New-York tribune., 1910-09-02
SILENT SYSTEM IN VOGUE.
Barnes and Woodruff Stop Talk
ing and Get to Work.
LINING UP THE DELEGATES
CONGRESSMAN Bennett Thinks He
Will Be Chosen, and Favors
Direct Nominations.

All work and no talk was the oroe' oi
the dsy at Republican state heaoauar-
,e-s the fortress of the "old guard, yes
terdav. William Barnes, jr.. who has as
.,,,,,ad leadership of the machine mems
eght against Roosevelt and direct nomina-
.,ops was busier than anybody there ex-
cent state Chairman Woodruff. He took
dav off from selling real estate to devote
10 Matching his political fences
State Headquarters rapidly is assuming
the appearance of a campaign committee
workshop In the throes of next to the last
week of the fight. Messenger boys dart IN
and out with kilograms. The telephone
bells tinkla constantly. Typewriters chck
off numerous messages to upstate poll
ticians. while Mr.. Barnes takes, visiting
politicians into the innermost room, SOL
emnly closes the massive Circassian walnut
doors. and proceeds to line them UP with
the "old guard'-if he's lucky.
Just how much progress they were MAX
ing in their work neither would say.
I've no contribution to make to the
spread of knowledge" said Mr.. Barnes.
with an expansive, genial smile wreathing
his face
DO you agree with the new nationalism
Of Mr.. Roosevelt" he was asked.
'fOh. don't know he replied, with
look of utter weariness-
I'm very busy" said State Chairman
Woodruff, as he opened letter with each
hand and prepared to dictate to the wait
ing stenographer That was his sole COM
ment on the political outlook
Barnes Talks with Halpn.
One of the men with whom Mr.. Barnes
talked Yesterday was William Halpin,
leader of the 7th District. Mr.. Halpin was
Odells county chairman. His presence at
state headquarters gave much color TO
political gossip that the 'old guard was
endeavoring to stir up revolt among the
OdeI men in New York County against
Lloyd c. Griscom's leadership. 1t is said
that Barnes and Woodruff feel pretty GER
tain they can get the delegates from the
districts of Jimmie March. William II.
Ten Eyck and Ed Healy when they are
needed and that they would like very
much to land Halpin and Moses Mckee.
Mr.. Halpin wouldn't say anything about
his talk with Barnes. 1t Is not considered
likely that he will join the ''old guard. In
deed, the Progressives don't believe that
the utmost efforts of the "old guard VIII
result in much of backfre against MI.
Griscom in this county.
Abraham Gruber announces in vitriolic
language that he will vote against Theo-
dore Roosevelt for temporary chairman of
the convention. or any other place. Prob
ably he will carry his delegates from the
18th District with him. Aside from that,
he will be regular with the Grisconlites
probably even to the extent of supporting
a direct nominations plank.
One district leader said yesterday that
he thought it very probable the vote of
New York County's delegation would be
solid on the direct nominations issue, and
only slightly cracked on the Roosevelt
matter.
Lose Ground in Brooklyn.
Apparently the Woodruffites in Brooklyn
have been forced to yield ground in one of
the two real primary fights ttere-that
against Senator Reuben L. Gledhill, in the
9Th Assembly District. Gledhfll's record in
the Legislature furnished much material
for attack by his opponents, IN addition to
their statement that he was merely a badly
blurred rubber stamp for Woodruff Will
lam n. Mcnamara is contesting the lead
ership of Gedhill. and has been putting up
=
nounced that Gledhill would retire Alder
man John Diemer is to be the Woodruff
candidate for leader-a mere change in the
style Of the rubber stamp, according to the
Mcnamara men.
Anti-Woodrun men say they'll not only
! beat his candidate for leader at the pri-
maries, but they'll defeat Gledhill- at cleo
ton if he tries to run for the Senate again.
It isn't likely that he will be renominated.
There was considerable gossip yesterday
that the ''old guard had decided TO push
State Treasurer Dunn, of Rochester. as
their candidate for Governor. Mr.. Dunn
has a little boom in his home town, where
he is 8 respected business man and g.
loyal adherent of George Washington AID
ridge, who put him into the Senate and
then into the State Treasurer's office
Not a great deal of credence was given
to the story that Mr. Dunn was TO be the
"old guards" candidate, because the 'old
guard" officially has announced that it
won't have any candidate. Privately. the
old guardsmen' say they know any man
bearing their label would be slaughtered
at the polls by the Progressives. so there's
no use in selecting one. Mr.. Dunn has
some real friends in politics. and probably
they will prevent his being led to the
slaughter.
Bennet Is Hopeful.
Representative William S. Bennet who
saw President Taft at Beverly Wednes
day, said that so far as he could learn
the President felt about the New York
State situa ton precisely as he did when he
dictated the Griscom letter. Mr. Bennett
didn't take any stock in reports that the
''old guard" could make satisfactory ex-
plantations to the President
Mr.. Bennett said his boom for the govern
orship nomination was fourishing. and he
thought he'd be nominated
I'm for q direct nominations plank in
the platform" he said. He hoped it would
be one, though. which all elements of
the party could agree. Despite the fact
| that Mr.. Roosevelt and William Barnes
jr., representing the opposite wings of
the party on that issue. said there could
be no compromise, Mr.. Bennett thought the
various Republican elements weren't so
very far apart now.
They agreed in the last Legislature -
said he, "on four important primary re-
forms--a uniform primary day. statewide
enrolment. an official primary ballot and
the aboIishment of intermediate conven-
| tons to elect delegates to other conven-
| tions. These reforms a couple of years
ago would have been considered tremen-
dous progress"
Mr.. Bennett hadn't any suggestions to
make Yesterday about how the warning
| factions could be brought into harmony
! On direct nominations.