The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-16
MOOSE RESENT
OLD GUARDCOUP
Naming of Adams as Vice
Chairman Starts Repub-
lican Split.
PERKINS AND COLBY ACT
Ignore Dinner Given by Will
cox to Executive and Cam
paign Committees.

Three hours after the executive COM
mittee Of the Republican National Com
mittee named John Taylor Adams OF
Iowa to be vice-chairuan to William
r. Wilcox in its committee its action
produced a break with the Progressive
leaders thai promises TO dissever COM
pletely the alliance that was formed last
summer to elect Charles e. Hughes.
Taylor. pushed into the office by the old
guard wing of the Republicans. was
named in spite of the efforts Of Wilcox
and few others on the committee.
In the same meeting the leaders
adopted resolution aimed toward the
closer union Of the Progressives and the
Republicans. This was repudiated In
full last night by George w. Perkins
and Everett Colby when Hey refused to
be guests at the dinner which Wilcox
gave to his committee sin Delmonico's.
The Progressive chieftains Issued this
statement last night:
AT Z o'clock this evening we with
drew our acceptances to Mr.. Willcox's
dinner to the Republican executive and
campaign committees. We did this be-
cause OF the several actions taken this
afternoon by the executive committee
over the protest OF Chairman Wilcox
and other members of the committee.
See Reelection ON Wilcox.
1T is too late this evening to cover
the matter properly with a statement.
We will do this tomorrow. Briefly the
action OF the executive committee was a
deliberate and wilful reflection upon
Chairman Wilcox and an affront to
every Progressive voter In the country"
Mr.. Adams's selection for the newly
constituted office was an assault by i'm
plication on the power of William r.
Wilcox. chairman OF the national and
executive committees.
Ostensibly the place was meant to be
| neglibie and subordinate to the chair
mans. But IL was indicated - party
! leaders last night that 1t really will
! bring about situation OF dual control
one that will make Wilcox master
only Of the East and give Adams practi-
cally full control OF the West. 1t Is the
committees admission that It learned 4
| lesson from the recent election.
| Wilcox, apparently cognizant of the
usurpation of his authority. tried to fight
the pressure for Adams, but he was de-
! fested in his own inner circle. He asked
! that the position remain untitled until a
/ meeting of the full national committee.
The majority overrode his wishes and
! named Adams
| Wilcox. in prospect of this event. had
a candidate of his own for the place.
But in this. too. he was downed. The
committee, pointing out that the chair
man, the secretary and the treasurer
were from the East, demanded repre-
sentation for the West and would have
no other man than Adams.
Victory for the Old Guard.
The selection OF Adams also marks a
victory for the Old Guard. AS THE Sun
said yesterday morning in Washington
despatch. the Iowa man had the back
ing Of James A. Hemenway of Indiana
1t was this support that ended the posi-
bility OF the full committee selecting 4
man OF policies more uniform with those
Of Wilcox.
Many reports were afloat that th'
executive committee would try to Gus
, Wilcox. No such power Is vested II
the small committee. But the men VIII
either secretly or openly are opposed t.
the chairman's administration OF tn
Hughes campaign felt well satisfied
with the days work. They believe con
|, Hdently they have split Willcoxs powe
/ In half.
The committee was In session 70
, three hours and a half at the Centur.
Club. There were present Chairma
wilcox. James r. Reynolds. secretary
, Cornelius n. Bliss. Jr., treasurer, AM
= James 7. Adams OF Iowa. Frederick "
Estabrook OF New Hampshire. Jane
II. Hemenway OF Indiana. Alvah I
Hert Of Kentucky. r. r. Howell OF Ne
, braska. Herbert r. Parsons of Ne'
= York, Charles D. Warren OF Michigan
4 former Governor Gillette of Californif
z who held proxy for William !
!. Crocker: I.afe Gleason OF New Iorl
I who held the proxy for s. A. Perkins q
Washington. .sod Representative Clifto
N. Macarthur OF Oregon, who held I'll
proxy of Ralph e. Williams.
United Against Democrats.
. Two other important steps were take
by the committee. The major was II
adontion of n resolution intended
: weld closer the Progressives and RI
nublicans. While this Is the main pu
: nose the resolution aims also to brir
l. into union with the u. o. T. all p'
litical forces anita gonistic to the Dem'
:, cratic party.
n The resolution. which made ever
= committeeman present one OF the r
porting committee. asked that they "coi
i slider the question of adopting pla
II for giving recognition and looking
the cooperation OF All e'e"ie"to oPPoS'
ir TO the policies of the Democratic par
is and report back to the executive con
p Hence the committee in effect r
Al norts to Itself. Necessarily whatev
le means II adopted will be the course ce
Is tain OF approval by itself. Broadly. Il
scheme contemplated the maintenan
OF the present Progressive element
the campaign body of the Nation
Committee and possibly enlargement
=. .he representation. The committee I
this project meets at the Union Leag'
at II o'clock this morning,
The other step taken by the 'comm
tee--although this did not get beyol
o. the stage OF discussior-wa to ha
-, an annual meeting OF the Republic,
-. National Committee. This scheme u
in doubtedly will be worked out IN deti
:" before the sessions end.
A deficit of $4,000 incurred In I
+, last campaign faced the executive col
10 m,ttec. Chairman Wilcox announc
hs later that this had been wiped o
"a through action OF the members,
~ Another detail was that of naming
be new member OF the National Commit
nd TO represent Washington, ID. G. i,
n. Co,,aday was pat In the vacancy. t.
other places, one for Tennessee and o
or r for Porto Rico, remain to be filled.
10 No place has been fixed for this att
m. noon's Session. but II Is likely the me
q. bers will Neet either In the Csntu
or the UnioA League Club.