New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-19
BUTLER WON'T ACCEPT
Columbia President Takes Self
Out of GovernorShip Race.
BARNES is DISAPPOINTED
Expects Situation to Remain
Entirely Open Until Leaders
Reach Saratoga.

uoro uncertainty was injected into the
ponublican situation in this state yester-
1sv when President Nicholas Murray
putler Of Columbia University. just home
.ro,, Furope. declared in positive terms
that he could not accept nomination
to- Governor In the minds OF some OF
,bo leaders the possible nomination OF
president Butler was looked upon is a
,obtiou OF the problem that faces the
orSanization. which is 10 meet in state
convention next week.
state chairman Barnes. having reached
the conclusion that the nomination Of
ramos w. Wadsworth. ir.. would be inn
,rscticable this year, had told some of
his friends that President Butler would
make a candidate who. while of conserva-
tive tendencies. would not be open to
Tho same objections as Mr.. Wadsworth,
who is opposed because of his connection
with the "Old Guard" In former years.
II is understood that Chairman Barnes
wrote TO President Butler, while the
latter was abroad suggesting the posi-
bGity that he become the candidate for
Governor. When President Butler re-
turned he found a number of letters from
other friends suggesting the same thing.
Such suggestions, he declared in his state
ment yesterday. were entirely without
his knowledge and contrary 70 his wishes.
lie felt II necessary to make his position
public at once.
Chairman Barnes was much disap-
pointed al the decision Of President But
ler He told a friend yesterday that
the situation was entirely open, and he
did not anticipate that there would be
any disqualification until the leaders
reached Saratoga.
The name Of Henry L. Stimson. Secre-
tary Of War. has been suggested for per-
nanent chairman of the state convention.
il was said yesterday, but other names
also are being considered.
Il is understood that while President
Butler will not be a candidate for any
Office, he will be willing to help draft
portions Of the platform, as he did Of
the spring platform. In that work he
will probably Ice assisted by William NJ
WINS.
President Butler declared in his state
nent yesterday that il was his opinion
that the present attack on the principles
Of American government was more Sc
rioUs and dangerous than any movement
since that for the disruption of the
Union The statement in full was as
follows:
| appreciate very much and value very
Mighty the many mesSsg which have
reached me while abroad and since my
daN In he Of
blllty OF my becoming d candidate for the
Republican nomination for Governor of
New York. But while these suggestions
and proposals are most fiettering, they
have been made without my knowledge
and are contrary TO my wishes. / am not
only not candidate fOr the Republican
nomination for Governor, but could not
under any circumstances whatsoever, ac-
cent nomination for that or any other
public office n II were offered.
Every President of the United States
since Harrison and the leaders in the
republican party in this state for years
PAST have had occasion TO know that I'M
der no circumstances would | become a
candidate for public Office, whether cleo
tive or appOlntive and that ! am not will
ing 10 accept any such office. Ny interest
IN politics and in the success of the prin-
ciVles OF representative government and
Of free and Independent judiciary. for
which the Republican party stands In this
campaign, is intense.
As private citizen / SnaU 90 every
thing In my power 10 promote the success
OF those principles and that Of the candi-
dates who uphold them In the state as
rell as I'm the nation. As / sai0 at ROch-
ester last April. at the time OF the Re
publican state Convention, | regard the
present vigorous attack on the funda-
mental principles Of American government
as more serious and more dangerous than
any movement since that for the disruD-
ton Of the Union. The overthrow OF ma
iOriy rule FOR the rule of small, well or
gsnized ana persistent minorties. the
oveTturning OF representative institutions
nv return 20 the outworn and discarded
Instruments OF 2 direct democracy and
tations upon governmental action and the
judicial protection Of private rights, taken
81 together, make a most appalling pro-
granmc OF reaction and disaster The
many weil-Weaning people who are eagerly
supporting this programme OF reaction
under the false name OF progress are
either totally ignorant Of the principles OF
American liberty or they are wholly in
different TO them. They think that they
the rich What they are really doing is
Proposing TO take away the only protec-
ton THAI surrounds the small. the weak
and the poor. =,
As an individual Republican ! shall
'eke as active pert In this campaign as
my university duties will permit. but un-
der no circumstances whatsoever Will ]
become candidate for political office;
This fact is well known 70 my personal
friends. and the persistent mention OF
py name i'm connection with the nomlna-
ton for Governor this year 1ustihes its
being made known 10 the general pubic.