Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-02
At THE White HOUSE
Senator Platt to Visit PreSi-
dent Tonight,
THE CITY POSTMASTER
MR.. MERRITT WILL PROBABLY BE
REAPPoINTED.
Mr. Roosevelt Will Not Interfere in
the New York Senatorship Fight
Cannot Settle the Steel Strike.
THE CITY POSTMASTER

ident and will still further occupy his at
tention for a few days. Senator Platt Is to
visit tn, President tonight, and Will have
a long talk with him about conditions IN
that state. Representative Littauer, who
is recognized as one of the ablest of the
lieutenants of Gov. Odell. had an interview
with the President this morning.
OF local interest TO Washington. in con-
nection with these conferences. is the ap-
pointment of a postmaster to succeed Post
master Merritt This appointment will be
one of those taken into consideration in the
talk between the President and Senator
Platt tonight. but it is well understood that
the President will reappoint Postmaster
Merritt. This is the wish of Senator Plat,
and the President desires to crafty the
wishes of his old friend as far as consistent
with his duties and views. In the case OF
Mr.. Merritt the President knows of no OBJ
jections why he should not be appointed to
succeed himself. and this will be done, as
already outlined in The Star.
The late Henry c. Payne Postmaster
General. was a friend to MIR. Merritt and
had talked to the President in favor of
his being retained in his position. The
President, however, was not fully ready
to reach conclusion. He has made up
his mind that there are good reasons why
Mr.. Merritt will make satisfactory sue
eessor of himself and there will be no
surprise at any time an official announce
Senator Plat will have long talk with
the President, not only as to the WASH
ington and New York post Office appoint
ments. but as to political affairs gener-
ally in New York including the election
of a successor to Senator Depew. This is
the heartburning question in New York
politics now. There is practically no doubt
that Gov. Odell and his followers have
determined upon the retirement of Sena-
tor Depew and the election of eX-Gov.
Frank S. Black. That is known to be
their program, and the probability is that
they will carry that out.
The President is Hands Off.
In the fight over the senatorship the
President is hands off. No interference
can be charged to him up to this time,
and this was one of the things Repre-
sentative Littauer took up with the Pres
ident today The President gave me
positive assurance that he will not take
a hand in New York politics. We have
known this all the time. but there have
been number of stories about the Pres
ident, and l was glad to hear him reiter-
ate sentiments heretofore expressed"
This is what Mr.. Littauer said after his
talk -. .7.-.
Governor Odell and his friends will con-
troll the legislature" went on Mr.. Littauer,
and the people of the state desire that
they do so"
thar the legislature would eject whoever he
wanted S SENATOR"
Il do not know about any statement of
this kind but L do not hesitate to say that 4
what Governor Odefl wants in this direc ton
viii go a long way in the legislature, which
fs composed OF his most earnest friends and
well wfshers, 80 II - '.'.fi -. +. -.
ais Governor Black a candidate for the
Senate?"
THE republican party and his friends de-
sire him for the place and there is no doubt
in my mind that he will be the next senator
from New York"
President Can't Interfere in Strike.
President Roosevelt today informed a
delegation representing the Amalgamated
Association of Iron. Steel and Tin-plate
Workers that he saw no way by which he
properly or legally could interfere to bring
about settlement of the strike of the
union employees of the Carnegie Steel Com
pany of Youngstown and Gerard. Ohio.
Efforts have been made to bring the
strike to an end. but ,all have failed. FL
nally, President Shaffer of the Amalga-
mated was requested by the striking men
TO come to Washington and lay the mat
ter before the President in the hope that
he might be able to do something or, at
least. to suggest way, to terminate the
difficulty. President Shaffer was presented
to President Roosevelt today by Repre-
sentative-elect Aubrey Thomas of the nine
teerth Ohio district, who also introduced
to the President David Evans organizer
of the Amaigamated Association at
youngstown.
The delegation had a most satisfactory
conference with. President Roosevelt al
though the President made it clear to his
callers that he was not in position to do
anything to bring the strike to an end. The
situation was discussed in detail. the Presi-
dent expressing his regret that the differ
ences between the men and the employing
company apparently were not susceptible
of amicable adjustment. He said, however,
that he had no authority which would war
rant him 10 interfere in the trouble, glad as
he would be to see settlement of the
strike.
Ar Shaf Far and Nv
probation of the kindly interest of Presi-
dent Roosevelt although they regretted
that lie was unable to assist them in
practicable way. They understood thor
oughly the Presidents position however
and had no way to suggest by which he
could help them. They will return to their
homes at once and report officially to the
strikers the result of their visit. Neither
President Shaffer nor Mr.. Evans would at
tempt 10 forecast the result of the strike.
An Alaskan Judgeship.
The President will probably appoint sue
cessor to Melville Brown of Wyoming as
federal judge foI the southeastern district
of Alaska. at Juneau. within the next two
or three days. Several candidates have an
peared for this office, but the President and
the Attorney General are exercising unu-
sual care in the selection. for the reason
that there has been great difficulty in find
ing able and honest men for the Alaska jul
dietary. Scandals in the Alaska courts have
boset the administration for several years
and two judges have been dismissed or COM
PEELED TO resign since 1901.
II was announced several days ago that
Judge Brown would be asked to resign but
no further action has been taken. Senator
warren of Wyoming feels that ii would be
an injustice 10 compel Judge Brown to re-
sign. since the charges against him were
not actually proven. and since his term ex-
pred on the 9th of last June. Consequently
judge Browns separation from the public
service will probably be brought about by
simply appointing his successor.
Senator Elkins in Conference.
Senator Elkins of West Virginia talked
briefly with the President. The West Vir-
sinia senator does not think there is any
reason TO look for an extra session of Con-
gfess TO bother with the tariff. He does
thnk, though. there will be important lcgis-
ldtlon In the near future as to interstate
commerce matters. He believes that addi-
uohaI legislation Is needed. Later on he
VIII confer more fully with the President
aiCnG these lines
senator Cullom introduced TO the Presi-
cent John r. McFie. one of the federal
Judges in New Mexico. Senator Cullorn
SAID there was no truth in a recently pub
hshed statement that he was opposed to
Gen John G. Black for commissioner OF
pensions. Il do not know anything about
what the President -contemplates as TO
Il haxsa uatl