The sun., 1907-11-09
CLOSE WATCH ON GOV. HUGHES
REPUBLICANS ANXIOUS ABOUT
TEE NEW YORK SITUATION.

william nArnes-WhO1n Re Treasurer
S0 the National COmmlttee2 - Blnss
win Not and BrOOker ~ DOdslnk ~.
A good many Republican eyes are now
Slirectad toward the situation in New York
State. Secretary Taft OF Ohio. Senator
Foraker and Senator Dick OF the same
! State. Senator Knox of Pennsylvania,
Senator Crane OF Massachusetts. Senator
! Kean oS New Jersey. Vice-President Fair
banks Of Indiana and Speaker Cannon Of
/ Illinois and their friends ars eager 20 know.
It was learned yesterday, the prospective
| situation in the State as bearing on the
| Republican national convention next year.
A good deal Of prospecting had been
done since election day. These eminent
Republicans and their representatives have
learned that there il no head to the Repub-
Iican organization Of the State. such as in
the old days was represented by FentOn,
ConkIing and Platt The organization is
cut up Into factions. headed by Woodruff.
President Parsons of the New York Re
! publican county committee. William Barnes,
Jr.. OF Albany. Louis F. Payn Of Chatham,
Francis Hendricks Of Syracuse. George
W. Dunn Of BinRhamtOn. George W. Al
Slridge of Rochester. Postmaster Griner OF
Buffalo. Representative J. Sloat Fassett
OF Elmira. Benjamin b. Odell. Jr.. Of New
burgh and William l.. Ward Of Mestchester.
and former Gov. Frank =. Black Of Troy
is not without his following.
There is no compact whole; there is a
singular lack of cohesion. There is no
open warfare at the moment. Gov Hughes,
forgetting all the traditions OF his office.
sticks closely to his business as Governor
of all the people of the State. He IL not
inseuaible, il was stated, To the very gen
eral commendatiOn given to the first year
Of his administration. Yet he does not
mix with the organization Affairs OF his
party.
Mr.. Barnes Joined Chairman Woodruff
Yesterday at Republican State headquar-
ters. and later there were talks with Mr..
Ward. who is the Republican national COM
mitteeman for the State. All the notable
| Republicans in the organization have dis
| Cussed the irrespective situation in the
organization with all Of the national Re
Dublcans mentioned at the opening OF this
/ article. There have been scores OF private
! conversations and dozens Of conferences.
I All this must come TO head some day, it
was averred yesterday. and it may come
| 70 a head 10 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 can
not afford to have a fight. We came out
spIendidly on election day, But for all
/ that we cannot afford 10 have further fac
/ tionaI differences All of the wrinkles are
! 70 he ironed out just how it is difficult tO
sav at the moment. But there is TO he no
! trouble in the State. no factional fights over
| delegates for the national convention. II
I it can be avoided"
Mr. Barnes wen. on TO make the follow
ing predictions: Speaker Wadsworth to
| succeed himself as Speaker this winter;
Edwin A. Merritt Jr., OF st. Lawrence to
be ma iority leader Of the Assembly; Ray h.
Smith of Syracuse TO he clerk OF the As
sembly.
that Col. Archie +. Baxter Of Elmra and MIR.
! smith had already begun 20 pledge proba-
! bIe Republican Assemblynen to their as
| Dirations Col. Baxter TO succeed hlmseIf
as clerk and Mr.. Smith TO supplant CoL
! Baxter. The pIedging OF Republican As
sennblymen elected on Tuesday is still go
I in0 on Notwithstanding Mr.. BaTncs's pre-
, diction that Mr. smith will succeed Col
Baxter MIR. Barnes, however, spoke very
| relatively indeed almost like boss, when he
added: There will be no fight between
Baxter and Smith. smith will be elected
! clerk unanimously. Baxter has no support
| whatever: the understanding was last year
thar he should be CHOSEN ana tnen fftue.
| He saws he did not agree to any such thing,
! but that understanding stands and will be-
| carried out.
of Francis Hendricks in OnondaRa county;
Col. Baxter did not have the unqualified
! Friendship of Chairman Woodruff last year.
! and hs, had the open hostility OF Representa-
! tive Fassett of Elmira. Indeed MIR. Fassett
! gs the Republican state committeeman Tor
| the district in which Col. Baxter lives. made
! "a formal protest to Mr.. Woodruff against
| Col BAXTER The trouble was patched up
| with some sort of an understanding at the
! time. and il was generally believed that
Col Baxter was to S res're e. ths year ,aSsn from
/ sessions at Albany. Col. Baxter however,
| refNerates that he never agreed to any such
! arrangement.
I The mAkeup Of the Assembly committees
/ and the selection Of the men to be chairmen
! Of the important committees OF the Assem-
! DIV will have an important hearing on the
: natioaal situation next year. 40 Tar as the
! s,lection Of delegates TO the national con
] vention is concerned. All wheels are
| within wheels in political organization.
| and many Republicans Of national repute
! are 10 have their eyes steadily fastened on
| Albany this winter. They are particularly
anxious to read Gov. hughess second
annual message to the Legislature and in
| other ways they are to give time and atten-
| tiOn to the progress Of the Hughes admins
tration as it approaches national conVen-
ton time in June next year
| President Roosevelt and his friends in
| Waahing gton are, IL il known. keeping strict
tab on all Republican affairs Ia the State.
! The President and his friends. moreover.
are giving the same specific attention 90
! keu,blican organization affairs In Ohio.
Indiana, Missouri. Michigan. New Jersey
, Massachusetts. Connecticut, Illinois. Penn
| svIvanIa, and in fact in eveTv state where
there IL a Presidential possibility. Repub-
| lican or Democratic.
! conaiIerabIe subsoiling in the southern
States. They have learned OF the activi-
Ties Of the. friends Of other candidates. and
the greatest possible interest IL directed to-
ward the approaching meeting OF the re-
nnhJioau national committee in Washington.
Harry s. New is not TO be displaced as
chairman at this meeting. He Is TO hold
on until his successor is selected after the
Tbs Preaidential candidate OF the Repuh-
Econ marty has invariably indicated his