New-York tribune., 1920-07-26
Women Leaders Serve
Notice ON Republicans
They Will Vote for
Democrat if Necessary
''Old Guard" Plan
Primary Repeal
Southern Tier Counties
Also Aligned Against
Designation of Senator
From sta6 CORRESPONDENT

NfNhA ONA SPRINGS, N. Y, july 25
The "Old Guard" with William
barnes and United States Senator
James W. Wadsworth at their head. are
planning to male this the last Of the
unofficial conventions. This was deter
mined after it had been found impos-
s'ble to prevent the progressive ele-
ment of the party from carrying cut
its opposition to Wadsworth.
The same element also objects to the
conventions designating a ticket thus
stamping each designee with the mark
of regularity and, conversely, each of
his opponents with the brand of irregu-
larity.
The "old guard" plans to avert re-
currence of such a situation two years
hence by removing the cause.-the
direct primaries. AS an initial step in
their program they will try to force
adoption of plank pledging the party
10 its repeal in the platform which will
be adopted by the convention. This
done, it will be comparatively easy
shedding 20 get the Legislature and the
Governor to pass and sign such meas
ure if the state goes Republican No
vember 2. Then there will be no more
direct primaries or unofficial conven,
tions.
Victory Certain, Says Barnes
"The state is certain to go Repub-
lican this year." said Mr. Barnes to-
day. Governor Smith hasn't chance
of reelection. He is stronger to-day
will run one hundred thousand ahead
of his ticket. But even that will leave
him one hundred thousand behind the
lighthouse"
After discussing his reasons for op-
position TO the direct primaries, rea-
sens shared by State Chairman George
A. Glynn and others, he predicted that
within one year the law would be
repealed, that the platform would
declare for its repeal, and that the can
dIdates on the state ticket especially
would be pledged to this program.
If it were not for the women, there
the part of the "old guard" to direct
primaries The new voters, leaders OF
the old school find refuse to be cajoled
into supporting candidates against
whom they have a grievance. The
women are economically independent
of the leaders. They do not depend
on them for jobs, or for favors of any
sort. SO they can afford to be inde
rendent.
Women to Fight Wadsworth
This independence is. asserting itself
here tonight. Women leaders are serv-
|, ~ onl, ficrh
Wadsworth in the primaries, but they
will oppose him in the general cleo
ton. And that they will do it, and
many men also, the leaders thoroughly
believe. Reports from various parts of
the state show that while there is no
opposition to any other man the con-
vention may designate, there will be
general opposition to Wadsworth, if he
is candidate.
The southern tier, solid, rock
ribbed Republican territory, while it
is unanimously for Nathan l.. Miller
for Governor, is almost unanimously
ers from this section of the state have
told those in control here that if Wads-
worth is designated, practically the en-
tire vote Of the enrolled Republicans
will be cast against him in the pri-
maries, and that if he wins the pri-
mares the Republicans will vote fol-
the Democratic candidate for United
States Senator
Seen as Menace to Ticket
The leaders of these counties en-
braced in the southern tier are fear
full that if Wadsworth is nominated he
will carry the entire ticket with him to
defeat
They have informed the leaders that
the sentiment against Wadsworth is SO
strong in their localities, which in.
cludet large industrial centers as we'll
as agrarian sections, that it may cause
lCantinued Off naQd 81