The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-02
WHITMAN MEN
RULE IN CALL
! OF CONVENTION
cote of III to 20 Shows Gov
ernOr's Control of State
Committee.
CRY OF STEAM ROLLER
Factions Probably Will Pre-
sent Separate Platforms at
Saratoga Gathering.
CRY OF STEAM ROLLER

state committee In none too gentle fash-
ion yesterday when that body issued a
call for an unofficial convention TO be
held In Saratoga on July is. The test
of strength came over an attempt Of the
anti-Whltman faction to have the conf
mittee direct the district organizations
to select the delegates at a direct pri-
mary. They lost by a vote OF III to 20.
Nineteen members of the committee OF
$50 were absent and unrepresented by
proxy.
In the debate. which developed con-
siderable rancor the phrase steam
roller cropped out and the danger to
the party OF having 1t controlled in the
interest of one man was declared. A
return to Democratic rule was predicted.
Ignoring the defeat Of his partisans In
their fight for a direct primary. Attor-
ney-General Merton E. Lewis In a state
ment from Albany last night expressed
himself as satisfied that the controversy
had resulted In forcing the State chair
man to call a convention. which had not
been contemplated.
Sees Calder on Whitman's Side.
'"The convention will express the
Views of the great mass Of Republican
voters declared w. w. Cocks. the
Whitman campaign manager. Knowing
; as do the two Senators. was sure
they would do nothing to jeopardize the
interests of the Republican party. Their
loyalty to the party is greater than their
loyalty to any individual"
Mr.. Cocks expressed the opinion that
Senator William NJ. Calder would now
he found on the Whitman side OF the
fence. In this connection. II was sig
nifcant that John 7. Rafferty,, the leader
OF his Assembly district in Kings county,
voted with the whitman faction at the
meeting of the committee, which was
held at the Republican Club.
II was declared by the anti-Whitman
leaders thats Senators Wadsworth and
Calder withdrew their call for mass
meeting only in the interest OF har-
mony after they found the Whitman
controlled committee would have a con-
vention any way Senator Wadsworth
was indignant because he felt that
Chairman Glynn in inviting Col Roose-
welt. ex-President TAFT, ex-senator
Root and Charles f. Hughes to attend
that he and Senator Calder preferred
I that sort of gathering. His friends
here last night said he had sent tele-
grams from Washington to each of
e them explaining Just why he and Sena-
tor Calder felt II necessary to withdraw
the invitation to them to attend a
mass meeting"
b Fight Over "the Big Four"
M 1t was learned last night that Col.
M Roosevelt had been asked not to accept
~ the invitation to the convention until
I, he had a talk with Theodore Douglas
Robinson his nephew. and tho Lewis
. manager. The anti-Whitman leaders
|. would be happy II they could persuade
|, the big Four not to 60 to the con-
|, vention.
|, The purpose of the convention as
expressed In the call are:
II. To formulate and declare the
principles and purposes OF the party.
(, -. To transact such other business
as may properly come before the con-
vention. It is not the purpose of the
state committee. however. In calling
this convention that such convention
shall recommend candidates for State
offices 10 be voted for at the coming
primary election
II Is provided that each county COM
/. miCtce or its executive committee shall
meet on or before July to determine
the manner in which delegates .and
alternates shall be chosen and that
the choice shall he made on or before
July IS. The Whitman faction. which
turned down fatty the proposition for
mandatory direct primaries. pointed out
that there was plenty of tune 10 arrange
4 for them II the local county organization
desired 20 do So The opposition pre-
dicted that the opportunity would not
be taken in any of the Whitman con.
trolled districts.
To Take in Women Delegates.
ut is the recommendation of tn,
state committee" the call states, tina,
30 far as possible the delegates and al
ternate delegates shall be chosen from
the enrolled Republican male and fe,
male voters in proportion to their re.
spective enrolments"
Invitations are extended to all en-
rolled Republicans and others who In.
dorse the principles Of the party to at,
tend the convention. 80 no one intend
ing to go to the town meeting" neet
stay away from Saratoga. On basi.
/, of representation OF one delegate ant
one alternate for each Assembly dis
trict and one additional for each | GOT
votes and major fraction thereof cas-
for the Republican candidates for Presi
dent in the district in 1916, the con
rention will be composed of 1920 dele
\ gates and an equal number OF alter
| mates.
Still further accentuating their contro
over tne organization, the last thin
. done by the Whitman men at the com
mittee meeting was to continue the con
ference committee as the committee OF
I. temporary organization for the conyen
ton. II is composed entirely OF Whit
j. man partsans-Fred Greiner OF Erie
Representative Bertrand H. Smell OF 81
Z Lawrence, s. S. Koenig OF New York
!. Alfred L, Vass OF Kings and Jesse S
+. Phillips of Steuben. Chairman Glyni
and Lafayette B. Gleason, secretary o
the State committee, are members ex
officio The motion for the continuanc
was made by Public Service Commits
( sioner F. J. II. Kracke.
Two Platforms Probable.
No provision was made for a com
mittee TO draft a tentative platform, a
gal done by the Democrats ProbabI
I eacn faction will prepare a draft OF It
organization Of the convention at Sara
toga II has been suggested by some O
the Whitman men that the prohibitio
Issue might he evaded by declaring tina
as the Governor has nothing TO do wit
the ratification OF the Federal amend
ment the question be left for discussio
In the local campaigns OF the candidate
for the Senate and the Assembly.
Probably the most significant featur
Of the vote developed in Kings count,
Jacob 4. Livingston, chairman OF III
I. executive committee there, who has com
out for At'orne General Lewis, was nc
present, nor was he represented b
proxy. OF the twentv-three members {
the committee from that county cleNe
were recorded on the Whitman sid