New-York tribune., 1909-01-27
RACKED BY PRESIDENT?
IN ACCORD WITH HUGHES,
4LR4NY GOSSIPS SAY.
They also Sec Struggle for Control
of PARTY in State, 1cith Dir.
RoosereH Taking Hand.
TBx Telegraph TO The Tribune ]

E-red (rrefner,
,an leader of Erie County and one of the lead
ers in the so-called federal group of Repubh-
,ans had been summoned TO Washington to
confer with President Roosevelt. and was even
,hep on his way there. Mr.. Greiner it will be
,ar,e5nbered was put outside the breastworks''
in the matter Of patronage by the Barnes set of
leaders because very early in the year he re
fused TO join their hard-and-fast combination
+a defeat the Governors direct primary legis-
lation.
Taken in conjunction with Governor Hughes's
invitation dine with the President. and the
attitude shown toward the President by Will
lam Barnes jr.. recently this spelled just one
thing 20 the gossips here-shat the President
vas going TO stand behind Governor Hughes in
his efforts to obtain primary and ballot reform
Some persons go still further and say that be-
hind these measures lies a struggle for the con-
troll Of the Republican party in this state in
the next two years in which President Roose-
yelt himself will take hand, algning himself
with the younger and more progressive ele-
rent led by Governor Hughes in opposition to
oldtime reactionary leaders.
The summons IVES considered especially sig
ni9cant in view of the fact that Herbert Par
sons. the Presidents political spokesman in New
FORK city is represented by his associates as
being about to declare for the Governors re-
forms and that Senator Newcomb. Parsons
man. actually came out to-day with strong
Interview advocating direct nominations.
Politicians who have been discussing with the
utmost interest the Presidents speech at the
Sherman dinner in Washington Saturday
night. where he declared that he intended to
continue taking en active part In the pohtical
life OF this state after he retired from Office. be-
gan 10 see a great light when they learned Of
the Greiner pilgrimage and added to that the
Governors coming visit They have not be-
lieved IL the least that the Governor was asked
10 Washington merely TO take dinner and pay
social visit TO the President-great honor as they
concede that would be. There was much spec
ulation at first as 70 the import OF that invita-
ton. because many politicians have chosen to
regard President Roosevelt and Governor
Hughes as "estranged" because Of greatly mag
nifed stories about the Archie Sanders episode
IN the Kelsey case. It is generally known
though that there actually exists q good degree
Of mutual respect and esteem. and even. per-
haps a warmer feeling. since the Governor i'm
periIled his chances of reelection to devote his
time to stumping the Mississippi Valley for Mr.
Taft.
SAY PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR AGREE
The more farsighted politicians, also have
suddenly recalled to-day-and are talking II
over in all its bearings on the existing SITUATION
that Governor Hughes and President Roose-
Nelt DESPITE
70 methods. are closely akin IN their views on
corporation regulation. the elimination OF cor
poration corruption from politics. the giving OF
greater freedom tc party members as distin-
t,uished from bosses control They are not dis
guising among themselves the fact that direct
primaries would strike a blow at the oldtlme
roSe rule which facilitated corporation domina-
ton OF both political parties and that thls
would undoubtedly please President Roosevelt
We have the Presidents word that he does
not intend to get out of public life.' declared
one leader tonight. 1T looks, also. as II Gov
ernor Hughes. taking long look ahead would
be pretty active in discussing public questions
and helping shape public opinion after he leaves
Office Now whether or not you admit that the
Governor is right in the legslative-political pol
icy he has adopted. there's no question ABOUT its
effect on the people and the tremendous popu-
larity he enjoys-even great strength-as re-
suit OF it It does look pretty likely that MI
Roosevelt is thinking of joining forces WIKI
hin: for l. in company with a good many others'
believe the President has an eye on 1911 and the
United States Senate. / think, myself, that nc
wouldn't be averse to joining hands with the
Governor TO clean house in this state, good
and plenty for the President loves fight bet
ter than anything else earth; and that 1op'
with the enactment of the Governors direct prl-
raries and ballot reform bills. would keep theih
both going for a couple of years. It'll give US
plenty TO think about for a while. anyway.
ROOT VISIT SUBJECT OF COMMENT.
In this connection the visit of Senator ROOT
here tomorrow and his speech TO the Leeis-
leture on Thursday are being made the SUBJECT
of much comment. II is no secret tnat some oi
The OLD line politicians have been figuring tnat
Senator Root tried and true party man. OF
oldtime experience, yet great presuee
splendid reputation, the leader VINO couiu
deliver them from the freak reforms OF the
younger type of Republicans like the Governor
without bringing on them q charge Of backshd-
ing from the standards actually set by the Gov
erncr IN his administration.
In the mean time while speculation along
these lines is rife in every quarter, the olrect
nominations fight continues, and each day the
Governor seems TO pe gaining some slight ao-
vantage. This was apparent in the statement
issued to-day by Senator Newcomo aoNocaoiiis
the enactment Of a bin meeting the Governor
suggestions Senator Newcomb was asked II ne
had conferred with Herbert Parsons oetore
Issuing that statement.
Nothing to say he answered 1heh' aL'ei a
moments thought. he said: -
New York knows my relations WIN fai so4i0
His statement follows:
j i'm favor of direct nominations as pro
posed by Governor Hughes. Discussion VII VII, e q.
.equired to enact such law, ana l1.,S~ dlii ac
y beginning. / no reason loi Heins S 80
ton pending an entirely unnecessary lnNesIsa
tion. The facts already wlthin the IeaIi -, ~
az who are willing TO visit hpisrE oasssibIe ol
e1er books and documents easily accsseiptI cess. a.
Row the direct nominations plan mas WoI NJ
other states has already been told VIZ" 9
n