New-York tribune., 1918-05-10
Lewis in Demand
On Glynn Opens
War on Governor
He Asks That Republican
Chairman Stop Whitman
Work or Resign
Oh, Man.!
Especial Dispatch to The Tribune)


ALBANY, May 9.-Attorney General
Merton E. Lewis tonight came out in
the open in his fight on Governor
Whitman. He wrote to George A.
Glynn demanding that he either resign
as chairman of the Republican State
Committee or cease his activities in be-
half of the candidacy for Governor
Whitman for third term. The letter
is said to be based on reports which
Attorney General Lewis has received
that Glynn has been in communication
with Republican county chairmen
throughout the state in the effort to
line them up for the Governor.
The Attorney Generals recent an
nouncement that he would not accept q
renomination,. thereby deserting the
Whitman third term cabinet, led to the
conclusion that he would be a candidate
in the primaries against Whitman. He
had refused to deny or confirm this con-
clusion, but to-day's letter to Chairman
Glynn, it is believed, dissipates all
doubts as to his intentions.
Chairman Glynn was not here to-
night, but others close to Governor
Whitman were not inclined to take the
that the Attorney General had fallen
under the influence of William Barnes,
of Albany, and William l.. Ward, Of
Westchester, but that George w.
Aldridge, the Republican boss Of Mon
roe County and the Attorney Generals
political sponsor, is still in the Whit
man camp. They declare that if Lewis
becomes candidate for Governor it
will mean break between him and
Aldrdge. They believe that Lewis is
actuated by the refusal of Aldridge to
support him in his ambition to be-
come Supreme Court justice, the Mon
main as Attorney General and become
a part of the Whitman third term
ticket. Some of the Governors friends
have even expressed the opinion that
Lewis's one ambition is to become a Su-
preme Court justice, and that the re-
alization of this ambition would end
any desire he might now have of be-
coming candidate for Governor
The Attorney Generals letter to
Chairman Glynn follows:
Dear Sir: | call your particular at
tentlon to Section 562 of theelection
law, being what is known as the cor
rupt practices act. This section pro-
hlblts the use of party funds for
primary expenses, and particularly de-
clares that such funds shall not be ex-
pended in aid of the designation or
nomination of any person to be voted
for at primary election, either as a
candidate for nomination for public
office or for any party position.
"As sustaining member of the Re-
publican. party. am unwilling that
the funds of the party shall be used
for promoting the nomination of anv
candidate for public office.
II am advised that you have been
engaged during the last two or three
days in the effort to secure action by
the county committees of various
counties favorable to the candidacy of
Governor Whitman for denomination.
AS sustaining member of the Re-
publican party suggest to you the
propriety either of resigning your posi-
ton as chairman of the Republican
State Committee or ceasing your ac-
tlvltles in behalf of any candidate for
nomination at the primaries to be held
next September. Yours very truly,
(Signed) "MERTON E. Lewis"
Another rift was caused in the Whit
man third term ticket when it was
predicted here to-day that State Treas
urer Wells might not seek renomina-
ton. 1t is understood that Senator
N. Monroe Marshall, of Franklin Coun-
~, has covetous eyes on the nomina-
tion for State Treasurer. Governor
Whitman had been particularly anx-
ious that all the present elected state
officials would run with him on his
third term ticket, but the detection
OF Attorney General Lewis and the
possible withdrawal of others have
caused no little concern in the Whit
man household ~