6o GOVERNOR AND VICE-PRESIDENT 



positively that the Franchise Act, which efforts had been made to 

 shelve, ought to be passed — and it was passed. The members of the 

 legislature knew that the Governor had voiced public opinion in what 

 he said to them, and they did not venture to defeat the measure. 



Another "impetuous" act was the removal from office of Asa B. 

 Gardiner, District Attorney of the County of New York, on the charge 

 that he had given aid and comfort to Chief of Police Devery, after that 

 officer had him indicted for issuing a seditious order to the police force 

 regarding violence at the polls. 



Other measures urgently advocated by him were bills to prevent 

 the adulteration of food products and fertilizers, to protect game, and 

 especially to aid the efficient administration of the state canals and the 

 extension of civil service regulations. He further saved the treasury 

 of New York City from heavy legalized looting by his unyielding 

 opposition to the notorious Ramapo job. 



As Governor he had to do with many momentous questions, and 

 he dealt with them all from a lofty standpoint of duty. Many times 

 he went opposite to the wishes of his party, but in each case his action 

 was creditable to him. He did not escape misunderstanding and mis- 

 representation. He had always opposed boss rule, yet he openly 

 consulted Mr. Piatt as the leader of the party. Yet with all such con- 

 sultation he lived up to his own convictions. That man would have 

 had a hardy frame of mind who sought to press any scheme of corrupt 

 politics upon him. 



For two years he occupied the Governor's chair. During the first 

 year little was done in the way of reform. The utmost he could do 

 was to see that no bad laws were enacted. During the second year 

 he got a firmer hold and much beneficial legislation was obtained. 



His Avork was not yet done. There were some reforms which he 

 desired earnestly to see accomplished before he left the Governor's 

 chair, reforms which he viewed as essential to the well-being of the 

 state. Therefore, when in 1900 his name was mentioned as a candi- 

 date for the Vice-Presidency, the suggestion w^as distasteful to him. 

 His work at Albany was not finished. 



An interesting convention was that held by the Republicans at 

 Philadelphia in 19CXD, for the nomination of candidates for the Presi- 



