New-York tribune., 1911-01-17
LEADERS DEFER TO TAFT.
PrentiCe'S Successor May Be
Named on His, Advice.
MUST BE A PROGRESSIVE
Conference To Be Held in Wash.
ington-Merritt and Wads-
worth Talked Of.

Far from having reached any conclusion
as to who shall be elected chairman Of the
Republican state Committee at the meet
! ing called on Saturday TO accept the res
| ignation Of Ezra 7. Prentice. the leaders
are in much Of a quandary. Although
/ President Taft, who knew last week Of the
coming resignation Of Mr.. Prentice. has
said clearly he does not want to interfere
/ I'm the state organization here and will be
satisfied with any man who may he select
I'd by the Progressives, there was a gen
eral tendency 10 seek the advice Of the
| President in the present crisis. as shown
! by a movement toward Washington yes
| terday. Some of the leaders had already
engagements TO attend the reception 10
the diplomatic corps at the White House
this afternoon. Others not expected at the
reception Will go to Washington tonight.
and there viii be a conference OF New York
| State leaders in Washington tomorrow.
other members OF the committee who
are not going 10 Washington are arrang-
inG to he in this city Thursday or Friday.
when conferences in regard to the state
craftsmanship will be continued
There was a general feeling that the Sc
lection Of head for the organization
should not be delayed. as It was realized
that much work must be done in the next
year and half 1t was understood that
the new chairman would be the man TO
run the next Presidential campaign, and
for that task a politician of the ablest kind
would be needed Of course.
Although a number OF names were under
| consideration, none Of the members Of the
state committee would hazard a guess last
night as 10 the man who would ultimately
be chosen. II was quite generally agreed,
however that the man must have the fol-
lowing qualifications: He must have had
large political experience; he must be
man OF means. so that he can afford 10
devote a great part OF his time to the work
Of the organization: he must be some one
who has Progressive ideas and at the same
time will command the respect and support
Of the "old guard. he must come from up
state
Strange as II may seem, two men talked
OF by Progressive leaders We're James
Wadsworth. ir, and Assemblyman Edwin
A. Merritt, ir, both OF whom have been
identified with the "old guard" 1t was
learned last night that Assemblyman Mer-
ritt was the choice Of one Of the Progress
sives who figured most prominently In the
fight at the Saratoga convention last fall.
Many Of the Progressives turned at once
toward Congressman J. Sloat Fassett As
soon as they learned that Mr. Prentice was
10 resign but Mr.. Fassett has said that he
did not care TO take the place.
Since his determination to get out, Chair
man Prentice has talked with many Of the
most influential state leaders. When he
was in Washington last week TO see Pres-
dent Taft the chairman conferred with
Congressmen Fassett, Parsons, Dwight.
FreeIand Cocks and Calder. Among others
whom he took In his confidence before max
ing his decision public were Senator Root,
President Griscom Of the county commit
tee. s. S. Koenig and Henry l.. StimSon.
Yesterday Mr. Prentice had conference
with former state Chairman Woodruff at
luncheon. and found that so far as Mr..
woodruff was concerned or knew none OF
the members OF the "Old guard had any
disposition to regain control OF the state
committee. They desired to work in har-
nonv with the Progressives 10 build up
strong organization for the future
William Barnes. ir., was credited by some
with n desire TO be state chairman, but as
n shrewd man he would probably not un-
dertake 70 be a candidate unless he were
SIRE of his election. 1t was believed that
such a thing would be Impossible, "a many
of the men who worked under the "od
guard banner last fall would not support
him.
Chairman Prentice also had a talk with
Assemblvman Merritt and Borough Presi-
dent Cromwell at state headquarters, and
had talks over the long distance telephone
with Postmaster Grcinor Of Buffalo, Mr..
Barnes Of Albany: Francis Hendricks, Of
Syracuse, William /. Ward and Cornelius
Y. Collins
Among those who will 90 to Washington
to-day are Chairman Prentice, Lloyd q.
Griscom Collector Loeb, William J.. Ward
and Samuol s kOonig.