New-York tribune., 1913-11-18
State Chairman Barnes Must Go So
That the Republican Party in
New York Nav Advance.


If Mr. William Barnes, jr, wanted any additional
testimony as to the demand for a reorganization
Of the Republican party in this state, which The
Tribune has been voicing, 1t is furnished by the
report Of the Young Republican Club, calling on him
to give up the state craftsmanship
The imperative necessity for party rehabilitation
is realized by all the members Of the party save
perhaps those in immediate control of the machine
The party needs new methods 1t needs new lead
ers It needs new members The chief obstacle
to the needed reorganization, at present, Is Mr'
Barnes He should quit his post as state chairman
for the benefit OF the party If he does not that
post is only too likely to quit him.
Only those Republicans blinded by partisanship
or fundamentally incapable Of seeing the drift or
events have failed to realize that their party has
been slipping down hill ever since minority or
Republicans defeated Governor Hughess direct
primary programme and virtually drove out OF
the state the man who was his partys greatest
asset at that time. Mr.. Barnes and his political
associates and mental kindred were responsible
for that
Mr. Barnes to-day stands in the public mind Tor
political methods and political policy which nave
been passed by. 1t is his misfortune to be nearer
to the ideas and time of Thurlow Weed than the
ideals and problems of the present.
He is regarded as party handicap by thousands
of Republicans who still vote the ticket He is an
obstacle to the return to that party Of Others who
left it quite as much in protest against conditions
and personnel Of leadership there as In hope OF
finding better conditions elsewhere. SO long as
he remains in a position Of authority within the
party it inevitably will be regarded as sign that
the old order has not changed.
Much more is needed for the upbuilding Of New
York State Republicanism than the retirement OF
Mr. Barnes. The party is again in control of the
Assembly. This is not by virtue of any abounding
grace in Repubcanism, but because Of the unspeak-
able rottenness Of Tammany Hall. Yet it offers
splendid opportunity to regenerated party
The legislative history of the last five years has
presented shocking record Of incompetency inefl-
cheney, narrow partisanship and disregard Of the
pubic's interest Under proper leadership, with a
clean. able, unhobbled Speaker, the Republican
Assembly could wipe out this disgraceful state Of
affairs.
It would refuse to play petty partisan politics
and would take the lead in affirmative policies. 1t
would begin reforming itself by adopting set OF
rules which would make legislative procedure some
thing other than a grab bag. 1t would win the
voters good Will by consulting disinterested public
opinion regarding legislation rather than the poll
hcians' views.
This will be impossible If Mr.. Barnes's Assem-
blyman becomes Speaker. He suffers because he
ia his leaders follower, and the Republican party
can no more have him In that important post
without damage than 1t can have his chief remain
as state chairman.
The organization of the Assembly will be the
test. whether or not Mr.. Barnes still retains office
in the Republican party at that time, he must not
retain such power as would be his through hold
ON the most important post In the Legislature. The
party must be freed from his influence II 1t is to
have a new and broader existence, and 1t must
nroye to the public that it has thrown off the
old order.