The sun., 1918-07-17
PROHIBITION is
| G, COUNCIL
LIGHTNING
Lewis Men Determined to
Force Dry Issue on
Whitman.
PATRIOTISM IS KEYNOTE
Aside From Faction Fight,
Convention Is Just a Big
Demonstration.
PATRIOTISM IS KEYNOTE
Prom a stat corre,pondsn, Of Tue Sun.

From a STAY Correspondent OF The Sun.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, n. V, July 16.-
Prohibition will be the storm centre of
the Republican unofficial convention.
which meets here Thursday Although
the friends Of Attorney-G eneral Merton
F. Lewis realize that they are hopelessiy
outnumbered having less than one-third
Of the delegates, they are determined to
force a vote on this issue.
1t is probable. too. that the difference
n opinion on the question Of a return
10 the convention system of nominating
State candidates will come to vote on
the floor
Aside from these two issues Of plat
form policy. this gathering promises 70
be one OF the most enthusiastic patri-
otto demonstrations held In Republican
circles since the beginning of the war.
Never before has a State convention.
official or unofficial. been honored with
addresses Of two ex-Presioents Of the
United States.
Two Ex-Prestdcnts to speak.
Add to this n speech from the chair
man Of the National Committee and an
other from Elihu Root former United
States Senator. former Secretary of
State and former Secretary of War. and
YOU have a programme which never be-
fore has been equalled in any similar
gathering In the country.
Were 1t not for the avowed purpose
o. the Lewis managers to make all the
trouble they can for Gov Whitman. to
demonstrate, as they say, TO the Repub-
leans of the State. the vacillation of the
Governor on some OF the most important
issues OF the day. this convention would
he little more than a grand patriotic
rally
Although the Lewis plan of campaign,
will not be definitely mapped out until
The arrival Of the Attorney-Generar and
Theodore Douglas Robinson. his man.
sger, tomorrow, enough has been
learned to indicate they intend to force
the prohibition issue to vote on the
floor of the convention.
whitman Would Ignore Issue.
The purpose OF the friends of Gov.
Whitman. as II Is understood here to-
night. is to ignore the prohibition issue
altogether in the platform. II this Is
done, the opposition will probably bring
|
resolution for a platform plank declar-
ing in favor of a prohibition amendment
10 the State constitution. This would
carry with 1t a referendum to the peo-
pie
Gov. Whitman has consistently IA
vored the ratification Of the Federal
amendment. and looks upon the PROPOSE
ton for State amendment as merely
a subterfuge t0 defeat the nationwide
49, vtN1
derstand they would be starting hope
less fight in proposing such a resolu-
/ ton. the idea Is that 1t will give the
| Lewis ortorical battery a chance to train
rs guns on the Governor.
True, there is to be no discussion OF
candidates on the floor Of the conven-
ton but the Attorney-General is coming
here in person with the idea OF doing
much damage to the Whitman cause by
flank attacks and sniping raids on the
broad piazzas OF the United States
Hotel which this year as for years
without number in the past, Is the -official
Republican headquarters
Anti-saIoon Leader Arrives.
William II. Anderson. State Superin-
,endent of the Anti-Saloon League, ar
rived here tonight with portfolio bulg-
'rg with papers. He says he has come
has proved shrewd politician. and II
" happens that his ideas on what not
n put into the platform on prohibition
exactly coincide with those OF the Gov
ernor
prohibition is not an issue to %
placed in party platforms declared Mr.
Anderson. 1T is a moral issue ant
should be left to candidates. We beiiev'
II would hurt the cause II there shouit
a arln 70
You may remember that some year.
aRo Gov Hanly of Indiana forced pro
ribition into the party platform ther.
The Republican party was defeated ~dh'
did : ., come back into power for years
That was responsible for the election o
GOV Marshall and his later elevation t
the Vice Presidency"
With the belief that their action Wi
r1rt Gov. whitman, the Lewis p'cpl
arc planning to throw Lieut.. Gov
schoeneck overheard. They profess Il
believe that the charges that he de
Tended John A. Tolsus. his law clerk
who was under investigation by tn
Federal Frand Jury in Syracuse TO
alleged unpatriotic utterances. have rem
deEcd him unavailable as candidate u
succeed himself.
whitman stands by Schoeneck.
Whitman people are standing by tn
Lieutenant Governor, and the opposition
expects to use this against the GOV
ernor. Friends OF Mr.. Schoeneck asser
lhrro is no more loyal and patriotic citi
zcn in the state They say he has NOR
Liberty bonds than any other member
the administration. and point to hi
work on the war savings committee II
Syracuse as further proof OF his loyalty
The plan of the Lewis people Is Il
name for Lieutenant Governor a maj
from New York city to balance the VI
State candidacy of the Attorney-Gen
cral 1t has been suggested that tn
nomination of a Hebrew might Civ
strength to the ticket. Among the sug
geStions are Marcus NJ. Marks OF New
York county and Meier Stenbrink
Kings. The latter. IL is asserted, woul'
tgve war flavor to the Lewis uckei
as he is engaged in assisting Huglres n
the aircraft production Inquiry.
". w. Cocks, the Whitman manager
and Samuel S. Koeng. one OF the stan
both say there IL no Whitman pro
sramme They have more than two
thirds Of the delegates and there Is it'll
"Hance they will lose any sleep owe
her ability to put across everything
they see At, no matter how late II ma
ue determined upon.
Root for Platform Committee.
President Nicholas Murray Butler O
Columbia, who, In the days that WilliaI
"aIncs OF Albany controlled the des
'n,es Of the Republican State organize
',0u vas the platform maker eNtraord
l.. 10 do Nnt Il