New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-10
WHITMAN'S AIMS
SPLIT LEADERS
Republican Chiefs Think
Governor Wants Too
Much from Party.
STATE COMMITTEE
TO FIGHT 1T OUT
Hot Battle Expected at Coming
Meeting Over His Presi-
Dental Aspirations.

from a sr~cih Correspondent 70 TIE lripunrl
Albany, Jan. o. Governor Whitman's
candidacy for the Republican nonhna-
tion for President threatens 10 disrupt
the Republican State Committee when
it meets in New York next Friday.
That the Governors aspirations will
cause n bitter fight at the meeting
goes without saying, and It Is generally
believed here that the contest will be
so acrimonious that It will be carried
TO the primaries in April.
On the surface the fight will be be
tween the Governor and William
Barnes, jr, for tho control OF the Re-
publican organization. The real rea-
son for the fight, however, is the de-
sire Of Governor Whitman to gain
control Of New York's delegates TO the
Republican National Convention so as
10 prevent the delegation going for Jus
tice Hughes or any one else except
Charles s. Whitman.
The purpose Of the meeting Of the
state committee is 10 arrange for the
holding of an unofficial convention in
February at which the names Of the
big Four" to the Republican National
Convention will be agreed upon. II
Governor Whitman wants to be a dele
gate-at-large he will meet with no OPP
position. If he wants the Endorsement
Of the unofficial convention as the fav-
orite son Of the Empire State 1t will
be given 20 him without a light.
But il has got 70 be one or the other,
according 10 mon who will be lnfucn-
tial in the convention. and the Govern
or's plans call for both. OF course,
this Will cause a fight az the meeting
OF the state committee. for there IS
going 20 be lineup II II is possible
for one to be had But sides say they
are anxious for IL, and there So much
doubt that both the Governor and his
opponents will find out Just where they
ere ~ when Fridays meeting IS held.
Wants to Rule the Big Four"
While the Governors aspirations to
be a favorite son and q Gc,egate-At-
large al the same time have caused much
dissension among Republican leaders Of
the state. they are not the only things
that have excited wrath. Governor
Whitman isn't content TO get away with
them. lie wants 20 select the members
OF the Big Four" 30 that he can con
trol them.
Governor Whitman won't be satisfied
with n mere periunctOry Endorsement
Of his candidacy for President. lie be-
lieves that he is a chosen one, that he
possesses all Of the qualifications OF the
4 ia D..
son. In other words, he knows more
about his own ability "a Presidential
candidate than most persons have for
gotten. So why should he. the Gov
ernor OF this great Empire State, be
only a perfunctory candidate for Pres
ident when he knows full well that he
is the real thing?
Consequently Governor Whitman
wants 20 see that the Big -Four from
New York 20 the Chicago Convention -
composed of men who viii take OIL their
coats and work their heads OFT convinc-
ing delegates that Governor Charles =.
Whitman is a regular candidate Tor
the Presidential nomination, and not
merely of the favorite son type.
Governor Whitman IS convinced that
he is Presidential timber. No one can
convince him otherwise. Few nave
tried, because politicians looking Tor
favors find it convenient 10 obtain what
they are after by tickling the Govern
or's vanity in this respect.
Barnes Leads Whitman Opponents.
On the other hand, william Barnes,
ir.. does not believe the Governor IS
the markings" Of successful Presl-
Dental candidate on the Republican
ticket Ii is gossiped here that Barnes
actually told the Governor so. Fur-
.hermore, Barnes doesn't believe that
Governor Whitman should insist on
getting the Endorsement of the kepuD-
Leans Of the Empire State and going
% the convention as delegate-at-
large at the same time. lie says the
Governor should do one thing or the
other.
The ex-state chairman is expected to
lead the fight against the farreaching
plans of Governor Whitman at the
state committee meeting. At heart
Barnes is a Hughes man-not that he
has any particular love for the SUI
preme Court justice, but because he
ielievcs Justice Hughes is of Presi-
DENTAL timber and could beat Wilson.
We would prefer some one else but he
doesn't see him in sight at present.
Just because Barnes is leading the
fcht against Governor Whitman's
plans. however. il does not follow that
il is a contest between a hardheartel
boss and prosecuted Governor IL
isn't anything Of the sort. Stripped
Of its scenery. the fight ~ between
bosses. for the Governors mainstay is
one who now has the entry TO the eX-
ccutive office when no one else can get
in. II is George W. Aldridge, the Re