New-York tribune., 1918-05-28
Senator Robinson
Named to MANAGE
Lewis's $ Campaign
Roosevelt's Nephew Says
He Wouldn't Support the
Colonel as a Candidate
{ special Dispatch to The Tribune)


Albany, May z7.--state Senate
Theodore Douglas Robinson, nephew
of Colonel Roosevelt, announced her,
tonight that he had consented to man
age the campaign of Attorney Genera
Merton E. Lewis as the candidate fol
the Republican nomination for Gov
ernor. The request to do so. he said
came from the Attorney General.
I'm accepting this position" he said
In formal statement, 81 in no way
represent anyone but myself and nc
other construction should be placed
upon my acceptance"
Does Colonel Roosevelt know that
you will take charge of the Lewis cam
paign?' he was asked.
He does" was the reply.
How does he feel about it?
You will have to ask him"
"You know that Colonel Roosevelt
didate for Governor? was suggested
We'll, I'm sorry l can't support
him. Senator Robinson replied with
a smile.
The Senator for two years has been
bitter opponent of Governor Whit
man, and was one of the leaders in the
night at the special session of the
Legislature last summer to prevent
the Governor from making George w.
Perkins head of the State Food Com
mission.
The Lewis campaign headquarters
will be opened tomorrow at the Muir
ray Hill Hotel, New York, by Clar-
ence Shuster, an attorney of Roch-
ester, who was associated with Mr.
Lewis as special counsel in the inves-
tlgation of the Public Service Com
mission by the Thompson Legislative
Committee.
Senator Robinson eft here tonight
Tor his home in Herkimer, and next
Sunday he will go to a New York hos
pital to be treated for water on the
knee, which resulted from fracture
to his leg, suffered while playing tennis
last fall. He expects to be in the hos
pItal not more than a week and to be
able to take active charge of the cam
paign on June IS
Governor Whitman, against whom
Lewis is making the fight for the nomi-
nation, was not here to-day, and it is
understood that he will not return to
Albany until June or d. He is max
ing speeches at various places through
out the state in the interest of the Red
Cross campaign.
In announcing that he would be the
Lewis campaign manager, Senator Rob-
lnson said:
THE voters are demanding with in
creaslng vehemence that political
bodies represent ideas and that these
| ideas be made clear in representative
gatherings or conventions, that thew
may no longer vote in the dark, Thev
call for candidates of firm and con-
slstent mind to carry out the will of
those who select them. l feel that At-
torney General Lewis is man to fiji
that bill
"The Republican organization in this
state has become nothing but a per-
sonal vehicle of the present Governor,
built up by patronage, distributed by
the present chairman of the state com
mlttee, who was until lately on the
state payroll IS executive auditor. An
organization representing merely the
personal ambition of one man cannot
long retain the confidence of the ma
j.ority of the Republican electorate.
rms state needs a militant Republican
organization, and it needs man nomi-
mated by Republican voters who can de-
1eat the Democratic nominee
II do not believe that Governor
Whitman can be elected if nominated.
and lido believe that Attorney General
Lewis can be elected if nominated.
therefore welcome the candidacy of
Merton E. Lewis for Governor and have
consented at his request to take charge
of his camuaipnn -