New-York tribune., 1902-05-24
NEW PLAN FOR WOODRUFF
TO RUN FOR SENATOR AND TAKE THE
LEADERSHIP on THE FLOOR AT
ALBANY

Lieutenant Governor Woodruns probable cleo
ton Senator from the With District of Kings.
to be followed by making him leader of the ma
jority in the Senate a story that inter
ested Brooklyn politicians last night. mem
Der of the Kings County Republican Executive
Committee. who asked that his name be left
out. outlined the situation follows:
Lieutenant Governor Woodruff will retire
from the place he now holds. and will be
ceeded by Senator Francis w. Higgins. of Olean.
Mr. Woodruff is tired of being Lieutenant Gov
ernor cut is disinclined to retire from public
life. because he is a comparatively young man.
and the possible rapid changes in State politics
in the next five years may afford him an OPP
portunity to become a more prominent figure
than AS he returns from Germany
and England. in July. he Will call the leaders
together and inform them of his wish to be-
come a Senator from the With District now
represented by Randolph c. Fuller. He believes
that with Senator Platts help he can convince
Mr. Fuller that something else is better than
Senatorship for him. and then. if plans carry,
Mr.. Fuller will get State or federal appoint
ment Mr. Woodruff also counts on Senator
Platt's influence in prevailing upon Senator Ellis
worth the present Republican leader of the
Senate retire in his favor"
What does Mr.. Woodruff want with State
Senatorship?" asked
because me leadership or the senate, II ne
secured it, would give him a chance for him
TO display his ability a leader on the floor.
He would have a chance to lead in debate, and
would come much more prominently before the
people than he does Lieutenant Governor.
Moreover he has said number of times that
he going TO retire from the Lieutenant Gov
ernorship and he wants to keep his word. His
experience has shown him that the leadership
Of the Senate is more desirable than being pre-
siding officer
More important to Mr.. Woodruff than any
thing else, however, would be the opportunity
to demonstrate TO the public that he can carry
his Senate district by a larger Republican vote
than it has given any one else. He
would manage his own campaign, and the re-
suits would open the eyes of Mr.. Woodruffs
critics. many Of whom think that he has lost
much of his popularity. Mr. Woodruff bit
terly criticised for siding with Sheriff Guden in
the earlier stages of that controversy and this
aroused the enmity of the independent Repub-
licans OF Kings Mr.. woodruff believes that this
criticism has largely died out and he is willing
TO make test by running for Senator Mr..
Woodruff is president Cf the board of trustees
of Adelphi College. II was due TO his energy
to a large extent that the tentative gift of
$4,000 offered by John d. Rockefeller was
cured TO the college as an endowment Mr..
$4,000 for Adelphi, thus making Mr.. Rookie
felers gift secure.
1T is believed that Senator Fuller would re-
tire from the race for denomination merely
the suggestion that the organization wanted
the nomination to go TO Mr.. Woodruff. He is
thoroughgoing organization man. and Mr.. Wood
ruff undoubtedly could beat him at the primaries
in a contest for the nomination Just what
would be done to make things agreeable 10
Senator Ellsworth remains TO be seen. There
Is possibility of change I'm the state Rail-
road Commission. secretary is TO be ap-
pointed, and Ii is possible that Colonel Ashley
w Cole will succeed himself Senator Ellis
worth might accept position on the commits
sion"
Senator Fuller could not be found last night.
Nothing has been said to him as yet In an Of
fcial way about Mr. Woodruff's reported plan.