New-York tribune., 1918-02-20
Bennett Plans
To Fight Whitman
In the Primaries
Former Senator Announces
That Full Ticket Will
Be Presented
BY BRIGGS
[Stuf C0y1.esp0,1dence1

ALBANY, Feb. 19.-Former Senator
William NJ. Bennett, who has been in
Albany for two days, comforting with
anti Whitman leaders, announced to-
night there would be complete ticket
put in the Republican primaries next
fall against the Whitman ticket.
"And we can win if we make the
proper sort Of a campaign" said Mr..
Bennett, who ran against the Governor
III the primaries in 1916.
The former Senator, who beat out
Mayor Mitchell in the Republican prim-
aries in New York City last fall, said
that the anti-Whitman men would con-
TRUE to agitate the unrest among the
farmers against the Governor
He asked Senator Henry NJ Sage,
chairman of the Finance Committee,
which is holding up the Governors
nominations to the Farms and Markets
Council, to fix date for hearing on
these nominations. He said Senator
Sage indicated that the hearing would
be held at some time late in March,
thus assuring the holding up of these
appointments for that length of time
at least. Mr.. Bennett believes that the
nominations will be reported adversely
by the Finance Committee.
Opposes Confirmation
"There is no earthly reason why
these men should be confirmed" said
Mr.. Bennett. "They represent neither
the producer nor the consumer. One
of them already holds five man sized
public positions, another is vice-presi-
dent of the Standard Oil Company, an
organization which has never been
looked upon as friendly to either the
farmer or the consumer"
Mr.. Bennett said that he expected
either to- be present himself or to have
a representative present at the farmers
meeting, to be held at Syracuse to-
morrow, when an agrarian party along
the lines Of the Farmers Non Partisan
League in the West may be formed.
This meeting of farmers at Syra-
cuse,' he said, "is simply another in
dication of the rapidly gathering storm
Of protest against the form of govern
ment which Charles S. Whitman has
given the state.
"There will be candidate at the
Republican primary against Governor
Whitman, and in this connection it is
to be borne in mind that there are seven
state officers to be nominated A com
bination ticket will be put up this fall
at the Republican primary, one that un-
questionably will win.
"Governor Whitman has practically
killed the Republican party as an or
ganization. TIE Republican state chair
(,anrOn y
in the Governors Office, drawing several
salaries from the state and using the
states time, the states clerks and the
states telephone to play politics in or
der to give Governor Whitman a third
term.
"The Republicans of the state are
tired of this humiliating spectacle, and
the revolt has started. The combination
opposition ticket which is now in
mary overwhelmingly
Says Whitman Will Withdraw
"In my opinion. this revolt of the Re-
publicans, which is being expressed by
these farmers meetings, will grow so
threatening that Governor Whitman
will be compelled to withdraw from the
primary"
Mr.. Bennett refused to disclose the
candidates under discussion by the anti
Whitman forces.
The Whitman men in private insist
that the farmers are as loyal to the
Governor to-day as ever. Charles A.
Belts, secretary of the Farms and Mar
kets Council, whose resignation has
been demanded in resolutions attacking
the council passed at recent meetings
of the farmers, in an open letter to
Seth j. T. Bush, president of the West
charges him with being unfriendly to
the Governor because he was turned
down for several jobs he applied for.
Belts challenges Bush to public de-
bate on several questions.