The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-31
7EST OF ROOSEVELT'S POLICY
voRE THAN LOCAL ISSUES ARE
Ar STAKE HERE THIS FALL.
Negro votes VIII cut Some Fisure-'rhe
presidents Economic Policy Maybe
wishes for Fusion success -Otber Inter-
acts Than New Workers. I'm the Out come.


,o.morrow. will be really the first chapter
in the municipal campaign of 1908, the last
,roat political battle in New York State
before the Presidential year.
President Roosevelt and his Republican
friends have urged Mr.. Low TO accept
rerominaion. and both Senator Patt and
senator Dopcw said at the Oriental
Hotel Coney Island, yesterday that they
had no doubt that Mr.. Low would again
he The candidate to head the fusion ticket
After all TINT has been said. though, it
was admitted that Mr.. Low himself will
decide il he desires denomination. Prac-
ticalv the matter rests entirely with the
Nayor himself The old story, so often
told tina. should Mr. Low accept a renomi-
nation and meet with defeat President
Roosevelt would make him Ambassador
10 France, displacing Gen. Horace Porter,
who has had the post since the first days
cf President McKinley's first Administra-
ton was again heard.
Politicians Of high and low degree and
of all party and factional compilations
are convinced that the approaching con-
Hic, for he supremacy Of the great est city
interest in other States than any contest
in New York city in many years. This
concern, it is freely admitted. proceeds
from number Of causes. some involving
local political conditions, others which
reflect influeGes devolving upon the State
Administration, and still others which have
entirely to do with President Roosevelt
Administration mt Washington
All politicians agree on one conclusion
that is il Tammany and it's allies are de-
fnaed in this struggle it will be many a
long day before the Wigwam's plumage
is in any but bedraggled condition; the
$4,000 Tammany officeholders retained
by Mayor Lows administration will either
permanently join the ranks of the victors
or hv an effective process of civil service
proceoure will be turned adrift; while the
Republicans, by the usual methods known
10 political organizations, will 10 strengthen
their fences and hedge themselves in that
New York city, like Philadelphia will doubt
less become Republican stronghold.
The City Of Brotherly Love is the strongest
Republican citadel in the United States
While, in the opinion of those who are
on the lookout posts in the forthcoming
contest, the campaign orators in halls.
the spellbinders on street corners and the
windjammers from carttails will nightly
tell why the fusion forces should win and
why Tammany and it's allies should be
defeated. and vice versa, there are TO others
who look beneath the surface. elements
Of more than usual Importance in the situa-
ton. Politicians speak Of them in whis-
pers. but that they have been very freely
discussed from every point of advantage
or otherwise there is not the remotest doubt.
II is for these and other reasons that the
approaching battle in New York city is of
deep concern to all sorts and conditions Of
politicians and voters, not alone in the city,
but In the remotest regions OF the country
In the first place 1t is the first political
battle in the country which will determine
broad ground Of craftsmanship of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's policies as to racial and
economical problems. New York city is
not only the largest numerically but it is
also the most cosmopolitan city on the
American continent, North and South.
In the Gubernatorial contest last year,
when Coler carried New York city over
Odell by l22,63s plurality, the Presidents
pronounced policies as to race and eco
nomic problems were not on trial, it is de-
clared. The President by no word, oral
or written, appeared in the contest be-
ween Odell and Coler. More than 10000
Republicans stayed away from the polls
on election day. The Republicans we're
critical Of Odell because of the disclosures
of his connection with Matthews 4 Co,
the Newburgh grocers, and their contracts
with the charitable and other institutions
of the State; moreover these Republican
had not been accustomed to view with com
-lo. i -los- T. -
whom the charge OF -commercialism
had been made, and they were sullen and
resentful over the faint that had been
put upon the party. Some were not in
fatuated with Mayor Lows admnistra-
lion, but they were not openly resentful.
They suffered from political lassitude
and Indifference, a disease which has but
one ending political death to the aspirant
for office.
In this campaign. though. between Odell
and Coler. there were, SO it was argued,
Democratic influences which, while hidden
deep during the eventful days of the con-
fict, we're sharply and most effectively
demonstrated on election Cay, when Odell
ran first under the wire by plurality Of
$500 votes, given to him entirely by the
revengeful Democrats Of Albany, Rel s.
selaer and Clinton counties, Had Odell
relied upon Republican votes for victory
he would have been disappointed and de-
feated He was elected by Democratic
votes in these three counties. where David
Hill had bitter factional foes.
While Odell was defeated in New York
city by 1898 plurality last year, he lost
the city in 1900, with President Mckinley
Al the head of the Republican national
ticket by only 44,2e3. In 1898 Roosevelt
for Governor ran behind Augustus Van
WICK in the city $4,000 votes. SO the
politicians pointed out yesterday that in
no way in the guhernat orial struggle be-
'ween Odell and Coler last year were Presi-
dent Roosevelt's policies openly involved
AS to mayoralty battle at hand however,
II is the contention OF wise men on both
sides Of the political fence that there will
be flavor OF national affairs in it, which
perhaps may not become openly odorous
or malodorous, but which on election day
may determine the result.
President Roosevet's friends have dis
cussed his attitude on the negro question
as having a bearing on the result in this
CITY They say il insures him the electoral
votes, should he be nominated next year,
81 New York, Indiana and Ohio. Eminent
Iammany men declared Yesterday The
President is a good politician. He has by
words and deeds done much TO take the negro
voters away from us"
Richard Croker in his time was most
thoughtful of the negro politicians and their
followers in New York county, He gave
mem many places in the city departments.
n" built up Assembly district organizations
Tor them, made speeches to them and won
many Of them over to Tammany. President
Roosevelt $ friends say that while luncheon
10 the " hite House to Booker +. Washing
ION could not solve the race problem of
centuries, II had its merits from political
point or view. and that in the nDpTOaChinp