New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-31
BARNES ATTACKS SULzER
AS A WOULD-BE BOSS
Chairman Says Governor Has
Misrepresented Him on d.
rect Primary Issue.
"C0ERClON BY PATRONAGE"
Republicans Kept Platform
Faith with People, but Dem
ocrats Defeated Bill,
He Declares.

William Barnes. chairman OF the Re-
publican state committee, "came back
hard at Governor SUlzer yesterday be-
cause Of the latters statements In regard
to the chairman's attitude on the direct
primary issue lie sid he was not con-
cerned whether the Murphy machine or
the Sulzer machine ran the Democratic
party. Coercion and compulsion OF sup
s)rt through the use or withdrawal OF
patronage were things that Murphy had
used. but he did not think they would be
resorted to by man who called himselt
leader"
THE repetition BY Governor Suizer at
his meetings in this city," said Chairman
Barnes. "ot his misrepresentation Of my
attitude regarding primary legislation
calls for further definition on my part
concerning II.
THE Governor says | am Interested In
the defeat Of the primary legislation
which he has advocated. which ss practi-
cally identical with the Republican pro-
posals with the exception OF the aoolltioh
OF the state convention. He Is entirely
mistaken | am not Interested IN the
sense that he uses the word one way OF
IN other As chairman OF the Republican
state Committee II is my duty TO urge
upon the Republican members or the Leg
stature that they should support In TINS
matter. as I'm all others. the provisions
contained in the Republican pledge to the
people. That duty have performed.
81 am not concerned or Interested
whether the Democratic party Is run by
Sulzer machine or a Murphy machine.
They present a great similarity 10 my
mind. Coercion. compulsion OF support
through the use or withdral Of patronage
are the familiar notes that are struck oy
a patronage-made machine ! cannot be-
lieve that the people OF New York enjoy
the spectacle Of n Governor giving ana
Withholding patronage and executive APP
proval OF legislation for personal support
Of himself as leader" when he IS using
the methods OF a boss.
1T II possible that audiences may oe-
light ia listening to personal ABUSE from
the Governor Of the state. Taste for that
kind ~ talk was developed IN the cam
ralrn OF 1912 10 great degree. but the
Governor has not yet made clear that
plurality -chosen candidate for Governor
OF A political party represents the ma
icrity thought Of that party "a well az
one who would be chosen at convention
OF directly elected delegates. who could
bo pledged 20 an individual candidate IL
thev or the candidate so desired.
Mr.. Barnes then went on 20 state the
attitude OF the Republican organization.
according 20 his Interpretation OF II. lie
said
"Direct nominations OF candidates for
nubllc office is now tho law OF this state
but by means OF the committee designs-
lion all candidates who contend before
the primary are not on an equal toouns'
The Republicans in the Legislature pro-
pose By their bills 20 put them on an
equal footing by abolishing the committee
destinations. This proposal hss never
beop tried IN this state. II " what IS
known ms "A simon pure direct nomination
plan Tho Republicans have taken the
posltion that. as IL is an experiment II
should be tried and found success be-
fore extending II 10 tho nomination OF
state officers.
The Republican convention at Sara
tosa declared IN favor OF making nomina-
,ions by political parties direct In all po-
litical subdivisions OF the state. and that
state nominations should be made at con-
ventions BY delegates chosen directly by
the enrolled voters OF the party. In ac-
cordance with that platform declaration
Senator Brown and Assemblyman Vert IN
troduced measures In the Legislature TWO
months before Governor Sulzer took any
action on the primary subject, but the
hills were beaten IN both houses by the
Democratic majority"