Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-02
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Discussing Craftsmanship Of
National Committee.
LOOKS LIKE PENROSE
MR.. BABCoCK TALKS ON CONGRESS
SIoNAL HEADQUARTERS.
A Historical Invitation-Col. Grigsby
Has Resigned-A Large Number
of Visitors Today.
LOOKS LIKE PENROSE

| The question of the chairmanship OF the
republican national committee will be
settled at an early date. The President, as
| the time approaches for a selection, Is giv-
| ing serious thought to the best man to take
! charge of the coming campaign. He will
| consult with the republican leaders from
| time to time and listen to suggestions IN.
dicating preferences and opinions to this
man or that man. and when he has OBJ
| tanned the views of his friends he will
make selection. There was an important
gathering of the republican leaders at the
White House last night those present be-
ing Senators Aldrich Allison, Hale. Lodge.
| Platt of Connecticut and Spooner, Speaker
! Cannon and Representative Hemenway.
Secretary Cortelyou, whose political advice
| is considered of great value by the Presi-
dent, was also present. While the nation
| al craftsmanship was not the only thing dis
| cussed 1T was among the important things
touched upon. Senator Aldrich himself has
| been talked of for the craftsmanship. but he
has quickly given his friends to under
stand that his business affairs, exclusive
| of his own campaign for reelection to tho
| Senate are sufficient to keep him well
| plOyed for the next five or six months.
Senator Aldrich must make sturdy fight
| for his place in the Senate. or for a republic
| can legislature that will elect him his
| own successor The democrats have the
governorship at this time and some of the
machinery of the state. They will make an
effort to capture both the legislative and
| executive branches of the Rhode Island
government this year. 1t is considered
| improbable that they can succeed az to
the legislature, the districts of which are
favorable to republicans
Names Prominently Mentioned.
Among the men who have been most
prominently talked about for the last few
months for the craftsmanship are Ex-Gov.
Murray Crane of Massachusetts, Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts, Gov Murphy of
New Jersey. Ex-Secretary Cornelius N.
Bliss of New York, Senator Penrose OF
Pennsylvania, Senator Scott of West Vir-
ginia, Senator Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire and Representative Babcock of Wis
consin. OF this number there may be
eliminated from consideration all but Sem
ators Lodge and Penrose and possibly Rep
| resentative Babcock, whose long experience
as a manager of congressional campaigns
would make him valuable man In charge
of a presidential fight. Mr.. Babcock was at
the White House today and talked with the
President
Senator PIatt of New York had a long
talk with the President during the day, dis
cussing New York and general matters. He
has some views on the chairmanship ana
the President was glad to get the benefit
of the ripe and wise political thoughts OF
the New York senator.
No decision has been reached as to the
Craftsmanship of the national committee,
but the opinion is strong that the Presi-
dents inclination is toward Senator PEN
rose, the political pupil of Senator Quay.
and the ablest politician in that state next
to the Beaver statesman. The chances are
decidedly strong in favor of Senator PEN
rose. Senator Lodge would serve IL the
President desired, but would prefer that the
conduct of hostilities should be in the hands
of some one else. His close personal re-
lations with the President are such that IL
asked to take the Craftsmanship he would
do So but he is said to advise the selection
of one of several men,
Congressional Headquarters.
Representative Babcock, who is again to
be chairman of the republican congressional
committee, talked with the President about
the location of the headquarters of the
committee this year. No decision was
reached, however. meeting of the execu-
tive committee of the congressional COM
mittee will be held in Chicago about the
time of the republican national convention
and the question of headquarters VIII then
be determined. The places under consldera-
ton are Washington, New York and Chica-
go and the location of the headquarters
will depend upon many things that may
develop In the next two months. This is in
about the same status as the chairmansmp
of the national committee. There is no
reason why the President should express
his preference for a campaign manager un-
til after the Chicago convention, ana IL 10
nouncement of his choice VIII be made De-
fore somewhere near that time
Senator Scott. who is chairman OF the
subcommittee on arrangements FOR the chi
csgo convention, talked to the President
about some of the details OF the convention.
A Historical Invitation.
James w. Marshall who was Postmaster
Ge neral ad interim during the Grant admin
istration was visitor to the White House
today He had with him a historic invita-
ton This was from President Washington
to DIR. Stevenson. the father of Mrs. Mar
shall. and father-in-law of Mr.. Marshall
The Invitation was in printed form, with
blanks for filling in the names and dates.
Il is about 21a by 312 inches, much smaller
than the cards of invitation of many ad-
minjstrations back. The invitation reads
as follows: "The President presents his
compliments to DIR. Stevenson and requests
the favor of his company at dinner on Sat
urday next at 3 o. clock The printing has
a little border around it. and just on the
outside of the lower part is April r."
showing that to have been the date of the
dinner. The year was not given. The in
vitation has been preserved by Mr. Mar
shalfs family in frame.
Col Grigsby Has Resigned.
Senators Hansbrough and McCumber Of
North Dakota today placed in the hands of
the President the resignation of Col Melvin
Grigsby as United States attorney of the
Nome district of Alaska The resignation
accepted to take effect July ]. The
resignation settles much discussed and
much complicated CAGE. Col Grigsby
organized regiment of rough riders dur
ing the Spanish-American war, but did not
get to ,he front. He was appointed a United
States attorney at Nome nearly two years
ago. de had not been there. long before he
was charged with favo:ing mining concerns
at the expense Of others and there was
trouble. Charges were preferred against him
here and rigid examination was made.
Attorney General Knox did not like the
whole affair and suggested to the President
that Col Grigsby had best sever his con-
nection with the department. The case has
dropped along for months, and with the
resignation the charges will be dropped
The President shook hands with nearly
two hundred school teachers from Syracuse.
NJ Y. They were presented by Represen.
tative Driscoll.
A number of senator's and representatives
called on the President to pay their respects
before leaving town. Among these were
Representative burkett Of Nebraska. whl