New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-24
Human IN WORD
DUEL OVER BARNES
Asks Whitman if He Will
Stand by State Chief
for Aid Given.
PROSECUTOR DEFENDS
ACTS AND LEADER
Chairman Joins in Battle and
Takes Opportunity to
Score T. R.

Former Senator Harvey D. Human
and District Attorney Whitman en-
gagged in a long distance verbal duel
yesterday. Mr.. Human was in Buff
fslo when he read the statement of
William Barnes, jrp chairman of the
Republican State Committee, saying
that he did not feel called upon to
apologize for supporting, in his ca
pacity as a private citizen, any particu-
lar candidate in the primaries. He at
once got in touch with his headquar-
tiers here and asked that the following
questions be submitted to Mr.. Whit
man:
II. Mr.. Bsrnes frankly admits that
he is working on your behalf You are
running in the primary as the Barnes
candidate at the head of the Barnes
ticket. Does this mean that, If NOM
mated, you will favor the perpetuation
of the Barnes control?
~. If not, how, after having &C
cepted Barnes support, can you repu-
date him and align yourself with the
great majority of Republicans who are
opposed to his continued domination Of
the party?
"3. In short, will you be a Barnes
man, or, having taken all he can give
you, will you then turn down the man
who, II you are nominated, will be
chiefly responsible for Your nomina-
ton ?"
District Attorney Whitman had al
ready started upstate, but Frederick G..
Tanner, his manager, tried all after
noon to get in touch with him. He sue
ceeded at Watertown last night and the
District Attorney dictated the follow
ing reply over the long distance tele-
phone:
"My candidacy for Governor was an
nounced months ago. Back of it was no
man, and no machine. If it is a fact
that Mr.. Barnes or any one else thinks
am the strongest candidate, that is
his personal affair. No person will
control my official conduct in the least,
either because he supported me in the
primaries or for any other reason.
MIR. Hinman knows that Mr.. Barnes
retires next Monday, not only as chair
man of the Republican State Commit
tee, but also as a member of that COM
mittee. What Mr.. Human designates
do lut DdIHto uOIllHdllOH EUOS lUeU.
Mr.. Human also knows that If I am
nominated and elected Governor, shall
unquestionably be guided by my own
judgment and conscience in the per-
Torrance of the duties of that office,
just as he presumably would
81 doubt very much the Importance
of Mr.. Humans questions, and coming
from any one else l would question
whether they were asked in good
faith.
"This Republican primary ought to
be determined not upon side issues, but
with a view to the great battle con-
fronting the Republican party in this
state to defeat Tammany Hall At
the primary, the Republicans should
confine themselves to choosing the man
best fitted to conduct that battle and
to fill the office Of Governor.
Whatever the result | will abide by
il and Loyalty support the nominee
chosen. 1t is the duty of every Re-
publican to so conduct his campaign
before the primary that he will not
make it more difficult for the man
finally chosen to conduct a successful
against Tammany Hall That
is what ] have done and will continue
to do"
In the meantime Chairman Barnes
had called in his stenographer and die
tated his side Of the case, in the course
of which he said that the only aspira-
ton in political life he had had since
he had been state chairman was to up
pose the candidacy for Office of Colonel
He said:
81 am not called upon to enter into
this discussion which Mr.. Human has
projected, except as think it is due to
the Republicans Of the state to make
clear my attitude toward the party and
public affairs.
81 accepted the Craftsmanship of the
Republican State Committee to contend
from inside the party organism against
certain fallacious theories of govern
ment which were apparently popular
and were inimical to the welfare and
development of the people of this coun-
try and to the very maintenance Of the
Republic itself
Knowing that Mr.. Roosevelt was the
most distinguished of the propagan-
dists of such fallacies and that his am
bition for personal power was I'M
bounded, /, to the best Of my ability,
opposed his candidacy for Office and
shall continue to oppose it.
since my occupancy OF the chair
manship of the state committee, have
had no other aspiration in political life
than this.
Furthermore, I have endeavored 10
build no machine; ] have refused to
participate in whatever dispensation
there may have been in public Office by
Republican officeholders at Washington
or Albany, and have confined myself to
devotion to what | believe to be the
vital principle of the Republican party:
The right of each citizen of the United
States to live secure in his life, his
liberty and in the possession of what
is his.
"My term of Office expires on the
28th day of September, at which time
shall cease to be a member Of the
Republican State Committee, as well as
its chairman.
There is no candidate for public Of
fee who may be nominated by the Re-
publican party who can render me a
service, because | have none to ask;
nor of whom | will have any request,
except that he remain true to the
faith"