The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-18
LEWIS CHEERED BY
BENEFITS ACTION
Believes Withdrawal Will Be
Exceedingly Helpful" in
City and State.
COCKS OFFERS PROPHECY
He Predicts whitman Will
Win by Overwhelm-
ing Majority.

zone may expect almost anything in
q campaign in which hysteria has been
10 marked" was the comment made yes
terday by w. w. Cocks, campaign man
ager for Gov whitman, on the with
drawai Of william NJ. Bennett as a can
didate for tho Republican nomination
for Governor in order that he might sup
port Attorney General Merton e. Lewis.
The Attorney General expressed the
opinion that the announcement OF Mr..
materially.
"Mr. Benefits influence in New York
city as. we'll as throughout the State
will be exceedingly helpful" he added.
"ln his statement he says Gov. Whitman
has degraded the State organization and
made 1t subservicnt to the district lead
ers, who are on the State payroll In or
der to further his personal ambitions
Mr.. Bennett is right.
81 have had a good many years ex-
perience In the affairs of the State.
lserved in the Legislature during the
Administrations OF Cows. Black. Roose-
welt, odell and Higgins. Never in all
my experience have l known Governor
who has prostituted the public service
for his own personal ends as has Gov.
whitman"
Comment of Mr.. Cocks.
Quoting what Mr. Bennett said on July
Q in criticism of the Attorney-Generais
desire for a return to the State conven-
ton and his declaration that IL elected
Mr.. Lewis would take the advice Of
William Barnes as to how to run the
State government Mr.. Cocks said
Has 1t been whispered to Mr.. Ben
nett that our opponent has changed his
position in regard to direct primaries
and does he believe that he is to replace
Mr.. Barnes in the councils Of our op-
ponent?
Truly, do not believe Mr. Bennett
has made any great sacrifice in renounc-
ing his candidacy for the nomination"
Mr.. Cocks declared that his reports
indicated larger primary vote Of men
than in 1916. when 1t was 100000. He
also expects large proportion Of the
4 $4,000 enrolled women to exercise their
. right to-vote for candidates.
"There is no denial" he added. shat
the women are almost solidly for the re-
nomination OF Gov. Whitman. The total
vote will be increased by number Of
contests for Congress- the Senate and
county offices. There are not more than
half dozsn counties where there is not
keen rivalry for local nominations l.
is remarkable that both sides in nearly
all of these contests are openly and
actively for the denomination Of Gov.
Whitman. In fact they seem desirous
Of gaining popularity by supporting
him.
Declaring that he never made a pre-
diction unless he was sure it was war
raiIteG and calling attention to thu fact
that he said Coz Roosevelt would not
run, Mr.. Cocks added i say now Tho
Governor will be renominated by an
overwhelming majority
Asserting that the accounts Of the
Governors speeches up State failed to
reveal the fact that he was discussing
the issues Of the campaign and declaring
that matters to do with the war were
Vital In the situation here. Attorney
General Lewis asked the Governor yes
terday why ne remained silent on the
prohibition question.
"One of these problems and one which
affects ali the people Of the State. Is the
problem OF dealing with the traffic in
liquors." said the Attorney General
MANY of our people believe that the
traffic should be prohibited entirely. An
amendment to the Federal Constitution
providing for prohibition is pending and
will properly become the subject Of con-
slderatiOn at the next session OF the
/ Legislature. Gov. Whitman is on record
an favorlng the approval Of this amend
ment by the Legislature without a sub
/ mission thereof to the people. ! favor
4. the submission of the question to the
people for their determination.
Surely this question should be dis
cussed and the views and reasons OF the
candidates for their respective attitudes
made known. I have been prepared at
all times and am now prepared to dis
cuss the question. l am on record in
the most explicit way possible in favor
of submitting the question to the voters
Of the state for their determination.
Gov. whitman is on record in favor Of
the ratification of the amendment by
the members of the Legislature without
the submission OF the question to the
voters
Wishes to Avoid Gala nifty,
"It would be perfectly possible for
Senators and Assemblymen represent
Ing a minority only Of the people to de-
termine this question in the affirmative.
This in my judgment would be calam-
ity. desire to avoid such a result
Twill the Governor say what his views
are upon the subject? Is he willing that
1.-The Federal prohibition amendment shall
be ratified by Senators and Assembly
men in the next Legislature who rep
resent less than one-half Of all the pop
/ alation OF the State without a vote there
on by the people Of the State?"
"Prussianism' was the characterize
tion by William Barnes Of the desire of
Gov, Whitman to become Governor for
a third term at meeting in the inter-
est OF Attorney-General Lewis, held In
Albany yesterday. This speech and a
nj