New-York tribune., 1918-07-08
Ex-senator Says Whitman
and Lewis Are Backed By
Discredited Politicians
Favors Retention
OF Direct Primary
Indorses Suffrage; Claims
He Will Garry City and
Farmers Vote

Ex-senator William NJ. Bennett, WIN
defeated Mayor Mitchell in the Repub.
licun primaries last fall and who wasa
candidate in the primaries two years
ago against Governor Whitman, has
again thrown his hat in the guberna.
torial ring.
Unlike Governor Whitman and At.
torncy General Lewis, Mr.. Bennett is
willing to withdraw in favor of com.
promise candidate. But the only com.
promise candidate satisfactory to Sen
ator Bennett would be Colonel Roose-
welt
an case the situation should develop
So that it would become possible for
Mr.. Roosevelt to become candidate"
said Mr.. Bennett, "I would gladly with
draw in his favor, as, in my opinion.
he more nearly than any other man
represents the aspirations and hopes OF
the American people at the present
time"
In announcing his candidacy, which
has been expected for more than fort
night. Senator Bennett charaeterizes
the fight between Attorney General
squabbie as to who shall control the
state machine and dole out patronage.
On Governor Whitman he is particu.
larry severe, saying that, while pro-
Tossing belief in direct primaries the
Governor repudiated the result of the
R,Xublican primaries last fall and sup.
ported Mayor Mitchell He says the
Governor made no protest against the
frauds committed during last years
primaries and permits Samuel S.
Koenig to remain president Of the
county committee, although these gross
frauds were committed while Mr..
Koenig was county president"
The Governor, he said, is backed BY
"the same men who raised the $1,000
coo fund for that campaign, and who
have been trying to get control Of the
state and city government as an in
vestment."
Sees No Choice Between Rivals
After declaring that the "dissatis-
faction with Mr. Whitman is univer-
SAL" Mr.. Bennett paid his respects to
Att Nrney General Lewis. saying:
Neither Of the candidates who have
SO far entered the primaries offers any
satisfactory choice to the Republ
voters. Mr.. Lewis stated that ne is in
favor of the repeal of the direct pri-
mary, at least in so far as it relates to
state Offices, and Mr.. Lewis has openly
stated with great pride that if eleesa
Governor he will take the advice Of
William Barnes as to how to run the
state government.
LAS between Mr.. Whitman and Mr..
Each of them hopes to win the pr.
mary through the influence of discred-
tied political leaders. Each favors one
state convention. provided he can anne
the delegates whose favor he has OBJ
tanned by the giving or promise OF
patronage. The contest between them
is a mere squabble as to who shall
control the party machine and who
shall distribute the Offices.
"This is a most extraordinary stu
alton. The Office sought is the chief
magistracy of the Empire State. The
winner will be at the head of the gov
ernment of 100000 people and Will
have the supervision of the state bud
get, which bids fair soon to be $780,
100000 Yet in the contest there is no
talk or thought on the part of the two
candidates except on the one subject
of getting control of the now thor
oughly discredited and disreputabls
state machine. The voters are sgust-
ed with MIR. Whitman, and Mr. Lewis's
GAIN HPalgH IS already over.
IL had hoped that some man not
factionalist, and standing for some
thing real, would be put forward as
candidate. Up to the present time this
has not happened, and only four weeks
are left in which to obtain signatures
to nominating petitions"
Mr.. Benefits Platform
At this point Senator Bennett an
nounced his readiness to Withdraw in
favor of the Colonel. He then sets
forth his platform as follows:
Il am N favor of the retention of the
direct primary system, to the repeal
of which Mr.. Lewis now stands openly
pledged and which was repudiated by
Goernor Whitman last fall The pres
ent law should be amended so that the
county leaders shall be elected by d.
rect vote, so as to make party leader
ship responsive to the voters.
Il am in favor of the national wom-
an suffrage amendment.
With regard to the ratification Of
the Federal amendment for prohibi-
tion. | consider that is g matter with
in the function of the Legislature, to
be determined by the Legislature With
out any coercion on the part of the