Evening star., 1912-04-05
President Not to Dictate New
York Republican Platform.
LEAVES 1T UP TO LEADERS
His Views Being Well Known Is
Sufficient, He Believes.
HAS MAJORITY IN VERMONT
Senator Dillingham; Gives Assurance
He Will Control Delegation to
State Convention,

President Taft. it became known at the
White House today, is not attempting to
dictate the platform to be adopted by the
republican state convention of New York
at Rochester next Tuesday Neither is
he making suggestions or giving advice,
which may or may not be followed by
William Barnes, state chairman, and his
friends in the convention.
Ine platform may prove to be a most
valuable contribution to party success
next November, and, as il may prove the
contrary, the President does not propose
to make himself responsible for it, good
or bad. His own views on national ques-
tions are known to the country and he
stands by those views. If the New York
state platform is in accord with his
views, as frequently expressed, he will
be pleased. If it is not thus, he will not
change his own to adopt those of New
York.
There is a widespread belief that the
New York platform will be the most re-
dictionary. most defiant of insurgent doc
trines OF any in the country. MIR. Barnes
mas repeatedly stated that he considers
the platforms more important than the
nominee at Chicago, and he will insist
upon these ideas being promulgated.
May Denounce. the Recall.
His contempt for the initiative, referen-
dunn and recall will be voiced in the plat
form in no uncertain words, and the
country will be made to understand that
what Col. Roosevelt wants on these ques-
tons is not what New York republicans
want The platform may even be severe,
IN ndirection. upon Col Roosevelt and
those or his faith. and there may be many
portions of 1T that progressive leaders like
the President would not wish to father
All things considered, therefore, the
PRESIDENT will not interfere in the New
York convention. He is not even insist
ing that the convention indorse him and
instruct Its delegates for him, but it is
said his friends will insist upon this
1t IS understood today that Mr. Barnes
has asked Senator Root to write the first
draft of the platform as applied to the
initiative. referendum and recall. He has
asked other prominent republicans to
formulate planks applying to other SUBJ
jects. When all these are welded to-
gether by master hand like that of
Mr.. Barnes IT will be presented to the
resolutions committee, where the fight
will be made. Senator Root has taken
pains to word the plank he is handling
with care. but has made it so clear that
the country will not mistake the attitude
Of New York.
Has Kept Hands Off.
The President, it is stated on high au-
thority. has kept his hands out of the
making of all state platforms so far
adopted and he will continue this policy.
The Ohio republican convention. if con-
trolled by his friends. as the President is
confident will be the case, will come nearer
representing his views than any other
convention ha hal in Ma
The political situation by that time will
nave shaped up SO that the outcome at
Chicago will be positively known. The
Presidents pride in his own state, his
citizenship there. would make it natural
for him to Indicate to the platform max
ers what he would like. In al prob
ability they will attempt to make the
platform one that will be valuable to the
President in that state.
Several of the Presidents callers have
briefly touched upon the New York plat
form in their talks with him and have
been made to understand that he is not
chairman of New York county, and
Representative Calder of Brooklyn are
among those who have seen the Presi-
dent.
Majority for Taft in Vermont.
Senator Dillingham; of Vermont called
on President Taft today with Gen. Bates
one of the Taft delegates from Vermont
to Chicago Mr.. Dillingham; said that
his information from Vermont, secured
through State Chairman Williams, was
that the Taft people had a large majority
of delegates in the state convention and
in the congressional convention of the
western part of the state The other
congressional convention, representing
the eastern part of the state, is close, the
senator said, but with majority of the
delegates apparently with Taft
Reports from Michigan today asserted
that President Taft already controls a
| majority of the delegates to the state con.
vention. OF the total so far elected he
has 546 to 333 for Roosevelt The ex-
President spoke in Detroit the day before
the primaries in that county. He lost the
county-Wayne-by a vote of three to one
Yesterday the Taft people carried Osceola
| county. getting IL delegates; Manitee IL
Genesee county. ~ for Taft and for
| Roosevelt; Barrie county, for Taft and
Il Co.