New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-19
ROOT ST|RS REPUBLICANS
Tells Union League Club That
Government Is Threatened.
BARNES EMPHASIZES POINT
State Leader and Mr.. Hedges
Invoke Spirit Of Patriotism "
at Meeting.

Attacks on the American form OF gov
eminent which would ultimately lead tot
It's overthrow IL successful were set out
as the great issues which the Republican
party has 70 meet in the present CAM
paign by William Barnes, jr., job Hedges
and other speakers last night before five
hundred members of the Union League
Club and their friends in the assembly,
room of the organization, at Fifth ave-f
nue. and 9Sth street A telegram from
Elfhu Root. regretting that he was unablo'
70 attend in person, laid particular stress
on the point that It was for the very
purpose OF preserving the Union under
tho Constitution that the club itself was
formed.
The telegram read:
I regret excessively my inability 10 at
tend the meeting Of the club this evening.
Since the club was organized TO aid IN
preserving the Union under the Con3ttu-
ton there has been no other time ike this
when the principles We profess so impera-
lively demand vigorous and united action.
for our whole system Of constitutional
freedom and order is attacked. Its basis
in the respect and willing allegiance OF
the people 10 being weakened, and 1t Will
go down u ess It is actively supported
by those who believe In government under
the restraint Of declared principles as OPP
posed 10 the sway OF impulse, the rule OF
law rather than the rule Of man.
ut is vital that every voter should
clearly understand" said Mr.. Barnes, the
first speaker, that we are living at
time when the complete overthrow of the
American form OF government is threat
ened Few last spring believed there eX-
listed anything more than an unrest
against certain persons and envy Of the
material belongings Of others, and that
the fire which had been started in no
way was directed against the house OF
individual opportunity and the American
political structures, but there was merely
contest on at Chicago between two In
divduals for the Presidential nominal
ton"
This view was short sighted, Mr.. Barnes
went on, and the voter has since been
confronted with the realization that the
republic is threatened with disintegration.
He then took up his own conduct I'm the
political councils of the party, saying that
no act OF his could be construed as boss
ism, but that all Of his acts have been TO
keep the Republican party steadfast to
the faith OF unfolding the government
under the Constitution.
Job Hedges, who was introduced as the
next speaker, told of coming fresh from
his tour upstate and of the encouraging
signs he saw there for the success of the
Republican party He as well plunged
into the broader theme Of the meaning OF
the Constitution and the assaults upon il
in the present campaign.
Abiding to the Roosevelt movement, he .
went on to say that some persons have
tendency TO follow a personality In
order TO register an approval Of what he !
says not for itself, but simply as mega
tive to what somebody else is in favor OF. !
He then told Of a ministerial Bull Moose
| friend who gave twenty-six minutes TO,
| talking against Barnes. and only four
! minutes to theoretical discussion OF tho
difference between political doctrines
| William NJ WINS was the next speaker.
| He said that the vast bulk Of the people
I vote for shibboeths and party symbols ana
| that there is not one case in thousand
in which real reasoning, such as applies
| TO business, IS ever brought to bear upon
the discussion of political problems
| He said that no system has been dis
| covered to take the place Of the party
system in politics, and that man must be
a partisan or cipher. He described the
Progressives as men who had everything
TO grumble at and nothing to approve or,
gathered into a party by a programme
| that contains no indication Of progress.
hut aims at the uprooting of all efficient
present institutions.