New-York tribune., 1911-12-14
BARNES MAKES DENIAL
State Chairman Says He Never
Gave "Intemperate Interview"
DID NOT CRITICISE TAFT
Didn't Say Roosevelt Sought To
Be Dictator Nor That He Was
Ready to Join Third Party.

Republicans yesterday afternoon were
astounded to read what purported TO De an
Interview with William Barnes. jr chair
man of the Republican State Committee, in
which he was represented as crlticising GER
tain acts Of President Taft, as saying that
Theodore Roosevelt was scheming TO be-
come a dictator and as declaring that the
trend Of the times was SO much toward
pure democracy that he was about ready TO
join in a movement TO start a third party.
Mr.. Barnes issued the following denial
last night:
No such interview on the political situa-
llon was given by me as appeared In the
New York evening papers to-day except
the following paragraph:
Il believe that great principles of gov
ernment VIII be involved In the coming
Presidential campaign which will transcend
IN Importance the political fortunes OF any
individual"
The publication, however, containing in
confusing form shades of opinion which /
personally hold. compels me to make clear
TO the Republicans and other citizens OF
the state exactly what / mean. Therefore
| wish TO say this:
The greatest evil I'm American political
life to-day Is the abuse of the public mind
Tor partisan purposes. ! do not believe that
the Republican party should be guilty of
this abuse. From its inception IL has been
the party OF resistance to error. That Is
its duty now
1t was born to resist the extension Of sa-
very 10 the territories. II succeeded in that
endeavOr. Then il resisted the doctrine
that one or more Of the states might Sc
ccde from the Union, it resisted that fall
lacy even 10 the use of arms. II resisted
the folly Of fiat money, AT that time a po-
litical craze similar to these advocatd-I to-
day, and won.
II resisted the attempt to PROSTATE
American industry by the establishment Of
tariff for revenue only. That doctrine is
now obsolete. It resisted the passionate
demand for free silver, and that issue is
gone forever.
Now it must resist the nsidious demands
which are being made to break down rep
resentativc government I'm the United
States and create i'm its stead a pure de-
mocracy. y pure democracy subvert5 the
theory OF the American Constitution a doc
people established checks 10 save them
selves from their own possible error.
Pure democracy has wrecked all the
great republics Of the world. How can we
hope 10 escape from It's insidious virus?
II is the duty Of the Republican party TO
resist the attacks on business that have
been going on during the last eight years,
largely I'm response TO the demands Of po-
litiCal agitators who pretend to believe that
they voice th" opinions Of the people Uf
this country.
The government should not lend itself
To a destructive policy which points direct
~ to a commercial panic. to the long CON
illlNcd DfpSlldtOn oI business thereafter
and To the reduction OF everybody's earn
ings and opportunities.
II il IS the present duty OF the Depart
mCUt Of Justice to continue its activities
against business because Of tho provisions
Of the Sherman law. then that law should
be- amended by some enactment that viii
allow the country TO go ahead with its de
yelopment
Uncertainty i- destruction. There arc
hundreds OF millions of money IN this coun-
try now idle that might give employment
and steady wages 10 q host OF people held
back from operation because It does not
know whether or not il darcs 10 80 To
work.
Laws should not express forbidden acts
I'm vague and misty terms. The American
business man can adjust himself TO any
reasonable conditions and can prosper
under them. But he is entitled to know
what he may and may not do under the
law.
This question is not ono Of men. but
what tho Republican party means. It's
mission was never more clear Its oNor-
tunity never more brilliant
In the published interview. which Mr.
Barnes repudates, the state chairman was
quoted as saying:
The present policy Of the administration
i'm regard to the trust problem is simply
destruction. Business is and will be at
standstill until some solution Of the prob
lem Is found. Hundreds OF millions OF dol
lars are locked up in the banks awaiting
investment that no man darcs to make
under present conditions.
The state chairman was represented as
having said that ouc system Of representa-
tive government was about TO break down
that the movement in both parties was
tending toward a condition that might we'll
bring anarchy in two or three years, tina.
while the Mcnamara confessions might hold
the labor movement in check for a few
years it would have to he reckoned with
again and under a pure democracy would
leave the field open for demagosues.
IL am dsgusted.' he was quoted as say
ing. "and am about ready to go out and
join in the movement TO form a third
party"
1t was stated in the alleged interview that
the chairman would not express an opinion
as to whether President Taft could carry
New York State again. but expressed him
self in regard TO the President as follows
How unwise he was 10 make that long
trip and talk so nuchl Anybody who talks
so much is bound TO make blunders.
AZ to Theodore Roosevelt, Mr.. Barnes
was made TO say: 81 believe that Roose-
welt has been scheming to become dictator,
and he may succeed yet"
Mr. Barnes was made to say also that
under the new primary law only the four
delegates-at-arge to the national conven-
ton. those elected at the state convention.
could be instructed in any case. Whether
those would be instructed he was not pre-
pared 10 say.