New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-21
NEW YBOSSR|DDEN'
Barnes Amused by Attempt at
State Committee Control.
HOTCHKISS "SHOCKS" HIM
No Business of State Chairman,
He Says, to NEEDLE in
Local Affairs.

Speaking OF the non-fusion resolution
which was prepared for presentation TO
the Progressive conference on Tuesday,
but was not acted upon. william Barnes.
jr, chairman Of the Republican State
Committee, said last night there was
something amusing in the fact that the
new party, which was supposed to be
strongly opposed to anything that
smacked of 'bossism" should even con-
slider controlling the action Of its men,
bership through its state committee. He
di dnot consider ii any Of the business
OF a state chairman, he said, whom the
members of party in any particular
locality wished to support for office.
II am afraid that the Progressive party
is really bossridden," said Mr.. Barnes.
Had resolution been offered In the
Republican State Committee that In no
locality in this state should the Republi-
can party nominate candidates for office
through fusion with other parties or 9TH
erwise, without the consent of the state
committee. l fear some one would have
thought that the chairman OF the state
committee in advocating such a propo-
sition had lost his wits"
THE Republican candidates for office
In .he State OF New York are nominated
by the action of the enrolled Republican
electors on primary day under the law
Of the state. Candidates OF the Progress
siye party will be nominated in 1913
as were the candidates of the Indepen-
dence League party when 1t first came
Into existence, by unofficial primaries, or
by any other method that the State
Committee may devise. until II comes
under the provisions OF the statute for
enrolment and nomination by direct pri-
mary. which cannot take place until 1914
unless the Legislature at the coming
session by special enactment gives the
opportunity for enrolment and places II
under the provisions OF the direct primary
law. There is something amusing, al
though the resolution was finally held in
the air. that the new party, which We
supposed was consecrated to register dis
approval OF bossism, Immediately through
its state committee, endeavors TO con-
troll the action OF it's membership.
Just as that party, highly devoted 10
the principle OF direct primaries, instead
OF holding them for the nomination OF
the candidates on the State ticket, which
they might have done unofflcially. held a
state convention three weeks and half
before either OF the regularly constituted
political parties could hold one under the
law.
There were too many anomalous incl
dents connected with the recent campaign
TO name them all, but this latest sugges-
ton Of Mr.. Hotchkiss and others comes
as a rude shock to one who, as chairman
Of the Republican State Committee, has
had long experience in politics. do
not consider that II is my, affair. as chair
man OF the Republican State Committee,
TO. attempt TO intervene regarding nomi-
nations by Republicans for any office.
whether local or otherwise. Local con-
siderations of great importance TO n1u-
inequalities are very apt to enter into
municipal campaigns.
Furthermore. | should be inclined to
think that IL the chairman Of the Re
publican State Committee pursued any
such course his action would be thor
oughly resented. as Y ought to be- II Is
one OF the strangest things in politics
that men who are inexperienced believe
that parties are conducted in the manner
that they read about. As soon as they
take ND the practical side they use meth
DDS which are rarely heard of except In
opposltion newspapers. and which. II used.
bring about the immediate downfall OF
anybody who attempts to use them