New-York tribune., 1910-08-25
B4REES FyED.S HIS VOICE.

The Hon. William Barnes. jr.. Of Al
bany. is the only member Of the "old
guard" who has recovered his voice
since the publication Of Mr- Taft's let
ter. He has not much to say about that
letter Apparently he feels that the less
said about il the better. Not being able
wholly to ignore ii. he thinks best on
the whole to misrepresent IT. Here is
Alr. Barnes's version of the letter and
the occasion for II:
So unwise was his action mr.. Girls
CONS action in nominating Mr.. Roose-
veltI that President Taft has been called
upon 70 disclaim the absurd charge that
he WAS responsible for the selection Of
Mr. Sherman.
That is. il is all Mr. Griscom's fault
President Tafts letter should be re
garded as a rebuke TO Mr. Griscom And
ali that the President did was TO dis
claim the absurd charge that he was
responsible for the selection of Mr..
Sherman, Mr. Taft. il would appear,
did not say that he had approved the
suggestion that Colonel Roosevelt should
Ice selected as temporary chairman, and
that the idea that there might be opposi-
tion did not occur TO him; or that
when informed by telephone that an
other candidate was being considered he
protested" and that after the commit
tee had acted he had ''deDlored' the
action il had taken. Mr.. Barnes did not
notice any Of these things. Nor did he
see quoted in the Presidents letter
telegram which had been suppressed. in
which the President urged cooperation
and consultation with AIr. Roosevelt.
And then Mr.. Barnes goes on to say:
"Of course he president Taft was not
responsible. nor was he consulted. Why
should he be-" But AIr Taft was con
suited when Yice-President Sherman,
representing the Barnes-Woodruff fac
ton. called him UP by telephone to say
that Senator Roots name was being
considered for the Office Of temporary
chairman, and President Taft pro
tested" against q contest. declining TO be
drawn into the fight against Colonel
Roosevelt Moreover, the old guard
made a studied effort TO create the i'm
f,ression that Nr Taft had been con
suited and had expressed his approval
OF Mr.. Sherman for temporary chairman.
The newspapers Of the day after the
state committee meeting represent Mr.
William L. Ward. one of Mr.. Barnes 5
allies. as SAYING that he had consulted
with Mr. Taft, while members of the
state committee who voted for Air.
Roosevelt say that Mr.. Ward tried to
persuade them 10 vote against him on
the ground that the President had ex-
dressed 10 him. Ward. q preference for
Mr. Sherman. Moreover. MI Barnes
himself did his best 70 create the impress
sion that in acting as they did the 'Old
guard" had carried out the wishes Of the
administration. After Tuesdays meet
Ing he said: 1T simply means that a
ma iority of the state committee decided
lit would be a good thing 10 place Mr..
sherman. q representative of the fed
..eral administration. in charge Of the
convention as temporary chairman.
Mr.. Barnes did not use that phrase, "a
representative Of the federal admins
.'tration." by accident He has consti-
tinted himself the special guardian Of the
word Representative" in order To pre-
serve all the sharpness Of the words lit
eral sense.
Among the other things IN President
Taft's letter which Nj Barnes failed 10
notice was the Presidents declaration
ID favor Of direct primaries. Mr. Barnes
still calls that system "Populistic.' which
makes the President Of the United States
A POpuIist Probably AIr- Barnes also
failed to notice Mr. Taft's intimation OF
lis svmnathv with q movement looking
10 the retirement Of State Chairman
Woodruff. which failed" unhappily 1t
viii doubtless be in vain 10 invite the
Albany lenders" attention to parts OF
the Presidents letter which he over
looked. The whole subject is plainly
beneath his notice