New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-05
Barnes Complained
to Plat Of Loss
of State Printing

Roosevelt libel SUIT trlal lo-uaE
showed how William Barnes lost in his
fight to get legislative printing in 1894
and 1899. The first incident went back
to the fight in the Republican conven-
ton of 1894 over the selection OF
candidate for Governor. j. Sloat Fss-
sett, of Elmira, who had been defeated
by Roswell P. Flower, the Democratic
candidate, three years before, wanted
the nomination. 1t went to Levi 2.
Morton, who was elected, and was the
first Governor to serve two-year
term.
Mr.. Barnes had been opposed to Fas-
sett. but Joined in the decision after
election 10 have Colonel Archie Z. Bar-
ter. of Elmira, made clerk of the Re
publican Assembly. Mr.. Barnes COM
planned to Senator Plat that Colonel
Baxter was not going TO give hi I'm the
contract for the Assembly stationery
and appurtenances."
Complaining to Mr.. Fassett, Mr..
Barnes first got the reply that he had
nothing to co with it, but finally the
Elmira man said, "petulantly," that Mr..
Cowell, to whom Mr.. Baxter was going
to give the contract, was the only man
Of the Albany delegation on whose
vote he could rely in the convention.
and | am to be punished because !
supported Mr.. Morton for Governor"
Barnes complained TO Plat.
There were three letters in the 1894
series and three in the 1899 group read
10 the jury. The latter showed a bitter
feeling between Barnes and Lemuel +.
Quigg, whom he accused of trying to
get the state printing contract for a
man named Mccarthy, IAN inveterste
enemy of the Republican party"
Barnes Denounces Quigg.
Mr.. Barnes spoke of characteristic
cally insolent and insufferable dispatch
from Mr.. Quigg" in letter to Platt
dated July IA, 1899, in which he said:
To-day | received the inclosed char
acterstically insolent and insufferable
dispatch from Mr.. Quigg. Mr.. McCar-
thy, who is the bidder of record, backed
by Mr.. Quigg, is an inveterate enemy
of the Republican party and the Re
publican organization. He daily as
sails YOU generally and me specifically.
The acceptance OF his bid meant a
fierce local fight for me in which | am
inclined to believe Mr.. Quigg would
not hesitate to Join.
For six years men assumed TO be
friendly to you have Systematically
prevented me from getting anything
in the printing line in Albany. | beg
to submit the record of Mr.. Dady and
of Mr.. Quigg in comparison with my
own and let my case rest with your
recollection of the past. / have suf-
fered persistent rebuffs during the last
year. but the latest is beyond endur-
Rnce."
To this letter Senator Plat sent the
following reply. dated July %. 1899:
81 recently received from you a let
ter regarding the state printing con-
tract in which YOU criticised bitterly
and denounced Mr.. Quigg, and refer to
a telegram from him which you fail TO
inclose, and !. of course. have not seen
that document. But ] considered this
matter of so much consequence that as
soon as possible | had a personal in
terview with Mr.. Quigg and referred
your letter TO him.
Yesterday ! received an explanatory
letter from Mr.. Quigg. a copy of which
! inclose. 1t would seem TO me that
your structures are not well founded
If Mr.. Quigg's statement of fact is true
and that your letter was unjustifable.
| sincerely hope that this matter can
be adjusted without appeal to the
courts, and il was for that reason that
| interfered and last saw you and
asked you TO call upon Mr.. Quigg."