New-York tribune., 1918-05-11
Fund Raised to Aid His
Rival in Primaries,
They Declare
Governor Expects
Lewis Will Run
Latter, 1t Is Thought, Will
Make Formal Announce
ment Monday

Governor Whitman said last night
that Attorney General Merton +. Lewis,
OF Rochester. undoubtedly would be a
candidate in the Republican primaries
for the Governorship nomination.
Attorney Genera! Lewis, who, like the
Governor, was here last night, will
make no definite announcement of his
plans until Monday or Tuesday. lie
left last night for Rochester. where to-
cay he will have conference with
George W. Aldridge, the Republican
leader of Monroe County.
The Whitman men say the liquor in
tcrests of the state and country have
underwrittcn the primary campaign Of
whoever fights Governor Whitman to
the extent of 100000. 1t is asserted by
The Whitman men that the money is on
hand and ready for use.
The Whitman men claim to have
proof that the liquor interests first ap-
reached former justice of The Su-
preme Court and asked him to be can
ddate against the Governor, and sug-
gested to him that there would be avail
able as a primary campaign fund the
sum of 100000.
Aldridge for Whitman
Within the last twenty-four hours
tho Governor has been in communica-
ton with the leaders in the state on
whom he is depending in the primary
battle. They include George w. AL
bridge, Of Rochester; Frederick Greiner,
Of Buffalo; Francis Hendricks, of SYRIA
.use; Samuel S. Koenig, of Manhattan;
+. j. II. kracke, of Brooklyn; John J..
IA nf ho 1F
Binghamton, and other leaders whose
political interests are allied with his
own.
1t is understood that Mr.. Aldridge
told the Governor that he need not be
afraid of Attorney General Lewis MAX
ing serious inroads in Monroe County.
Governor Whitman, when seen at the
st. Regis. was rather uncommunicative,
but he apparently considers that the
battle for his denomination is on, and
tnat the opposition will have the finan-
cial and social support of the liuuor
interests of the state and nation.
The friends of the Governor are in
mood to force the fighting. They
believe they possess great tactical
advantage IN having as an opponent a
,'ate officlal who in the primaries will
county and city. They argued last
r.Sht that this fact will make Attor-
noy General Lewis "lame duck" and
mat the consciousness of the fact NAV
dissuade the Attorney General from
taking the decisive plunge.
Dry and Wet" Fight Looms Up
The strong probability that the
liquor interests will rally to the sup
port of Attorney General Lewis is
ground for the belief of many of the
Governors friends that before the cam
paign is very far along, the lines will
he sharply drawn between the "drys"
and the "wets," just as in many cities
at the local option election this spring
old party lines were almost wholly cast
aside.
Another development last night was
'nat the Whitman men regard the an
nouncement of Harold j. Hinman. of
Albany. as candidate for Attorney
General in the Republican primaries as
II challenge from the Barnes men to
get ready for the test that has been
When Governor Whitman was asked
ABOUT the candidacy of ex-senator Hin
man. all that he would say was:
Probably the winning candidate for
Attorney General will come from Roch-
cster'
This statement may be regarded as
significant in view of the fact that
the Governor was in communication
yesterday with George w. Aldridge, of
Rochester. The Whitman men said last
night that Mr.. Aldridge and his asso-
ciates undoubtedly would name the can
oidate to succeed Attorney General
Lewis. The name of ex-Justice Suther-
land, of the Supreme Court, is being
carried in the minds of the Whitman
men. Justice Sutherland resigned a
few years ago in order to practice
law. 1t is understood that he would
like to return to public life. The
induce the judge, it was said last night,
to be the organization candidate for
Attorney General in the primaries in
order to Offset the effect of Attorney
General Lewis's candidacy on the
grounds of obligation toward flavor
ie SON."
Whitman Men Confident
The friends of Governor Whitman
believe that the liquor Republicans of
the state will rally to the support of
MIR. Lewis and that Mr.. Lewis will be
glad to get support from any source
They. think that the Attorney General
can be beaten in the primaries, and
'heir solicitude seems to be centred
en- how large vote they can pile up
against him.
- The liquor people will name the
Tammany candidate for Governor"
said one Of the Governors lieutenants
last night at the Republican Club. "If
oy any chance they could name the
aext Republican candidate for Gov
ernor, would they not be in a position
20 smile at the drys, not only in the
state OF New York, but all over the
nation! Such victory would give
mem TWO years of good business and
ing" '''"'" ouiio-
me Governor, after reviewing the
'Sh Regiment last night and comforting
Nien local leaders, left Cor Albany.
Lewis in Conference Here
Attorney General Lewis arrived ~
sown yesterday and spent hours in con.
terence with Whitman Repubii-
cans. Some met him at his hotel. the
Murray Hill; others elsewhere The
attorney General refused to reveal the
names OF the men he talked with but
me Tact that William l.. Ward the
"estchester County leader, and viii.
lam Barnes, former state chairman
and boss of Albany County. we're not
far away, gave rise to the belief thai
these two powers in the Republican
party, and avowed enemies Of Gov.
esnor Whitman's third term ambitions
were at one of the conferences.
There Is the harest possibility that
alter this talk to-day in Rochester Mr.
Lewis will announce that he will not
be candidate. Mr.. Lewis told friends
on Monday, when he sent the letter to
Governor Whitman announcing that he
would pnf hn corj.Iata