New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-06
ROOTS SPEECH
SOUNDS KEYNOTE
Senator Says Reform Must
Be Both Enunciated
and Effected.
BARNES MEN OUTVOTED
Test on Resolution, Personal Is.
sue Silenced-"Go Slow"
Bids Gruber.

sue Silenced-"Go Slow"
Bids Gruber.
Senator Elihu Root sounded the key
note of the state conference of Repub-
licans held at the Waldorf yesterday,
when in his opening address as presid-
ing officer he declared that in order to
come into its own again the Repubi-
can party must put forward an affirm
atve and progressive programme for
the benefit of the whole people. and
have the organized efficiency necessary
to carry this programme into effect.
The predominating tone of the con-
ference, which 900 Republicans from
all parts of the state attended, was de-
cidedly for progressive measures, more
radical, perhaps, than have ever been
proposed tefore at representative Re-
publican gathering. The progressive
programme went through with a bang
in the form Of resolutions adopted call
ing for direct primaries, workingmen's
compensation, the short ballot, state
budget and a comprehensive revision
Of the rules Of the .-ssembly.
Senator Root, Seth Low and other
prominent Republicans who could be
called members of the old school
pleaded the cause Of the younger pro-
gressive element Of the party. With
Henry L. Stimson. Secretary of War
in President Taft's Cabinet, at their
head. the progressives carried the day
on every resolution. The voices of
William Barnes state chairman: Abrs-
ham Gruber. Job Hedges and others
who are looked upon BY the younger
element as 'reactionaries were heard
cautioning the youngsters" to go slow,
but they were unheeded.
Barnes Men Outvoted.
No concerted movement of opposition
to Mr.. Barnes as state chairman de-
veloped at the conference. 1t had been
decided 10 keep the Barnes issue and
the subject OF the Speakership of the
next Assembly out of the conference.
A sharp alignment, however, developed
as to the Barnes policies during the
discussion of the direct primary resolu-
ton. The state chairman made a hard
fight to have the conference merely re-
affirm the 1912 and 1913 plank in the
state platform in regard TO direct pri-
maries, instead Of adopting the more
radical measure. A rising vote on the
resolution counted Barnes out by vote
of 1872 to 1871.
William Chilvers, Republican leader
OF the 10Th Assembly District, at
tempted to present resolution calling
for the resignation of Mr.. Barnes as
state chairman at the close Of the con-
ference, but he was not recognized by
the chair. Senator Root announced at
the opening of the conference that
there were five matters which should
properly come before the conference
for discussion, and asked the conferrees
10 refrain from indulging in needless
debate Of other subjects. II was under
stood that at meeting of the state
committee prior to the conference the
sentiment prevailed for allowing the
question of a new state chairman TO go
over until the end Of Mr.. Barnes's term
next year Ii was said that in all prob
ability Mr.. Barnes would not be a can
didate for reelection.
There were no gubernatorial booms
started so that they could be heard in
open conference, but the names Of sew
eral men were mentioned and discussed
by quiet gatherings OF leaders from
various parts of the state before and
after the conference. The name most
often heard was that Of Charles S.
Whitman. District Attorney. Others
mentioned were Job +. Hedges, Repub-
lican candidate for Governor last year;
Henry l.. Stimson, who was the candi-
date in 1910: Congressman William l..
Calder, OF Brooklyn, and Justice John
B. Woodward, of Albany. The name OF
Senator Root for reelection TO the
United States Senate next fall was
mentioned by several speakers and was
received with great enthusiasm.
Prendersast Present.
Controller William A. Prendergast,
who once stood high in the councils of
the Bull Moose camp. but recently
issued his denunciation Of the Progress
sives and his return to the Republican
fold, was invited to the conference and
attended He came in toward the end
of the proceedings, however, and took
no active part in the discussion.
A reception was held for all the Wis
iting conferrees at the Republican Club
last night. An invitation for con-
ference of all the Republican Assembly
men-elect of the state, most of whom
attended the conference. following the
reception at the Republican Club, was
read from the platform by Lafayette