Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-06
Putting New Political Wine In Old Party Casks

upon the rank and file in spite of the lattcrs protests or through
the misleading of the men in the ranks. Both the republicans
and the progressives have suffered from attempts to put new
political wine in old party casks.
Whether our dcm9cratic friends will suffer disaster from
the same source yet remains to be demonstrated When Pres
iient-elect Wilson the other day said Thumbs up only by
progressivcs" every discredited boss in the democracy prompt
" stuck mp his thumbs and yelled I'm prOgressive!'
This problem is to be considered from two points of view:
One of these involves the attempts Of the party TO force new
wine into old casks. The other concerns efforts on the part of
dtscredited bosses to imbibe the wine of more progressive polid-
cal principles and policies. NanifestlHy, a party will suffer from
either of these sources, for people still think and act upon the
belief or at least the supposition that it is difficult to teach an
old dog new tricks, even in politics.
SO far as the democracy is concerned the new wine of
progressveness has had only a few days to work, so that one
can not even safely predict for publication what the result is
likely to be. even though he may be fairly well satisfied in his
own mind as to the nature of the outcome.
The republicans seem to he suffering from the resistance
OF old casks in the face of efforts to force wine Of progressive
ness into them while one of the chief stumbling blocks of the
Progressive party are the d1screditPd leaders who persist in
occupying a conspicuous place on the stage while taking in new
political wine.
SO far as we are concerned we have never been able to
see much difference between Boss Barnes of New York and
Boss Flynn of Pennsylvania; between Boss Aldridge of Roches-
ter, y. Y, and Boss Woodruff of Brooklyn, n. Y They were
all brought up in the same school Of politics, and both parties
would unqncstionobly have been far better off at this time
if they had been sent into permanent retirement. FLYNN and
Woodruff We're retired once. but they would not stay put, TAX
ing advantage of the Progressive party s formation to bob
up serenely from below.
Now the republicans of the Empire State have made an
other start to complete the good work done by Governor Hughes
and put some more progressive man at the head OF their State
organization in place of Chairman Barnes.
This gentleman is unquestionably an able organizer, and he
Empire state. That is why it is so difficult to compass his
overthrow as head of the party organization.
There is a sound principle involved, however, which often
finds play in political contests between two n more candidates
for elective or appointive office. Not infrequently it is found
advisable to drop bitter contestants and take up some new
man. who has not aroused antagonist. and upon whom opposing
factions can unite.
The present situation seems to he one in which this prin-
cple can we'll be applied in the organization of the protective
forces in he United States preparatory to the crusade in behalf
Of restored American markets for the products of American in
dustry that is SURE to follow in the not distant future.
Practical application of this principle IS already in prog
ress in the Empire State. II is announced that a formidable up
State movement for the recall of William Barnes. Jr. as State
chairman is being organized. Some Of the most Influential
and ardent Taft republican leaders are engineering it. 1t is
stated that among those who have agreed to JON the revolt
are Postmaster Fred Grener. of Eric county Jesse Brayton of
Oneida: Harvey d. IInman of Rroome; Cornelius '. Collins
Of Troy. and William l.. Ward of Westchester.
If. ON a canvass now in progress. an anti-Barncs majority
is disclosed. a special meeting Of the State committee will soon
be called to Dust and supersede him with job E. Hedges, late
republican candidate for governor against Suzer, or a man of
his stamp. If an antilBarnes majority in the committee is not
shown many county organizations are to be asked to follow the
example of Wyoming and demand Barness speedy resigna-
ton. The war cry Of the anti barnes men is:
New lork can never again be republican so long as
Barnes is boss
The antiI3alnes crusade had its real inception in a violent
quarrel between the State chairman and Senator Seth IIeacock
of llerkimer in the course of which with a scornful and en-
'Theres a -- Socialist.
Ioacock stUns by the attack retortcd as mildly as his fury
admitted. 'WeH, if President Taft is a socialist and the last
republican Congress was socialist. ann a socialist and proud
of it, responded IIeacock. "Presidcnt Taft recommended the
income tax by special message and a republican Congress ap-
proved it. l.. as a republican State senator, followed my party
leader. The President is supporting it here. -
The fued, starting as an apparently personal one between
TIeacock and Barnes. soon became Widespread. 1t was EN-
phasized when Frederick C. Stevens, former superintend dent of
public works. induced the Wyoming republican county commit
Zee TO adopt a resolution calling upon Barnes to Immediately
resign. Since then leacock and other powerful republicans up
State have devoted themselves to arranging the preiminaries
for the overthrow of Barnes
1t was agreed that soon a formal conference shall be held
to perfect a scheme not only for putting out Barnes and put
ting in Hedges or a Hedges man, but to completely reorganize
the party for the grbernatorial contest of 1914.
The struggle which has begun in such formidable propor-
tons in the Empire State is likely to be repeated in other
States in which republicans = reminded of the futlty of put
ting new political wine in old party casks.
Our progressive friends have also become aroused in some
quarters to the fact that one of the greatest stumbling blocks
they have is the attempt of repudiated bosses and disappointed
office seekers to recoup political fortunes by trying to become
heads of a new party.
If men who stand in the way of "A thorough and effective
reorganization Of the protectionist forces of the United States
would gracefully step aside in different States and permit new
political wine to be put in new casks, the movement would be
greatly facilitated and its ultimate success assured.