New-York tribune., 1910-06-30
lRr telegram to The Trtbune.1

IBy Telegraph TO The Trfbunel
Albany. June 29-Theodore Roose-
velt's advocacy of the Cobb direct nornl-
nations bill with the New York County
has thrown the old guaru
into a panic Direct nominations men
say it means the passage Of the Dill
Opposition to that measure will persist.
but il won't be a concerted machine op-
position. 1t will be individual opposi-
ton. and there won't be so many OF the
individuals either. Before word of Mr.
Roosevelt's telegram to Lloyd c. Girls
com was ten minutes old here the exodus
from the machines chariot to the direct
nomination band wagon had begun and
there won't be much more than cor
poraFs guard left of the "old guard by
morning at tho present rate of progress
This action is regarded here as mark
ing the assumption by Mr.. Roosevelt OF
state leadership of the party. That
leadership is hailed with Joy by all save
the "Old Guard" 1t is taken as assur-
ance that the party will have to put
itself abreast Of progressive public sentl-
ment and free itself from some indi-
wheels of the machine lately. 1t is be-
Iieved that his leadership will make
reasonably easy a Republican victory
this fall
With word of MIR. ROOsevelt's attitude
came convincing evidence of how real
sentiment was behind the much de-
rided Cobb compromise" 1T was
hot
dressed to the Legislature and signed
by many of the signers of the Choate-
w-Schurman-Taft-Bu memorial TO
the Legislature which was used by the
anti-Hughes bosses to kill the Hinman-
Green bill. These petitions from emf
nent Republicans urge caucus on the
Cobb bill in the Assembly and its pass
age as party measure Similar COM
munications from Republicans who did
not sign the original memorial also are
being received here. Moreover, infiu-
entail Republican leaders like Griscom,
of New York. and Greiner. of Erie, both
here tonight, are outspokenIy in favor
of the bill, and there will be more like
them by tomorrow.
'SiA ny TcW Expected
Almost everybody here tonight, ex-
cept the WadswOrth- Barnes Woodruff
Republicans. believes this voicing of
public sentiment by ex-President Roose-
welt and other eminent Republicans as
sures the passage of the Cobb bill. There
will be a hard fight, to be sure, before
it is made caucus measure, but that
fight will be made by comparatively few
men, the Wadsworth leaders. Many
men who voted against the Hinman-
Green bill and the Cobb measure at the
regular session will welcome the caucus
to relieve them from criticism for chang
ing their position now. From what al
ready has taken place. il seems almost
impossible that the Wadsworth men can
hold enough men in line TO enable them
to defeat the bill
Telegraph and telephone wires are red
hot tonight between the Capitol and
Washington, the Capitol and Boston and
Albany and practically every big city
in the state The entire political force
of the state has been set at work on one
side or the other. The situation is rec
ognfzed by both sides as critical. and
people here regard il as being quite as
much g political situation as a Iegisla-
tive one Not only the fate of the Cobb
bill and direct nominations legislation
but of the next state campaign Will be
settled in the working out of the pres
ent problem, in the Judgment of many
politicians
The "OId Guard" Angry.
Despite this, Mr.. Roosevelt's assump-
ton of leadership IS bitterly ented by
those Republicans who have been fight
ing Governor Hughes. Politically. the
lineup tonight seems to be the Wads-
worth-Barnes- Woodruff old guard"
against Taft, Hughes, Root and great
mass of the most representative Repub-
licans in the state. Not many of the
..old guardsmen'' speak their resentment
against MIR. Roosevelt in plain words.
Informally, nothing is too bitter for ut
terance Progressive Republicans con-
slider the outbreak which followed the
announcement of his position to be an
other indication of the "old guards rule
or ruin policy. produced by the knowl-
edge that they would not be permitted
to rule and might not even have the re-
venge of running the party by spelling
its campaign prospects.
Threats are being made tonight that
if the Cobb bill is passed the Assembly
machine will pass the Hinman- Green
bill and keep the Legislature in session
all summer until that becomes law The
theory is that II some direct nominations
are good the complete outfit would De
much better.
Ray B. Smith. clerk of the Assembly
Is the originator OF this scheme He says
ne thinks il could be accomplished cas-
lily. Indications are that he is somewha
optimistic on that score. as wadswortl
men who are as uncompromisingly op
posed to direct nominations as he do no
agree with him on that scheme of re
venge. They seem To think that remed
would be worse than the disease.
| Direct nominations men were obtain
. Continued sa tssstb 4ADo