The Washington herald., 1914-07-24
Barnes Gives Roosevelt Battle.

With what ferocity the political campaign IN the
State OF New York is to be fought is plainly indicated
two months before The candidates to be nominated
by direct primaries death struggle is already in
progress to determine whether the regular Repub-
Hcsn organization or Theodore Roosevelts Progress
ives are to control the State. Roosevelt has per-
suaded Harvey D. Hinman to declare himself can
didate for the Republican nomination, and at the
same time repudiate the regular organization.
In Fastening to pledge Progressive support to
him, Roosevelt sought also to appeal to Republican
voters by attacking William Barnes, Republican State
chairman without choice of words. Promptly Barnes
announces suit for libel against Roosevelt
which is the signal gun announcing that the Regulars
will fight Progressive domination from beginning to
end In the primaries Hinman will have no opposi-
ton for the Progressive nomination, while District At
torney Whitman will strive to keep the regular Re
mated, as seems probable the chances of the Demo
Gratis to elect Gov Gym will, of course, be greatly
improved, and in the event of their Roosevelt
would blame Barnes.
Master of politics that he is, Roosevelt, by his
maneuvers to capture the Republican organization,
has stirred to action worthy foemen in Barnes and
his followers. The libel suit evidently is but the
beginning of their attack Its purpose is to discredt
Roosevelt to arraign him at the bar of justice as
libeler, falsfier and to defend the reputation Of
the Republican organization. Even an unsuccessful
action would be calculated to impair -Rooseveks in
luence with the Republican voters, Who can only be
expected to such statement as the following
from a former governor of the State:
In New York State the two political machines are
completely dominated, the one by Mr.. Barnes, the
other by Mr.. Murphy. The State government IS
rotten throughout in almost all its departments and
this is directly due to the dominance in politics OF
Mr. Murphy and his sub-bosses, acting through such
entirely subservient agents as Governors Dix and
Glynn, aided and abetted' when necessary by MI
Barnes and the sub-bosses Of Mr.. Barnes:
Mr.. Murphy and Mr. Barnes are OF exactly the
same moral and political type.
The wisdom of such an attack from the Progress
i've chieftan seeking win Regular support for his
candidate is open to question. 1t draws attention
sharply to the fact that Col Roosevelt is against too
many things and in favor of only one. He is against
the Barnes organization and the Murphy organization
and the Wilson administration, although the Wilson
administration is likewise opposed to Murphys con-
troll He is only for candidate who is against every
thing he is against. 1t would SEEM too, that Col
Roosevelt is rather late in the field with his appeal
for support upon the ground that ALL all else is cor
ruption. The Colonel, perhaps, was away from the
country long that he has not yet discovered that
the people becoming deaf denuncation in round
and general terms, and are turning back to consruc-
tive craftsmanship, or, at least to candidates who
offer them constructive policies.
The struggle in New York, however, will be
watched with increasing interest all the country,
for it is in reality national fight between Republican
and Progressive parties If signal defeat is admins
tered TO Roosevelts candidate in November if he
should be last in the field assuming that Whitman
wins the regular nomnation, the fact that the Colonel
Il 4
race will have prevented his 1915 chances from
greatly deteriorating With Whitman in the field
there be but faint hope of Humans election; in
fact, the reward of either Republicans or Progress
ives would probably be whatever prestige second
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