New-York tribune., 1900-01-08
GOV. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
rs 1T TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR VICE
PRESIDENT THIS YEAR?
HIS DISCUSSION OF TRUSTS IN HIS MES
SAGE REGARDED AS SIGNIFICANT
WHEN STATE DELEGATES
CAN BE CHOSEN.
CAN BE CHOSEN.


capital that he has some ambition to be the Re
publican candidate for Vice-President. They ar
que that he would hardly concern himself so
much with a National topic had he not had
thoughts about National politics and his own
possible relation to them.
The circumstance is recalled that Governor
Roosevelt rather openly cultivated friendly rela-
tions with the National Administration by de-
clarng on his return from Las Vegas, n. NJ.
last summer. that the Republican population Of
the West unanimously favored the denomination
of President Mckinley. and that he Governor
RoosevelD most heartily of the opinion that
President Mckinley deserved a denomination.
IT is also known that Senator Lodge of Massa-
chusetts, the Governors personal friend, has
favored his nomination for Vice-Presdent.
It is true that it has been said the Governor
preferred to be renominnted for Governor, and
only thought OF National politics a possible
candidate for the Republican nomination for
President in 1904; but 1904 is far off, and some
members of the Republican machine. since the
Governor announced that he would not nominate
Louis F. Payn for Superintendent of the In
suranCe Department. have been declaring that
possibly In view of the enemies the Governor
acquiring within the Republican organiza-
ton, it would be we'll to deny him nomination.
GOVERNOR SAYING NOTHING.
The Governor, meanwhile, is saying nothing
either about a denomination for Governor or
nomination for Vice-President. A large number
of candidates. have been destroyed by being
rushed too soon into public notice. What can
reasonably be surmised is that the Governor
wishes to keep himself free to act he may
desire, either regarding a denomination for
Governor or a nomination for Vice President
He frankly speaks about the uncertainties Of
politics, and plainly does not intend to have his
heart broken by any political disappointment
Senator John Raines, of Canandaigua, says
that probably ex-Leutenant- Governor SaXton
and Congressman Serene e. Payne will be the
delegates of his Congress district to the Repub-
Iican National Convention Mr.. Raines has the
decided opinion. as stated in Albany letter
to The Tribune to-day, that New-YOrk State
Republicans will not obtain the nomination for
Vice-President but that it will be given to the
delegates of some Western State perhaps
Nebraska in order to invade Bryan's home ter
ritory
President Mckinley, Mr.. Ranes argues, really
represents an Eastern State according to popu-
lation, the National Republican ticket, and
therefore it will be the design of the leaders of
the Republican party to go further West for a
candidate for President He doubts If the
New York delegates to the Republican National
Convention will urge the claims pressingly of
any candidate for ice-President guided by a
policy of seeking the Republican nomination for
President in 1904 rather than a nomination for
Vice-President in 1900.
WOODRUFFs ANXIETY
But there are Republicans in New-York State
besides Governor Roosevelt who have been sug-
gested for the Republican nomination for Vice
President One of them is Lieutenant Governor
Woodruff. The Lieutenant Governor was in to
see Governor Roosevelt just before the Legis-
lature met last week. and said he thought 1t
II
resume its work. Ordinarily the Legislature
takes an adjournment for a week while the
Speaker OF the Assembly is supposed to be busy
making up his committee list. The Lieutenant
Governors statement, therefore, that the Leg
islature would meet in less than week natu-
rally surprised the Governor.
But Mr.. Woodruff's plan for an early meeting
was not adopted, since the veteran members of
the Legislature refused to accept it. Hence It
will not meet till Wednesday.
Politicians interpret Lieutenant Governor
Woodruff's disposition TO rush legislative work
and have early adjournment Of the Legislat
ure to his keen personal desire to have time to
devote to forwarding his canvass for the Re
publican nomination for ce-President, and,
secondly, TO a purpose on the part of Senator
Platt-which Of course, will be heartily
tained by Mr. Woodruff-to have the Republican
State Convention for the election of four dele
ga teS a large to the Republican National Con-
venton held early in April Further. 1t Is Sen
ator Platts desire to have the Congress district
conventions, at which sixty-eight delegates to
the Republican National Convention will be
lected, held prior to the State Convention.
good many members Of the Legislature in
terested in the Congress district conventions,
and will desire to attend them. Lieutenant
Governor Woodruff would humOr this desire as
candidate for the ce-Presidency. and would
seek to secure delegates favorable to his aspira-
tions at these conventions
WHEN PRIMARIES MUST BE HELD.
The Primary Reform law says that in such
counties as have come under its provisions (and
all those containing first and second class cities
have done so) the official primary day for the
choice of delegates to the Congress district con-
ventions shall be the last Tuesday Of March"
which this year is March -. This provision
certainly applies TO twenty Congress dis
tricts. but In the other twelve Congress districts
the election of delegates to the Republican Ma
tional Convention may legally take place earlier
than March 81. and, in fact, some or these
Congress districts are already preparing TO elect
their delegates. They are all rural Congress
districts and the farmer voter Is potent. Lieu
tenant Governor Woodruff recently assumed the
,ost of nrasident of the State Agricultural So
ciety and of course is seeking the granger vote
II doesn't seem be generally understood
that the Primary R%etorm % law law ooes not nio: aPpiy
unless the General Committee for the county
in which the village city is situated of each
noIiticaI nartv entitled TO be represented by
tnnnactors ~ election shall have adopted a
resolution declaring that they desire to come in
under the provisions of this act" (the Primary
Reform acD This PT9V1sion On. VII wi 800 5e found IN
mis- axemntion of cities of the third class and
villages from the Primary Reform act has