The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-09
LEADERS ARE WORRIED
Open Warfare Has Not Yet
Been Declared.
Gov. Hughes sticks 10 Official Busi-
ness and Does Not Mix with Organi-
zation's AfTairs-Chairman Barnes
Admits Seriousness of SpIit-Assem-
bly, Committee Makeup VIII Have
Bearing on National Situation,

New York, Nov. S.--A good many Re
publican eyes are now directed toward
dhe situation in New York State. Sec
Fetary Taft Of Ohio; Senator Foraker
and Senator Dick, of the same State;
Senator Knox. of Pennsylvania; Senator
Crane, Of Massachusetts: Senator Kean.
OF New Jersey; Vice President Fair
banks. of Indiana, and Speaker Cannon,
or Illinois, and their friends are eager 10
know, it was learned to-day, the pros
pective situation in the State as repre-
sented in the Republican National Con-
vention next year. A good deal Of pros
pecting has been done since election day.
These eminent Republicans and their
representatives have learned that there is
40 head to the Republican organization
of the State, such as in the old days was
represented by Fenton, Conkling, and
Platt The organization is cut I'd into
factions, headed by Woodruff, President
Parsons, OF the New York Republican
county committee; William Barnes. jr.,
Of Albany; Louis F. PayR, Of Chatham;
Francis Hendricks. of Syracuse; George
w Dunn. Of Binghamton; George w. Al
bridge. Of Rochester; Postmaster Greiner,
fof Buffalo; Representative J. SIoat Fas-
sett of Elmira; Benjamin 3. Odeu, jr..
OF Newburgh and William l.. Ward. OF
West Chester, and former Coy. Frank 5.
Black. of Troy, is not without his follow
ing. There is no compact, while there
is a singular lack Of cohesion. There is
10 open warfare at the moment.
Gov Hughes, forgetting all the ira
ditions Of his office, sticks closely TO his
business as governor of all the people of
the State. He is not insensible. stated.
10 the very general condemnation given
TO the first year Of his administration.
Yet he does not mix with the organization
affairs OF his party.
Situation Was Discussed.
Mr.. Barnes Joined Chairman Woodruff
to-day az Republican State Headquarters.
md later there We're talks with Mr. Ward.
who is the Republican national committee
man for the State. All the notable Re-
pubhcans in the organization. either in
dividually or collectively, have discussed
the prospective situation in the organiza-
tion. so far as &c may be outlined at the
moment in the national convention at the
opening Of this article. There have been
scores OF private conversations and dozens
of conferences.
All this must come to head some day.
st was averred to-day, and it may come
20 "a head il was added, sooner than
many expect
For instance. Mr. Barnes. after his talk
with Mr.. Woodruff and Mr. Ward. said:
''The Republican party in the State
cannot afford TO have a fight We came
out splendidly on election day But for
all that We cannot afford to have further
factonal differences. All of the wrinkles
are to be ironed out. just how It is diff
cult TO say at the moment. But there is
to be no trouble in the State no factional
fights over delegates for the national con
ventiOn. if it can be avoided"
Mr.. Barnes went on 10 make the fol-
lowing predictions: Speaker Wadsworth
10 succeed himself as speaker this win
ter; Edwin A. Merritt, jr.. of st. Law
renee, to be majority leader of the as
sembly. and Ray b. Smith, Of Syracuse.
20 be clerk Of the assembly.
IL has been announced previously that
Col Archie +. Baxter. of Elmira. and Mr..
Smith had already begun to pledge prob
able Republican assemblymen 20 their
\ aspirations. Col. Baxter to succeed him
self as clerk and Mr.. Smith 10 supplant
Col. Baxter. The pledging of Republican
assemblymen elected on Tuesday is still
going on. Notwithstanding Mr.. Barnes
prediction that Mr.. Smith will succeed
Col. Baxter. Mr.. Barnes, however, speak
ing more on this subject spoke very posi-
lively. indeed, almost like a boss, when
he added.
Understanding TO BE Carried out.
There viii be no fight between Baxter
and Smith Smith viii be elected clerk
unanimously. Baxter has no sIpport
whatever; the understanding was last
year that he should be chosen and then
retire. He says he did not agree to anv
such thing. but that understanding stands
and Will be carried out"
Mr.. Smith is one of the chief Ueuten-
ants of Francis Hendricks in Onondaga
County Col. Baxter did not have The
unqualified friendship OF Chairman Wood
ruff last year, and he had the open hos
tility of Representative Fassett Of Elmir,
Indeed, Mr.. Fassett. as the Republican
state committeeman for the district in
which Col. Baxter lives. made a formal
protest to Mr.. Woodruff against Col.
Baxter The trouble was patched I'D
with some sort of an understanding at
the time, and il was generally believed
that Col Baxter was TO retire this year
from the place he had held for half a
dozen sessions at Albany Col Baxter.
however. reiteTates that he never agreed
to any such arrangement
The makeup Of the assembly COM
mittees and the selection of the men to
be chairmen OF the important committees
Of the assembly will have an important
bearing on the national situation next
year, SO far as the selection of delegates
10 the national convention Is concerned
Ali wheels are within wheels in a DO
litical organization, and many RepubH-
cans Of national repute are 10 have their
eyes steadily fastened on Albany this
winter. They are particularly TO read
Gov Hughes second annual message TO
the legislature. and in other ways they
are to give time and attention 10 the
progress OF the Hughes administration
as il approaches national convention time
in June next year.