Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-25
LEADERS IN CONFERENCES
Most Important State Convention in
Thirty Years.
FALSE RUMoRs CIRCULATED
Barnes Claims Majority of 100,
Which Is Regarded as a Confess
sion of Weakness.
pecisl From a STAFF Correspondent.

publicanS of this state find themselves
on the eve of the most important state
convention in thirty years. Indeed. there
is nothing comparable to the approach
ing convention. the old-timers, say, ex-
cept the notable gathering at Utica thirty
years ago, when Roscoe Conkling, under
whip and spur. rode down the delegates
and jammed through the famous indorse-
ment of third term for Grant
That was the precursor of the feud
which split the republican party in the
state and finally was felt nationally. The
New York delegation to the national con-
vention refused to abide by Conkling's
dictation. and only the immortal sos
followed to the end. You recall how the
feud spread after Garfield's nomination
and election. how Grover Cleveland was
elected Governor of New York. and two
years later President of the United
States.
Sometimes politics. like history, runs
in cycles and many republicans gather
ed in Saratoga tonight are asking one
another If the republican party is again
about to make an opening for democratic
success in the state elections and pave
the way for possibly a democratic victory
in 1912.
Record-Breaking Crowd.
1t is certain that no convention in recent
years has attracted the attention of this
one. and a record-breaking crowd is
promised. The convention does not meet
until Tuesday, but already sleeping ac-
commodations are at premium, and the
advance nf hn hot ola a..
taking position on the firing line.
Trains arrived in extended sections. and
many additional parlor cars failed to ac-
commodate the politicians de luxe who
crowded aboard. The mammoth United
States Hotel. with its connecting cot-
tages. was ablaze with lights when we
piled in at dusk in a dreary rain, and
CHEEKY CRATE fires in the cottages marked
the spots where the leaders were gather
ing in moody conferences
William Barnes, Tim Woodruff, Littauer.
William l.. Ward. Lou PAYNE all the old
wheel horses, were on hand in one group
and Lloyd Grscom and his cocky young
lieutenants of ths hostile forces in another.
The warning factiOnists greeted each other
with rather an elaborate politeness,
which among political feudists always
bodies i'll. 1t is as If they would say to
each other: "Ah, my dear fellow, accept
my greetings as 1 get ready to slit your
throat with this knife | have SO handily
concealed in my boot leg
Roosevelt to Arrive Monday.
Roosevelt will arrive Monday in a gale
of enthusiasm, which his followers are
getting ready for him. and Vice Presi-
dent Sherman will come in the same day.
accompanied by 400 appreciative fellow
townsmen. Then the rank and file of the
delegates will roll into town i'm special
trains, the bands will boom and the old
village will be alive once more.
1t Is assured that the delegates to this
convention will find themselves very inn
portant and much cOurted. The element
of doubt as to the outcome, the closeness
of the contest for domination of the con-
vention will make every small delegation
and each individual therein important fac
tors. There will be a counting of noses
as never before.
False Reports Circulated.
Already there are rumors of disaffec-
tion of delegations in one faction and the
other. The first thing William Barnes
heard this afternoon upon arrival was
that the Syracuse delegation had gone
over to Roosevelt. He called up Francis
Hendricks on the phone to inquire, and
was informed by Mr.. Hendricks, in that
gentleman's characteristically breezy and
emphatic style that the report was un-
true.
This is familiar feature Of the stam-
pede methods often adopted, and with =
sigh the leaders realize that such reports
will keep them on the jump all the time.
Barnes knows that he has got to fight
for every mothers son Of delegate he
has in his column to keep him from
being stampeded by the Rough Rider.
who. in his life on the plains. has seen a
Mexican with serape put more than
one drove TO panicky flight
Some of the politicians gathered here
reflect with some bitterness Of spirit upon
the fact that two years ago Senator Root,
delegated by President Roosevelt TO rep
resent him in the convention here, was
chosen temporary chairman a month in
advance of the meeting and that now
the Roosevelt factions complain because
Sherman's election followed that prece-
dent.
But what good will IL do them to cast
up taunts about inconsistency? They
would have no more effect upon the
Roosevelt people than chaff before the
wind.
Barnes Claims 100 Majority.
The old guard. which. indeed. never
surrenders.'' is keeping its nerve to the
end in the face of situation that has
daily been growing more unfavorable to
it's fortunes. Barnes claims a majority
of 100. but that is in itself confession
of weakness. for what would 100 be in
total vote of l,O15. with Roosevelt storm
ing the convention?
The old guard is bringing to Saratoga
q new element in state convention con-
tests, business men of prominence in
their sections who are to talk with tho
delegates in favor of a conservative plat.
form and to decry Roosevelt as an alleged
menace to business prosperity.
Here is a sample of the way Roosevelt
handles that angle Of the situation:
The leader of one OF the delegations op-
posed to him told him yesterday frankly
that 1t was on account of their fear OF his
radicalism.
There you co. cried the colonel, you
are i'm with Aids and the other grafters."
Now what are they going TO do when ha
goes after them In that fashion? II will
be observed that he didn't reply to tho
charge of his alleged radicalism, but SIM
pIv tagged the other fellow with the
"Erafters" and passed him up.
Everybody here Is hoping that the meet
ing Of the committee on resolutions Will
be public William Barnes has promised
to make the colonel deal in lOIh and Giyo