New-York tribune., 1920-02-19
Conference Decides to
Send Delegates to Sup
port Strongest Man;
Butler Is Turned Down
Move by Barnes
And Hilles Fails
Root, Col. Thompson,
WadswOrth and Calder
Are Chosen by Leaders

New York's delegates to the Republi-
can convention at Chicago will 20 un.
instructed.
This was decided yesterday at con-
ference of party leaders at the head
quarters of the Republican State Com
mittec. During this meeting Fred
erick Greiner, of Buffalo; John f.
o'Brien, of Plattsburg, and Representa-
tive Bertrand II. Smell, of Potsdam.
blocked an attempt of William Barnes 8
and Charles d. Hilles to commit the
delegates to the support of Nicholas
Murray Butler for the nomination for
President.
The conference yesterday agreed
upon the following for delegates and
alternates-at-large:
Elihu Root, Colonel William Boyce
Thompson and United States Senators
James W. Wadsworth jr. and William
M. Calder.
Alternates-John F. O'Brien, of
Plattsburg; Mrs. Arthur L. Livermore
Of Westchester; Representative Thomas
3. Dunn, of Rochester, and q Manhat-
tan man, to be chosen by the New York
County Committee.
1t is doubtful if this list will remain
intact, for word came from Washington
last night that Mr.. Root has said fatty,
when told he had been chosen, that he
would not serve and that he expects to
be in Europe when the Republican con-
vention meets. Leaders of the party
are trying to persuade him to recon
slider, but believe their chances of sue
cess are slight.
Il will not vote to instruct our dele
gates for President Butler for Presi-
dent or for any other Office" said Mr..
Greiner, opposing the plan to instruct
for Butler. There were manifestations
Of general approval of that stand by
Mr.. Greiner by many of the conferees.
The turning down of the plan to in
struct for DR.. Butler did not cause
noticeable bitterness.
Butler Issue Is Debated
Barnes and Hilles suggested it might
be a good thing, in order to keep the
New York delegation intact and WELD
it as a unit, for the delegates to stand
for the nomination of Dr.. Butler, in
view Of his eminent fitness for the
nomination. Coming from two such
convention strategists the question pro-
voked rather extended debate behind
closed doors, but there was no roll call.
The opposition to the suggestion was
apparently so widespread that neither
Mr.. Barnes nor Mr.. Hilles nor the
other friends of DR.. Butler evinced a
disposition to prolong the controversy.
George A. Glynn, State Chairman,
presided at the conference. Present
among others were Senators Wads-
worth and Calder, Frederick Greiner.
of Erie; Representatives Bertrand n.
Smell, Norman J. Gould and Luther r.
Mott, Colonel Herbert Parsons, ex-
Senator Ogden L. Mills, John F. O'Brien,
Samuel S. Koenig, Jacob l.. Livingston,
State Comptroller Eugene M. Travis,
Representative John Dwight, of
Dryden; William Barnes, Charles d.
Hilles. Ex-Governor Charles S. Whit
man, Mrs. Arthur L. Livermore, chair
man of the women's state executive
committee; Mrs. Ruth Lift Mrs. Charles
II. Sabin, Senator j. Henry Walters
and Speaker Sweet.
Chairman Glynn said free exchange
OF views on the subject of choosing
the delegates and alternates-at at-large
and matters of party policy was de-
sired. He stated DR.. Nicholas Murray
Butler will present the convention
platform at the session tomorrow af-
ternoon. 1t is understood it will deal
only with national issues, and it is be-
heved many of its planks will be adopt
y