New-York tribune., 1912-03-22
BARNES PLANS TNO-DAy
ROCHESTER CONVENTION
Chairman Says There Should Be
Time for Discussion of
Party Doctrine.
doubt AS TO WHAT IT IS"
s,ronp Effort Will Be Made to
Have the State Leader Agree
to an Instructed Taft
Delegation.

.,ost Of the Republican politicians now in
.over the spring convention Of the party
- the purpose of adopting a platform and
.,o,scting delegates-at-large and alternates-
Large to the national convention this
-, will probably last for two days, in
.,a.d of only one day, as in years past.
A. least that is the idea OF William
names chairman of the state committee,
"a 60 far as is known, there is no opposi-
,,on 10 his plan.
.rhe reason that We ought to have two
1.vs" said Chairman Barnes to n Tribune
r,norter before going TO Albany yesterday
t,ernoon. lis that for the first time in my
collection there is a serious difference of
.o,nion as TO just what Republican doc
zine f. We have got TO have a full and
tres and open discussion and we have got
% have plenty Of time for it. New York
s,ste is the next TO hold its convention, and
,Se reople Of the country are looking to us
% see what our idea of Republican princi-
pies is"
According TO the plan of Chairman Barnes,
,bs convention, which is to meet in Roches-
GOV m April 9, would convene at noon on
thar day for organization. President Nicho-
"a. Murray Butler of Columbia University
t.vnote speech and the committees would
bs appointed. The convention would tnen
be adjourned until the following morning,
giving the committee on resolutions. which
will draw up the platform, al the afternoon
and evening in which TO work.
"1n former years the making of a plat
form at a Republican state convention was
conparatiyely easy matter" said Chair
xfrNn 70
Republican doctrine was, and the drawing
m of a platform containing planks for
rrotective tariff, a gold standard and the
other great principles was largely a matter
~ EXPRESSION. This year we have got 10
determine what Republican doctrine is ana
II is a matter Of the greatest importance.
Similar to 1896 Situation.
.The last time there was a great differ
,ncA of opinion at q state convention was In
,soe At that convention, which was held
IN the Grand Central Palace in this city,
there was a test Of strength between those
who favored the nomination of Ex-Governor
Levi p Morton for the Presidency and those
who wanted William Mckinley. The friends
~ Morton won by vote of 6S1 10 109. But
even then there was no difference OF opin-
sides were in favor Of the gold standard.
The Morton people thought that Mckinney
was not 80 orthodox on the gold standard
os ne sbould be. The friends Of Mckinley,
also strongly for the gold standard took
the ground that he was perfectly sounu on
that question
Going on to speak Of the differences OF
opinlon on principles among Repuohcahs
now. Chairman Barnes said;
'Tfistory has shown that there is nothlns
that man will fight for more stuooornN
than his opinion. If there are differences
of opinion, we want 20 have free expires
sion end open discussion OF them IN orueT
that We may determine Just Where 'he
great Republican party In this state stanuS'
II we have the committee on RESOLUTIONS
present its report on the second uay II VIII
give the delegates 10 the convention
chance to express their views. MY loea -
that the more discussion the better. l
have taken great care TO have the pest
brains and thought in the party represent
ed among the delegates and the oIscuS
sion should be not only interesting pu'
highly Illuminating"
chairman Barnes wants the New Nork
state convention 10 adopt principles I"i
the insertion Of which in the natlonal pat
form he can make a fight at Chicago. II
&c we'll known that he holds the most con-
sorvatiyc views and believes that many
members OF the Republican party nave
straved away from the faith of the fath-
rrs" There was an impression some ufhe
ago that Mr. Barnes was inclined TO De
even reactionary in his views and disposed
not 10 give proper recognition to the de-
yclopment Of public opinion.
Seeks to Hold Party Together.
There was a suggestion that he might
want TO adopt a platform 50 reactiohary
a. 10 hamper the chances OF carrying the
state this fall ON that basis the Progress
shes I'm the party. as opposed TO the GA
guard clement were prepared to take IS
sue with him. This element, the same thar
stood against the "old guard at the sara
ioga convention. which is strongly for Pres
ident Taft believed they could controi tHe
state convention against reacuOnary plat
form
Chairman Barnes has had frequent oo"-
ferenccs with these leaders, however ana
,ue Of them said Yesterday that he hoptd
the platform situation would Work ltstI'
out satisfactorily without splitting thc
party INTO the TWO IdCuOilS
The committee on resolutions Is composed
Of one member from each Congress dlstricl'
Usually this committee Is named DE inc
temporary chairman, but the conVehto'
has the right 70 name it, and 1t may D.
done by special resolution from thc moor
When Mr. Barnes was asked yesterday "''
might bo chairman of the committf' "N
resolutions ne replied;
we can tell better when we gei 10
Rochester and find out the temper OF the
convention. I think ! know what It's tenn
per viii Ae but we shall see
Some Of the chairman's friends a"" nrs-
ing him TO become . cand.ca.'
place, hut h, has given no indicate" d..
what he thinks Of the suggestion BeiHs
20 deeply interested I'm the platform, II ls
not unlikely that Mr.. Barnes would IKE
70 BE- chairman OF the committee "ut' o"
tie otler hand. he might consider II wiser
10 lei some one else have the place.
Fioht on Instructed Delegates.
The leaders are expecting that some one
will present a resolution 10 have the dele
sates-at-large instructed 10 vote for u"
domination of Roosevelt at Chicago an"
they arc Uyeraring to meet such move on
the part of the Roosevelt boomers. u u
known that Chairman Barnes, although toT
Taft has from the start been opposed .
taying the delegates instructed, but soh'o
Of the other leaders are Of the opinion tha'
such resolution of instruction should Dc
isissed. and they hope to bring him arouho
70 their way OF thinking. They say that 70
iHye Il Taft resolution go through win
rush would eGectually squelch any effort