New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-20
Question May Be Issue at Meet
ing of Executive Commit
tee in Washington.
OPPOSITION TO HIM GROWS
New York Chairman Opposes
Special Convention to Con-
slider Reorganization
of Party.

H.,
nate William Barnes, jr.. as a factor In
Republican national politics may be
brought 10 a direct issue with the meet
ing of the executive committee OF the
national committee in Washington during
the latter part of the week TO take up
the question of special national con-
vention.
Barnes. who is the New York member
of the national committee and chairman
of the state committee. is leading the
fight against the movement for special
convention, according to reports received
here. Senator Root, on the contrary was
one Of the first TO indorse the movement
and to urge that the Republican party
set its house in order by meeting the
problems OF organization that were pre-
scented TO It at the Chicago convention.
The movement for a special convention
and the reorganization of the party has
gone so far that it is regarded as I'M
probable that Barnes and some OF the Old
leaders associated with him, aided by the
Southern committeeman, who are opposed
TO the reduction of Southern representa-
ton. can suppress II by influencing the ex-
ecutive committee TO set itself against IT,
II is expected that the executive COM
mittee will issue a call for the meeting
of the full committee, which, in turn, VIII
issue the call for the convention.
II this be the case Barnes will be
Obliged TO admit defeat, and will find HIM
self associated with party leaders VINO
are out Of sympathy with him. IL he
should succeed in swinging the official
committees OF the party into line In oppo-
sition 10 the reorganization plan 1t IS
quite probable that war will be declared
upon him and his reactionary associates
and some way found to GUST him alto
gether.
May Carry War Into New York.
To accomplish this it would be neces-
sary 10 carry the war into his own couh-
! try-New York State-and start back
fire by inducing the Republicans OF the
state TO initiate movement for state
reorganization and the overturning Of
Barnes as leader.
The ground is already well prepared for
such q movement Reports received in
Washington indicate that the opposition
TO Barnes Is exceedingly strong In Buf-
falo and the Western part Of the state
and in New York City and the Eastern
counties.
Letters have been received from Re
publicans in these two sections urging
the reform Of the state organization and
the elimination Of Barnes as official
. leader. In other sections the demand for
reform has not been so apparent, but 1t
L., Co. Of
reorganization is just as strong. The
situation is such that IL Barnes persists
in opposing the call for q national con-
vention the rank and file OF the party
may be given an opportunity TO express
themselves either by means OF a conven-
ton or the meeting of state committee.
In other words, II Is not improbable that
a method will be found Of putting the
question up TO the members OF the party
in the state if the chairman maintains his
uncompromising attitude
The chief difficulty will be in finding a
leader. Senator Root, although decidedly
at odds with Barnes on the question of
reorganization, Is not willing. II Is under
stood, to take the full burden of the fight
upon his own shoulders. II Barnes is 10
/ be ousted, It is pointed out, he must be
kept ousted and not allowed to come In
and resume control after defeat, as he did
after the Saratoga convention, when Sen
ator Root, by the way, sided with Colonel
/ Roosevelt and voted against Sherman.
Action Up to Committee.
This task is not a slight one. but il is
| believed that ii can be accomplished.
( Whether or not 1t will be necessary 10
undertake it at once depends somewhat
upon the action of the executive COM
mittee at its forthcoming meeting.
Senator Sherman, of Illinois, o-day an
nounced, in accordance with the instruc-
1 lions given him by the Chicago confer
ence of Progressive Republicans, the APP
pointment OF the following members OF a
committee to draft a memorial to the
executive committee on the subject of re-
| organization; Senator Cummins of Iowa;
Herbert Hadley, of Missouri; Senator
| Crawford, OF South Dakota: Senator
Jones, of Washington Representative
Louis c. Champion, of Michigan; Repre-
sentative Sidney Anderson, Of Minnesota
and Representative John J. Rogers, OF