1907.
EDWIN MORSE SHEPARD
Edwin Morse Shepard; born New York City, 1850; gradu- ated from college of the City of New York, 1869; civil service commissioner, Brooklyn, 1883-1885; chairman of commission, 1888-1890; democratic candidate for mayor of Greater New York, 1901; proposed for gubernatorial and other nominations by his party; died New York City, October 4th, 1911.
17
THE FIGHT AGAINST SILVER
1896]
lost, 621 to 109. Thirty-six delegates from Kings, 13 from New York, 13 from Chautauqua, and 7 from Cattaraugus were among those favoring the substi- tution.2
Platt carried his opposition to Mckinley to great lengths. On May 11 he published an interview saying of Mckinley: "He is not a great man as Mr. Reed is. He is not a trained and educated public man as Senator Allison is. He is not an astute political leader as Senator Quay is. He is simply a clever gentleman much too amiable and much too impressionable to be safely entrusted with a great executive office."3 He declared that he was not safe on the currency and that his prominence was due to the accidental advantage of having his name associated with the tariff. A little later Platt went still farther and said that Mckinley was not a free agent, that he was mortgaged up to his eyes with pledges that could never be performed.4
Although still ostensibly for Morton, Platt offered, so he tells in his Autobiography, "to combine the field against McKinley's nomination." "I had suggested the plan of New England being for Reed, New York for Morton, Pennsylvania for Quay, Indiana for Fair- banks, Iowa for Allison, and the various States each for a favorite son." But he could not effect the combina- tion and by the time the delegates assembled at St. Louis on June 16 it was clear that Marcus A. Hanna, the Mckinley manager, had made a success of his
2New York Tribune, March 25, 1896.
3Platt, Autobiography, p. 313.
4New York Sun, May 14, 1896.
5Platt, Autobiography, p. 403.
18
[1896
POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
campaign. Miller, who led the Mckinley men in the New York delegation, sought to make Depew a candidate for its chairman against Platt, and failing became a candidate himself as part of the policy of contesting at every point Platt's claim to represent the solid sentiment of New York against Mckinley. Platt won by a vote of 53 to 17, and a resolution to stick to Morton to the finish was carried, 56 to 13.6
The wording of the money plank of the platform was a matter of difficulty, and its origin is a matter of dispute. Platt and Henry Cabot Lodge are said to have forced upon Hanna the wording of the unequivocal declaration for the gold standard, on which the cam- paign was subsequently waged. The only changes, however, alleged to have been introduced into the draft favored by Hanna at their suggestion were verbal alterations, which in no way modified the substantial meaning of the plank. The plank as finally adopted, with the amendments attributed to Platt and his friends in italics and the words discarded from the original Mckinley draft in brackets, was :
"We are therefore opposed to the free coinage of silver, except by international agreement with the leading commercial nations of the world, which we pledge ourselves to promote; and until such agree- ment can be obtained the existing gold standard must be preserved. [We favor the use of silver in our currency to the extent only that its parity with gold can be maintained.] All our silver and paper cur- rency must be maintained at parity with gold, and we favor all meas- ures designed to maintain inviolably the obligations of the United States and all our money, whether coin or paper, at the present standard, the standard of the most enlightened nations of the earth."
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