The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-25
SOME POLITICAL STRAINS

To an uninterested observer, it looks very much as if there is a prospect of fine row among prominent Republican of ficials, not only in the local politics of the various States, but in the wider field of national politics. Song of the leading po- litical bosses of Ohio are not at all on good terms with the present administra- ton, and it need surprise no one if there Is a split which will mean war between Roosevelt and the Ohio machine. If that machine can control the friends of the late President and make them believe that they need expect nothing from Roosevelt, he will find it hard to get the delegation from that State.
 In New York the situation is no less strained. As every one knows, Platt has long been power in the Republican poli- tics of that State He has been an inn portant factor in his Party, and it has not been safe for ambitious Republican politicians to antagonize him. The pres ent administration seems very much dis posed to ignore or defy him. The pres ent Collector of the Port of New York belongs to the Platt machine, and Is one of his strongest supporters and friends, but the President has seen fit to appoint another man, and a man who has not had Platt's endorsement To make the l situation more pronounced, Governor Odell has taken occasion to ignore the former boss by appointing as State Su- perintendent of Public Works a man who was neither endorsed nor recommended by Platt In fact, all the prominent offi- cials, appointed or elected, in both State and city, are either openly against Platt or are expected to antagonize him and side with the President. All this points to the shelving of Platt unless he can hold his own against the combination. and that can only be done, if done at all. after a bitter fight.
 In national politics the prospects for a row are equally good. There is every in dication of a general breakup in the Cabinet. The resignation of Charles Emory Smith and the appointment in his place of Henry c. Payne, one of the most | typical machine politicians of the North west, is significant, and 1t may be only the beginning. Already there is a talk of other resignations, and no one need be surprised if there is a general reorgani- zation of the Cabinet. And it may be set down as d certainty that all new men ap- pointed will be Roosevelt men. The pros ent members of the Cabinet were ap- pointed by Mckinley, and all of them are loyal to his memory It is leaking out that the friends of the late President see or think they see, disposition on the part of the President to get rid of all who were adherents of Mckinley.
 All this means that President Roose- welt proposes to build up a machine of his own, and that he intends to weed his own row, in this as in other matters. He evidently believes that he can gain more by such a course than he can by trying to retain the good will and support of those who were the close friends and ad- herents of MT. Mckinley. Whether he will succeed in this course, remains to be seen. but all the indications point to a re-alignment of lines in the Republican Party and the formation by the Presi' dent of a machine of his own,
 All this is interesting to Democrats only so far as 1t points to possible disor' ganization in the ranks of the enemy. We care nothing for the dissatisfaction thai may be caused in his own Party by the course of the President. only so far al if may leave an opening for Democratic success In 1904 fight to the deatl among the leaders and aspirants among the Republicans may be the opportunit! for Democrats'to unite and win the neX battle.