New-York tribune., 1918-04-22
However, if Farmers Run a
Third Ticket His Defeat
There Is Predicted
arty Relies on Women
New Voters Expected to Help
Governor to Victory in
the Primaries
By Charles T. White

LIBERTY, N. Y, April Ex-Governor
Whitman stands to carry Sullivan
County in the primaries and election
next fall unless the farmers run a
third ticket, in which case the normal
1000 Republican plurality may be
wiped out.
The Republican leaders in Sullivan
County believe that the "wet" and
dry" issue will be the predominating
feature of the fall campaign, and if it
is they believe they will, with the help
OF the new women voters, have the best
OF 1t. One reason for this belief is that
Senator John D. Stivers, of Middle
town. Orange County, representing this
Senate district, is a stanch "dry" ad-
vocate, and his newspaper, "The Times
Press" has a circulation all over the
Senate district.
Republicans for Prohibition
Senator Stivers is Whitman and a
temperance man, and if he is not nom
mated for Congress in place of Repre-
sentative Platt, of Poughkeepsie, he is
likely to be returned to the State SEN
ate. Sullivan Country is almost en-
tirely "dry" as the result of the local
option elections last fall In view of
the results in the state last week the
Republican leaders say the drift is
steadily toward prohibition, and they
arc inclined to go that way.
|
committeeman. in commenting to- day
on the situation, said:
"Unlcss there are unlocked for COM
plicatons the Republicans will elect a
Congressman, Senator and an Assem-
blyman. Sullivan County is normally
Republican by about 1000, not count
ing the new women voters, and with
the women voting we ought to do
little better than that. The party in
Sullivan County is fairly we'll united
1t looks now as if Governor Whitman
would have an easy time of it in the
primaries If he is a candidate. We
hear some talk here of Judge Cropsey,
Speaker Sweet or Secretary of State
Frank Hugo for Governor, but the
Whitman men are confident that the
Governor can carry the primaries
against any Republican.
The Governor has made himself
stronger by paying attention to the
complaints of the farmers. Perhaps
he has not been able to do all that
they wanted, but he has done some
thing. and what he has tried to do has
ailayed\the irritation of the farmers to
some extent. | do not mean to say by
thls that the farmers are satisfied with
the record of the Whitman admins
q ~,
worst of it on the price fixing so far
as they have not been able to increase
! the price OF farm products in proper
tion to the cost of labor and farm sup
| plies Whitman is not to blame for
that.
War Issue Aids Whitman
"A unifying force is the war situa-
ton. Just as the voters think the
PRESIDENT r, ought to be supported, they
thlnk that Governor Whitman ought
to be supported, as he has held his end
up as we'll as any one could. The Gov
ernor's strong stand for temperance
and the ratification of the Federal pro
hioltlon amendment has strengthened
Senate district. This was shown in the
election in Middletown this week. when
after hurricane fight the 'drys' car
ried the city. 1t also is shown by the
result in Binghamton and Elmira and
by the large vote in all the other c;t;es
IN the state. The feeling evervwhere
IS that the saloon must ultimately o.
There may be difference of opjn-
ION about the time it must go, but the
people seem to have made up their
minds that they arc going to Get rid
! of it as an institution. look to Soc
statewide prohibition an issue next
1alI: Representative Charles B. Ward.
OF Liberty, whose district includes Sui
llvaa, Ulster. Columbia, Greene and
Schoharle counties, will be reelected If
he is renominated. There are Others
/ seeking the nomination. and in dis
trict where there are five counties so
widely separated as Schoharie on one
SIDE and Columbia on the other, it is
nard work to avoid complications in
the nominating convention.
Representative Ward took the nom
nation back in 1912 when no one
wanted it and when there was no
chance. with Progressive running. of
winning out. In 1914 and two Years
ago ne was chosen and he has made a
1ne Representative. In view Of his
good record the Republicans of Sui
ivan will do their best to renominate
and reelect him. 80 ~
Won Sullivan by 600 in 1916
Governor Whitman two years ago
carried Sullivan County by 600. Ulster
ny 3,lO0. Columbia by 500, Greene hv
200. and he lost Schoharie by 500, civ
1lng: him net plurality Of about 1000.
This year, with the women voting and
the ratification of the Federal prohibi-
tion amendment as an issue, the Rcpub
llcan leaders here figure that the Gov
ernor, II he is the candidate, ought to
carry the same counties by about dou-
Die the plurality he had two wears aro
III there should be farmers third
party ticket. with a we'll known man
TOR Governor, the Republicans admit
that they do not know what would han
pen, but they say that the Republi-
cans would lose more than the Demo
Gratis from their regular voting
strength" '"s
Sees No Trouble If Hearst Runs
County Chairman John T. Curtis Of
Monticello says the Republicans are in
oetter shape than the Democrats.
III the Democrats nominate Hearst
we shall not have any trouble clectinc
our entire ticket" said Mr.. Curtis
| Prohlbition is likely to be the lcadin~
issue IN the campaign. On that issue
Governor Whitman stands to win. Tho
results in Middletown, ,Binghamton
cortland and the big vote of the: sdrvs'
everywhere show the way the wind is
plowing. The farmers are somewhat +
vexed by the high prices of farm labor
put ,l not many Of them blame Governor
| whitman for hipr,o lL.t