New-York tribune., 1920-06-16
DR.. Buffers Confession

~. NACuOA0S MUIIdy OuLiS1s tue
only avowed Presidential candidate
who sought election as district
delegate to the Republican National
Conyention---as an "uninstructed"
district delegate, at that-has been
put by events at Chicago in a posi-
ton in which he needs to do a good
deal Of explaining. He protested on
the eve Of the convention that he
was not a mere "favorite son." one
ballot aspirant. He is said to have
told two fellow New York delegates,
who didn't take his ambitions seri-
ously, that their failure to support
him on the first ballot was the only
thing which stood between him and
the nomination.
The public here was prepared to
synpathize with DR.. Butler as the
victim Of a great illusion and of
ovcrconfidence in the New York
leaders who made ducks and brakes
Of his boom. Hardly anybody sup
posed that his campaign was any,
thing but q smoke screen behind
which the anti Wood politicians
were operating. But general credit
was given him for sincerity and in
nocence.
1t appears, however, in DR.. But
ler's own observations, reported yes
terday In Tho Times, that he was
fully aware Of the anti-Wood manip-
ulation and was a party to it. He
says with some obscurity Of phrase:
'It was clearly necessary for New
York to become the Belgium Of the
war" Whatever that may mean, this
other admission is clear enough: II
cheerfully gave my approval to the
plan to turn New York votes to
Lowden in increasing volume on the
second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and
seventh ballots"
Possibly this approval was spon-
taneous. Possibly it was case Of
accepting what couldn't be helped.
But it doesn't accord at all with the
public professions made by DR.. But
ler and his supporters before the
balloting began. To salve his wounds
or save his face the president of
Columbia now launches an outrage
GUS attack on the Wood candidacy.
The statements which follow, repro
duced from The Times, are made by
politician who has lost all sense of
political and moral values:
Tho sixty-eight New York dele
gates who voted for me on tho first
ballot were the chief factor in stop
ping the Hindenburg drive to over
whelm the convention by tho power
Of unlimited money and by strong
arm methods in preference prima-
ries. A motley group Of stock gam
blers, oil and mining promoters,
munition makers and other like per-
sons seized upon so good o man as
General Wood, and with reckless au-
dacity started out to buy for him the
Presidential nomination. The forces
that were defeated In their insolent
attempt to buy the nomination rep
resent all that is worst in American
business and political life. 1t is
really too bad that they hit upon
General Wood as their choice. They
should have found some one to Sup
port for whom tho country had less
respect and less regard"
Such fustian defeats it's own un-
worthy purpose. General Wood was
the first choice of large plurality
Of the Republican voters who had a
chance to express their wishes in the
primaries. He led The Literary Dr.
costs elaborate poll. He enjoys the
profound respect Of the party and
the country. Ef. Buffers candidacy,
on tho contrary, rested on no popu-
lar expression. He didn't even
pledge himself to support himself
when he ran for election as district
delegate. He admits now that his
candidacy was not genuine-that
It's real effect was to serve the ends
Of the politicians who contrived to
smother the natural preference Of
the party in New York for General
Wood. DR.. Buffers active part in
that suppression does him no credit.
He would have made better figure
as a candidate with honest illusions
than he does as candidate consent
ing to be used as decoy.
"Arts Of Persuasion"