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. Platt 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 work 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 was distasteful to him. 
His work at Albany was not finished. 
An interesting convention was that held by the Republicans at 
Philadelphia in 1900, for the nomination of candidates for the Presi- 
