The sun., 1898-12-12
roUNa wrN ar 1nnArr.
Their More Active Participation in Rspub-
Mcan Party Affairs in New York.


Of age when inauGurated. Edwin D. Morgan.
his Republican successor. was AZ Reuben l.
Fenton was 45. John A. Dix was 49, Alonzo b.
Cornell was "a, Levi p. Morton was 40 and
Frank 8. Black was 43. Col. Theodore Roose-
welt, the Governor-elect. was 40 years OF age
on the 9th OF October last. and no will enter
upon the discharge OF the duties OF Governor
In his forty-hrst year. younger than any Of his
predecessors on the Republican eide when they
| took up the cares OF executive office. and
twenty-nlne years younger than King. six
years younger than Morgan. Eve years younger
than Fenton. thirty-three years younger than
Dix. seven years younger than Cornell. thirty
| years younger than Morton and three years
younger than Black.
This Is n record which ls exceptional but it
| illustrates the general tendency OF the Repub-
lican party OF New York in oficial station and
public life to recruit It's energies and increase
its influence by securing young men to carry
forward the plans and policies to which IL 10
irrevocably committed. and which require for
success young men OF action.
Associated in the State administration with
| Mr.. Roosevelt will be Lieut. Gov Timothy l.,
| Woodruff, who was 40 years OF age on the 4th
OF August last; and the list OF young men In the
| new administration In positions OF prominence
further includes 8. Fred Nixon OF Chautauqua
the slated caucus candidate for Speaker OF the
| Assembly.
Mr.. Nixon. who was leader OF the Republican
majority on the floor Of the last Assembly, Is
younger In years than either Mr.. Roosevelt
or Lieut-Gov. Woodruff. who will preside
over the sessions OF the Senate. Mr.. Nixon
was born in Westaeld. Chautauuua, a Lake
Erie township. in 1860. When he enters upon
the duties OF Speaker provided, OF course
that he is elected to that position. though
there Is no serious opposition to himl he
will be In his thlrty-ninth year.
The recent political history OF New York
records no instance Of three young men Of the
same political party and OF almost tho same
age assuming control OF Legislative matters
under such conditions as these
The activity and prominence Of young men
In Albany this winter. however. 10 but phase
Of the generally manifested confidence OF the
Republican party Of New York in what may be
called It's younger element" The Roosevelt
canvass from beginning to finish was managed
by BENJAMIN B. odell of Newburg. Chairman
OF the Republican State Committee. Mr.. 0dellis
In his forty-fourth year. and decidedly younger
than the ordinary Chairman OF the Republican
State Committee In New York, the policy OF
the leaders OF both parties having been to choose
Chairmen OF experience. and oftenest OF the
experience which comes with years. Actively
associated in the conduct OF the recent sue
cessful State canvass with Mr. Odell was Will
liam Barnes. Jr. Of this city. another OF the
young men who have brought success to the
Republican canvass in 1893.
In fact, the tendency toward the retirement
OF some Of the more active leaders Of the Re-
publican party In State affairs has been
marked. An impressive historical figure
passed from the field OF political activity this
week by the death OF the veteran Westchester
county Republican. ex-Judge William II. Rob-
ertson. who had taken part in the first Repub-
lican State Convention In New York and lived
to be delegate and participant In the Repub-
lican State Convention OF the memorable year,
1896. forty years later. The President Of the
Republican county organization In New York,
L. T. Quigg. is IS years Of age and the young
est Representative Of the Republican party Of
New York city OF whom there is record.
What is the case with these leaders may be
eaid to be the case generally with the most
active managers Of the Republican party In
counties outside OF the metropolitan district
The presiding officer Of the Republican State
Convention at Saratoga. which nominated the
successful Roosevelt ticket, was Mr.. White one
Of the younger order Of Republicans William
NJ. K. Olcott. lately the Republican District At
torney Of New York county. was. when ap-
pointed to that office. one Of the youngest men
to hold it. The policy OF putting in nomi ination
young men for the chief elective offices was
successfully followed by the Republican party
OF New York very generally at the recent elec-
tions In Congress and legislative contests.
The old warhorses. as they are sometimes
described. are retiring from the field OF activity
where not forcibly retired from positive de-
termination of the Republicans OF many dis
tricts to confide the leadership OF their party
affairs to associates who do not belong In the
category Of those who are ignorant in spite Of
experience. A few. here and there. have out
lasted, or are outasting. these changed condi-
tions: but the evidently growing influence Of
the younger Republicans In party affairs seems
certain to bring about some radical changes
soon after the beginning Of the new year when
the Legislature Is in session.
To what this greater activity. so recently
marked. OF younger and perhaps more progress
sive Republicans in New York may be ascribed
Is not hard to discern. One cause Is the splen-
did canvass made in 1885, in favor OF the princi-
pie OF honest money and the preservation of
the public faith and public credit to which I'M
alteraby the Republican party was committed, |
to which thousands Of the most enlightened, |
patriotic. and substantial Democrats rallied, |
in the advancing column OF which New |
York was at the head. by reason of its vast |
pecunary concerns. Another cause is to be !
found in the stimulating and enlivening effects |
OF the Spanish war and the new Federal policies |
to which its triumphant prosecution gave rise. |
A third. but perhaps less important reason. Is |
to be found in the fact that for four years con-
secutively the Republican party has been
charged with the administration of State affairs |
in New York. term as long as that OF a ma
tional administration. Tho exercise OF such |
political power and responsibility In executive
and legislative offices and In most OF the
county and some OF the city offices. too. has had
the effect Of broadening the views OF Republi-
can leaders and raising the standard OF their
public service. while making possible the re-
tirement Of some supertiuous leaders whom
minority party might not feel strong enough
or might not be brave enough to dislodge
Twenty-one Years. Retirement.