New-York tribune., 1910-08-20
Mr.. SIBERIAN SHOULD DECLINE.

In the interests of party harmony and
Marty success next November there is
only one thing for Vice-Presfdent Sher-
man TO do, and that is to decline to
serve as temporary chairman of the Re
publican State Convention. In saying
this we mean no dIsrespect to Mr.. Sher-
man. We heartily recognize his services
10 the party. especially his efforts to
promote harmony on an honorable basis,
Ia further the policies of Governor
Hughes last winter and to put political
sense into the management of the Re
ruhiican machine. It is because Of our
respect for him that we feel that he
sa0uld not permit himself to be used in
the carving out of the political trick
,.crnetrated by the BarneS-W Woodruff
WadsXyorth cabal.
The recent state committee meeting
was in no sense representative Through
the concea lment of their purpose to elect
a Temporary chairman the managers of
the machine contrfved to have large
Iumber of the members Of the commit
fee remain away from the meeting and
70 FIJI their places with serviceable de-
nendents Mr.. Sherman cannot as pub
l:c man set his approval upon such
methods. nor can he, as Nice-President,
allow himself to become involved In a
factionaI movement that threatens grave
damage to the Republican party.
Before this unhappy incident the diff
culties under which the party labors in
this state seemed in fair way of favor
able solution With Mr.. Roosevelt to
sound the keynote and to interest him
self in the success of the ticket. there
was good prospect of holding the in
deppndent element which has made the
party in this state successful in past
wears 10 the support of some high class
Republican candidate for Governor on
a progressive platform. Only that way
lies any hope of victory. The activity
CT Colonel Roosevelt in the campaign.
with his great personal force and mag
netism and his tremendous popular fol
lowing, would be worth thousands Of
votes to the ticket. But the hope of the
party is sacrificed by a group of little
leaders seeking their own selfish aims
and openly boasting that they are In
different to everything but the defeat OF
the Progressive movement. which they
Justly fear as reatening their own
political power -,------ * :-r
But there are either things at stake
tnan the places on the checkerboard. "
We viii not say the unity of the party
is at stake. for we do not wish to be
thought to encourage factionalism or in
dulge in alarmist language. But the sit
Gation is indeed grave and threatening.
| Party success is certainly at stake. for
| if the .'old guard" continues to impress
the public with the ugly fact of its IN
disputable dominance i'll the party all
the elements in the state which have
! long resented the opposition TO Governor
| Hughes and to those things for which
he stands viii be aIiena ted from the sup
port Of the Republican candidate for
be And the situation here may have a
I wider bearing What. for example, would
/ Fc the influence elsewhere, in other states
/ where the conscience of the people Is
alert TO The moral issue involved. Of
| the impression that the Nice-President
a member OF the national administration
/ lad allied himself with the discredited
/ Barnes Wa dsworth-W Woodruff group il
! New York: Mr.. sherman can best serve
| bis party. can best serve himself and
can best serve President Taft by declin.
/ lug to act as temporary chairman.