The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-09-29
NEW YORK FIGHT
The Roosevelt forces Are
in Control.
FIGHT OVER CHAMPIONSHIP
Sherman Notified State Committee
He Wouldn't Serve as Temper
airy Officer if Trickery
is Proven.
FIGHT OVER CHAMPIONSHIP

Saratoga. n. V, Sept. 27.-The Re
publican state committee had a most
notable meeting in the ballroom oil the
United States hotel Chairman limo
thy l.. Woodruff presided When the
roll had been called by Lafayette b.
Gleason. secretary of the committee
Chairman Woodruff arose and amid
profound silence read the following
letter:
Saratoga. n. Y. Sept. 20.
ITO the Members OF the Republican
State Committee. Hon. 7. l.. Wood
run, Chairman:
MY Dear Governor WoodruhZAs
you know. had no ambition TO pre-
side over the state convention. Az you
also know. | was asked to preside, not
alone because | was part OF the Tart
administration. but because IL was
known. in response to the presidents
request had spoken for the admins
tration and for him on several occa-
sions in different sections of the coun-
try. because il was known had been
a staunch supporter of the president
during his entire term Of Office. be-
cause was known to be an especially
ardent supporter and advocate OF the
basic principles OF the party. My name
was presented in the state committee
in accordance with custom In state and
nation. | solicited no mans support.
consented TO act as a service TO my
party. not to crafty a personal ambi-
ton. In that respect had none.
The charge has since been made
in some quarters that my selection
was accomplished in the state COM
mittee by means of deception and mis-
representation. don't believe II. SO
lar as | am personally concerned,
know the statement to be absolutely
unfOunded. Even 10 do the party ser
vice. am unwilling TO serve in the
face OF such a charge if well founded.
| therefore ask that at the committee
meeting this charge. so publicly made,
be. with equal directness and pub
licity. investigated; that the majority
of the state committee who originally
favored my selection may each de-
clare whether or not his preference
was based upon any statement which
bore any color of misrepresentation or
deception. for if such be the fact. |
ask that my name be not presented to
the convention for its presiding Of
fcer. j. S. SHERMAN.
After an acrimonious debate William
Barnes, Jr., offered a resolution, read
ing:
That it is the sense of this COM
mittee that Mr. Sherman was selected
on Aug. l6, at the meeting OF the
state committee in New York city, TO
be temporary chairman of the state
convention. through no misrepresenta-
ton or deceit and that Mr Sherman
be so informed by the chairman and
secretary of this committee in re-
spouse TO his letter
Representative Herbert Parsons
moved to lay Mr.. Barnes resolution
upon the table. Mr. Parsons motion
was lost by a vote of 20 to II. Mr.
Barnes resolution was then adopted.
Mr.. Griscom announced that the pro-
gressives had 574 delegates out of the
1915 in the convention, which would
give them a good working majority
lie said that since the arrival of Mr..
Roosevelt the progressives had gained
four votes
OF course there was more or less
talk in the interval over the platform
to be adopted by the convention. There
are half a dozen platforms here. one
in the hands of President Griscom. an
other in the possession Of Represen-
tative Parsons, another in the inside
pocket of William Barnes. Jr.. and in
addition there are planks innumerable
in the possession of many delegates.
The Barnes people will oppose a state
wide primary. The Roosevelt people
platform gives general endorsement
TO the Taft administration. rescinds TO
great extent the attack OF Colonel
Roosevelt upon the supreme court OF
the United States. has little or moth
ing TO say about the Payne-Aldrich
tariff bill. The Barnes platform cracks
up the Taft administration. sustains
the supreme court of the United
States and speaks out boldly for the
Payne-Aldrich tariff bill. All of these
platforms. however, are being gone
over and revised tn suit the situation