The sun., 1918-07-28
WHITMAN LEADERS
ARE MORE SANGUINE
Have Absolute Confidence in
denomination of the
Governor.
LEWIS MEN ARE SILENT
W. w. Cocks Says Strength of
the Acknowledgement Is
Waning.

whitman leaders express absolute con-
fidence in the denomination, Il the Gov
ernor. They say the attempt to get the
signers of the round robin to Col. Roose-
welt to swing their support to Attorney
General Lewis has failed or course
some Of the signers already were COM
mitted TO the Attorney General. and
those men Will remain anti-Whitman
w. w. Cocks, the whitman manager,
speaking OF the general situation. said
yesterday at the Manhattan Hotel Head
quarters:
Whatever strength Mr.. Lewis might
have had as primary candidate for
Governor Is ebbing away. The Lewis
leaders told the rank and file of their
organization that he would be nominated
and committed them to his support
After they had started to work the lead
ers suddenly deserted Mr.. Lewis and tpld
the workers to cease their efforts In his
behalf. Having admitted their absolute
ina bility to win with Lewis there is no
enthusiasm among the rank and file Of
the Lewis followers, and they are not
yet convinced that there Is sincere
fight to nominate him.
From all parts of the state come in
dications OF the great strength OF the
Governor. In counties where there are
local county contests we frd all fac
Westminster county. and here the friends
OF the Governor are making daily gains
and will carry the county without q
doubt. In Chautauqua and Cattaraugus
counties. among others. where local con-
tests are being carried on, all the fac
tons and all the newspapers are work
ing in the interests OF the Governor.
Buffalo and Rochester are practically
solid for Whitman. In Syracuse and In
fact throughout Onondaga county the
Governors petitions are being widely
circulated with an earnest desire to Sc
cure a record breaking number OF sig
natures.
Some time ago I said that the en-
rolled women OF the State were organic
Ing for Whitman and I say now that
my early statements but mildly covered
the actual conditions In Kings, Albany
and Westchester particularly, the women
are accomplishing great results.
The situation among the farmers can
not be better. In fact everything seems
to indicate that by primary day the
Governor will have the almost united
support OF his party"
No confirmation was forthcoming from
the Lewis headquarters that they would
put Alfred l.. Becker. the Deputy At
totney-General who investigated Bolo
NPasha. on their slate for Attorney-Gen-
erai. 1t was premature. 1t was said, TO
make such an announcement.
Just at present a drive is being made
to complete the primary petitions The
Lewis managers are not going to take
any chances with professional notaries,
but are getting all their signatures
through personal friends throughout the
State.
William Church Osborn is finding II
difficult TO get signatures because Of the
fact that the work was not started be-
fore the designation of Alfred f. Smith
at Saratoga. The organization leaders
expect to keep their men we'll in line
for Smith They are confident that w.
r. Hearst will not run in the primaries.
II he can get Mr.. Smith to indorse his
radical platform he will support him
heartily, otherwise he is likely to main
tain a neutral attitude. Al least that is
the way the Democratic leaders have II
figured.