New-York tribune., 1910-08-25
BARNES DEFIANT, SAYS
It LOOKS LIKE FIGHT
Will Confer with Woodruff To-
day and Look to Primary
Fences Through State.
"OLO GUARD" ON DEFENSIVE
Some Roosevelt Opponents, 1t Is
Now Said, Are Ready to Take
Other Side-Evaslon,
Says Griscom.

come to this city for conference WIN
William Barnes. jr.. and other olo
guard leaders regarding plans OF war
fare on the aft-Roosevelt Hughes he
pubicans in this state. Barnes, the man
to whom the "old guard" looks for cour-
age and inspiration in these troubious
times. isn't feeling any too chipper MIN
self, but he's staying at Republican state
eadquarters to map out the battle ana
give orders for the fray.
He was distinctly defiant last night
when ex-President RoOsevelts retort to
his statement of Tuesday nlgnt was
read to him. Mr. Roosevelt talked hght
and mo compromise
We'll the opponents of direct noml-
nations, after the contest they nave
heen through. will not violate the princi-
pies for which they have been nghtihs
at the dictation of any one sald 'he
cverlord of Albany County. so 1t looks
as if we'd have fight.
It is apparent from Mr.. Barnes s at
titude. though, that he's not conndent OF
the favorable outcome of this nsht lor
his side He's wrathful, and Vense1ul'
and angry. but he hasn't the smile OF
conAdence he wore when he directed the
bipartisan combination of Repuolican
Senators who bolted the caucus on the
Cobb direct nominations bill last winter
and their Tammany allies He's Wiling
to concede now that the people at the
nriroaries will have w~rd to say about
the state of affairs political and while
he's pretty sure what the result Will be
in Albany County he's not quite so
sure of other counties.
The state chairman and Mr. Barnes
will meet at state headquarters to-day
for conference on the outlook Barnes
spent most of yesterday working the
long distance telephone to the four quar-
ters Of the state, exhorttng old guard
men to stand fast. and urging his friends
and Woodruff's and Vice-President Sher-
mans to make certain of their delegates
to- the state convention.
"OId Guard" on Defensive.
II is no secret that the "old guard"
rather expects the Progressives to begin
a hot fight to capture delegates enough
to give them control of the state con-
vention. Whenever that is begun. the
Progressives will find that the Woodruff
Barnes Ward -Wadsworth element has
beaten them to the field by a scant mar
gin. and has begun the work just ahead
of them.
The old guard" Is on the defensive. AL
most all of its members are willing to
admit that. The Taft letter has proved
a tremendous blow, unexpected, SEEM
ingly unansWera BILE, at the least. un-
answered up to date, for Mr.. Barnes
himself does not profess that his state
ment was meant to be an answer to
the Presidents letter.
Already some of those members of the
state committee who voted against Mr..
Roosevelt for temporary chairman have
given evidence to the Progressives
that they'd like to board the band
wagon Many federal ofFiceholders are
numbered among the pillars of the "or-
ganzation." It is notorious in politics
that a federal of1ceholder Uho got his
lob through the organization Is fonder
of that particular job than most any
thing on earth. except job with a
bigger salary and fees.
Just now the great chief dispenser OF
patronage regards the "old guard"
which considers itself the Republican
party here. with a dark froun, and al
most all the oficeholders who happened
to be with the Woodruff Ward Barnes
Wadsvorth combination are shaking in
their shoes.
A Scheme of Three Parts.
It was said yesterday that the "old
guard" nevertheless. had scheme
worked out which looked pretty good |
This consisted of three parts--stiffenins
the backbone of Woodruff and Ward for |
the fight and showing Vice President |
Sherman that it was necessary for him |
to stay with his colleagues: taking steps |
Immediately to corral all available |
delegates in those counties which have |
not yet held their Caucuses or primaries, |
and sending an emissary to President |
Taft who should endeavor to show the |
Chief Executive that the "old guard |
was a much-nalgned institution which |
through an unfortunate set Of circum- |
stances appeared to have put its foot |
into it badly.
1t is said that far as the President !
is concerned. most of the 'old guard
is reasonably willing TO eat humble pie |
-up to the time of the state conven
ton. This repentance. SO far as can
be learned does not include Mr. Barnes
or Mr.. WadsWorth. Neither. ii is un-
derstood, does it include for any of the |
"old guard a Willingness to accept and
profess affection for direct primaries
and Mr. Roosevelt
The Progressives yesterday went on |
the even tenor of their way, quite con-
tent with the situation, but fully alive
70 the fact that it behooved them to
erter the scramble for delegates before
the other side got too big a start. Mr..
Griscom was in touch most of the day |
with various Republicans here who are
doing considerabl BILE subsoil work. He |
read Mr.. Barness statement of Tues
dav night with interest. but hadn't much |
to say about 1t.
Evasion, Says Grscom.
..I eao nothing in it but a clear eva