New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-15
Foster His Ambition
TO Offset Boom
from West
1918 REELECTION
SEEMS ASSURED
Plan Shows Machines
View of RoWelI's Re-
form Ideas

HfFfTM GAAH N.N Nt'N fNNN-NfN
y.,n candidate for President in 1920
means additional sohdihcation OF vari-
AZ. Republican clements in the East
sssind the ambitious plan Of Governor
whitman 10 be reelected Governor in
1918 IS the preliminary requisite for
Il, rsst prze Of the White House.
The presence IN the East Of Chester
roEeH, Of California, recognized IS
Governor Johason's ambassador, and
be reorgar zstion propaganda which
has been started by him and his
friends. have pleased not only Gov
amor Whitman and his immediate po-
gHesl entourage, but also those mem
bers Of the state organization who have
decided 20 east their lots with the Gov
,rnor sno play his game as long as II
l,pesrs 20 be a wise game 20 play.
State Leaders Back Plan
II. New York State organization is
sov entirely iu the hands of group
q county leaders. who have decided,
stsr cool calculation and altogether
i,r esrtry reasons, that the ambitions
q Charlie $. Whitman, backed by q
record VII ch they hope he Will make
!sr economy in state government, for
admirable appointments 20 administra-
tive Office. for sane and sensible ma
tt,re politics and for a short and
sScient legislative session, that these
ambitions make excellent foundation
-s,ers for q state organization which
sesires 10 stay alive and be powerful.
In this group may be mentioned the
national Committeeman of New York,
Herbert Parsons; the United States
Srstor-e'ect. William VI Calder; the
atusr leader Of Kings County. /. J. H..
Erscke: William 7. Ward, of West
tester; Francis Hendricks, Of Onon-
dAFs. and George ". Aldridge. of Mon
ps. Together and with their friends
they control a sufficient number Of the
MEMBERS Of the state committee 10 do
whatever thoy wish with the state or
gsrizstion.
Influence Of Ambition Seen
recent dispatch TO The Tribune
from Albany the ambition of Mr.. Whit
nan 10 be the next Republican csndi-
tste for President was pointed out as
he outstanding bit Of political news a.
The state capital u is an ambition
which slrea0y has Influenced every act
and intention Of those who can control
the state organization, which will be OF
commanding Importance in the selec-
uou Of the next chairman of the state
committee and which will have su-
pfsme bearing on all other political acts
~ Albany this winter.
Interviews with representative
number Of state leaders who live west
o. Albany have developed a surpris-
tg uusnimity Of opinion that the
Whitman ambition ls not mad AZ all,
ron the practically political point Of
utw. This correspondent of The
luoune. iu q trip through the state
Which ended last night. found only one
prominent Republican who laughed at
ne idea ~ Whitman as serious
'tneldatc Tor President in 1920.
What said hc, Whitman for
PreSden.f ] can hardly believe that
ny esteemed friend. Herbert Parsons,
shd my persp.cacious colleague,
gsorge Aicr.dge, of Rochester, and
wise BIZ Ward and the others real
are sincere In this. They are play
z their cards too close 70 their
nests. What really will happen 80
osiore tie public gets interestedSn
Nv may surprise them. There Is
oay one great and available man in
ne United States to-day. He is
1'o'eyelt The Whitman boom will
aAsoiye when ,hc proper time comes"
Of Use to Practical Politicians
Il 50 happens that this particular
Aspub.ican leader has been notably
'-,tessiul heretofore in feeling the
PUBLIC pulse, but be appears 10 be
zone IN the outs poken statement that
os Whitman candidacy is at best only
~neihing for practical politicians 70
"nlare with Tor year or two.
however. = the feeling among ma
uhe politicians Of other states--and
.~f all tho practical politicians are
",erally the fellows who send d ma
eiiy Of the delegates 20 the national
pl'enuous IS anything Ike the feel
" among the profess onals iu New
'ois State, then DO is the indisputable
gsn 70 assert that the Whitman can
ISsey Nil be magnifed by that Of
,s-ison. This is merely the other
ae Of the picture which was pre-
,s.l,ec 70 readers Of The Tribune last
.,asy and Monday in exclusive arti-
- telling Of the plans of the Pro-
T@re reRepublicans Of the West and
'ss West 20 rebuild the party on
~''rn lines.
To Offset johnson Boom
ne Johnson candidacy was fore
even before election by that wing
no Republican party which may be
-Hnoed as conscrvatively liberal. II
@ TIE conviction that a positive
aiscier such as Johnson's must be
.'asted by somebody in the public
Ye which led so many practical poll
-ssns 20 encourage Governor Whit
4ns ambition. When one gets 20
Ne core Of their understanding Of the
PNucal situation one finds the set
eo belief that the Johnson move
Deni so well started that an ambas-
eoor extraordinary comes clear from
ahiornia 20 accelerate sentiment IN
"s East. must be met with vigor.
lhey have decided that man who
,es been the thrice Governor Of New
ora viii pcrsonify % the people Of
ne entire country strength and abil-
" as well Their plans are well laid
20 look FAR into the future. As sure
a. anything may be predicted so
sf ahead Charles S. Whitman will be
rejected Governor in 1918 and be IN
Commanding position in 1920. And,
great patriot once said 20 the
ipttople What are you going 70 DO
khegt II p