New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-29
Upstate Republicans Di-
vided on Early Signing
of Petitions.
BARNES MEN BACK
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Job Hedges and Human Favored
by Many-Others Prefer
Watchful Waiting.
IRy releernnh 10 rhe rrihnno !


Utica, n. Y, June 2S.--Circulation of
petitions for the nomination by Re-
publicans of District Attorney Charles
5. Whitman for Governor mas attracted
considerable attention throughout the
upstate counties during the last few
days. In several counties these peti-
tions are being literally signed, while
in many others the politicians are hold
= ing off, on the ground that "many
things can happen between now and
September and there will be plenty of
time for petitions later"
New York City men who for many
months have been conducting the
Whitman propaganda sent a letter to
the chairman of the Republican COM
mittee in each county about two weeks
ago asking if the chairman or the com.
mittee would see to the circulation of
the petitions for Mr.. Whitman through
out the county In case the committee
would not do this work, the chairman
was asked to name some Whitman sup
porter who would
IL is believed that the petitions are
being more generally signed in Oneida
County than in any ether part OF the
state, but their circulation here also
. started more of "ruction" than has
been reported from any other district:
Ward B. Edwards, Commissioner OF
Election@-is attending 10 the circula-
tion of the petitions in Oneida County.
As soon as he and his assistants be-
gan touring the county in automobiles
70 obtain signers a public meeting of
Republicans was held in Rome. at
which there was heated discussion.
None of the speakers wished 1t under
stood that he was opposed to the can
didacy of Mr.. Whitman, but all criti-
cised the circulation of the petitions at
this time and in the manner in which
they claimed the work was being done.
Edwards's Motives Questioned.
Several of the speakers expressed the
Opinion that Mr.. Edwards went to New
York 20 see Mr.. Whitman & few days
ago, had himself interviewed in the
New York papers to the effect that
Oneida County is all for Whitman"
and is circulating these petitions
all to abe the first to climb onto the
Whitman band wagon" 1t was sug-
gested that he had done this in eXpec
tation of "things hoped for" if Mr..
Whitman was elected Governor, and
also with unseemly haste without con-
sulting John Davies, who has been sup
posed TO say "who is who" in Oneida
Republicanism.
The opinion was also expressed that
it was too early to sign any such petit
tions, and il was decided that the cir
culation and signing should not now
be authorized by the Rome Republican
Committee.
"Watchful waiting" seems to be the
policy adopted by many Of the politi-
clans of the state at this time. When
inquiries have been made OF prominent
Republicans in more than a dozen
counties during the last few days they
replied with the question: What is
Roosevelt going to do?"
This canvass has revealed three un-
expected things. In most counties the
men who are classed as Barnes organi-
cation men are for Whitman for Gov
ernor. Most of the more independent
Republicans are opposed to Whitman
and would prefer either Job +. Hedges
or ex-senator Harvey ID. Human, OF
New York, while several of the more
astute and prominent Republicans,
from whom such an opinion might not
be expected, have expressed themselves
as not so much in favor of any par
ticular candidate as of any candidate
for Governor behind whom it will be
possible to reunite the Republicans and
a majority of the Progressives.
The Colonel a Factor.
Louis f. Payn, of Chatham, ex-
Superintendent of Insurance, who is
eighty years old and still active, and,
as he has been for nearly quarter OF
century, recognized as the Republican
leader in Columbia County and OF the
Senate and Congress districts OF when
that county forms a part, said:
"Much will depend on the attitude
that Colonel Roosevelt takes on his re-
turn. | do not agree with him politi-
cally, but / want to tell you that any
man who does not think that he is a
factor to be reckoned with is fool: /
would not favor making any undue