New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-04
Duty to Oppose Taft Supporters,

| What has recently come 10 nv knowledge
| makes " clear that II IS question Of the
| absolute duty of every Progressive Repub-
| ilcan 10 oppose the selection as temporary
| chairman az Chicago OF any man put for
ward In the interests Of the supporters OF
| Mr Tart in this contest. ] have before me
| a copy OF the following telegram sent 70
| roosevelt delegate from Pennsylvania.
| Philip X Barber:
Senator Root OF New York. for temporary
| chairman OF the convention at Chlcaao
" IS reported that the Roosevelt forces
viii oppose the action OF the committee
am wiring you In behalf OF the New York
| delegation, with the exception OF a very
few, TO ask your support for Senator Root
for temporary chairman. We believe this
( contest is the most serious one which has
| afflicted the Republican party and that In.
| attempt to nominate Mr.. Roosevelt can
lead only to disaster. The doctrines which
form al the Rochester convention TO b.
subversiVe OF our form OF Government
WIN you please wire me New York civ
collect whether we can rely or your sup
port Tor Senator Root for temporary chair.
man? WILLIAM EApNee IL
Telegrams like this have been sent 10 q
great number Of the delegates. apparently
70 great majority of them This teis.
gram makes the issue perfectly clear. II
IS one OF principles, not persons Mr..
Barnes demands Mr. Roots selection a.
the sign OF reputation Of the principles for
which stand, and az an Endorsement II
the doctrines enunciated at the Rochester
convention, doctrines not merely reaction.
ary. but Of such character that no party
protesting them could carry a single stats
in this Union. These doctrines are 40
Bourbon and reactionary that in every
open primary in every Northern state since
the Rochester convention vas held after
full discuss on, the people have overwhelm-
ingly repudated them. This telegram Of
Mr. Barnes shows that the plan announced
in the press Is true, and tnat the leader and
real head Of Mr. Taft's canvass at Chicago
IS to be Mr.. Barnes, whom Mr.. Taft and
his managers have chosen TO represent and
embody the principles for which Mr. Taft
stands, choice which casts an ilmminat-
ing light on Mr.. Taft's relations both TO
the bosses in politics and TO special inter-
ests in the business world. In the next
place, IL makes IL perfectly clear that Mr..
Root IS pushed for nomination only with
the purpose to secure the defeat OF the
principles for which the Progressive Re-
the people have declared themselves by
overw helming majorities In those states
where there have been popular primaries.
Mr.. Roots personality becomes unimpor-
tant In view of Mr.. Barness telegram. Mr.
Barnes stands as the representative OF the
very worst forms OF bossism In politics
No Progressive delegstes can AFFORD to vote
for any man proposed by Mr.. Barnes and
his allies, for any such vote is vote
against popular rule and against the basic
principles not merely OF the Republican
Rank and File Against Bosses.
This is not faction fight in the ranks
OF the Republican party II is fight be
tween the plain people, the rank and file
Of the Republican party. making up the
one side, and. on the other. the bosses
with back OF them the great sinister special
interests, which are endeavoring to sustain
the cause OF privilege by perpetuating the
combination between crooked politics and
crooked business
There have been direct Presidential pref
,gaI 81. ~ far In cfa Of
Illinois Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio
NeW Jersey North 4aSsasS RaHota; Marytssna I yisns.
states the popular vote agairst Mr.. Tar
has been between two and three TO one.
and often over that and he has secure1
only thirty-eight delegates out Of 9 tota,
of 34i In certain ether states-Minnesota,
Missouri, Kansas. Maine, New Hampshirr.
Oklahoma, North Carolina, West Virginia,
Washington and Nermont-there were pri-
maries which, while not direct Presifei,-
tial primaries. still give rough approx
nation OF the actual sentiment OF tha
states In these states | secured lI dele
gates and Mr.. TAFT secured seventeen, w.th
three uninstructed In those cases VIII, re y
the Republican voters have had fair
chance to EXPRESS their convictions they
have repudiated Mr.. Taft so completely
that he has been able to obtain less than
one-eghth of the delegates, his popular
vote being but one i'm three or four. and
IN some eases only one In nine or ten.
The great majority of the Republican
party have uneouivccally repudiated MI
Taft. II the wishes OF the Republican
voters could be given fair expression, Mr:
in the convention. Under these circum.
stances IL Is fitting and appropriate that
Mr. Barnes should be chosen to Lead the
Taft forces at Chicago In the encrt 70
Harvard or oxford--the latest gold or shell