Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-07
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Lieut.. Gov. Woodruff a Guest
of the President.
WHY He CAME HERE
TO TALK OVER THE POLITICAL
SITUATION IN NEW YORK.
Says the Stories Connecting Him With
the Post Office Department
Are Absurd.
WHY HE CAME HERE

Timothy Woodruff. lieutenant governor of
New York, the guest of President
Roosevelt at luncheon this afternoon. re-
manning with him from 30 until after
O'Clock, returning to New York on the
O'Clock train. Just before going to lunch
with the President. Mr.. Woodruff made this
statement about his trip:
81 have come down to talk the po-
litical situation in New York state with the
President 1 shall take luncheon with Mr..
Roosevelt and return to New York at
O'Clock. The President sent me an invita-
lion two days ago to take luncheon with
him. The story that am being considered
for the Postmaster Generalship Is, of course.
absurd. 1t is obvious that the Presid ant
would not have asked me here two days ago
to take up that subject. Moreover, my bust
ness affairs occupy my attention. So far
as the situa ton in New York Is concerned,
L regard 1t entirely safe for the Presi-
dent. 1t Is useless to try to disguise the
fact that there is big fight over the
state ticket, and what the outcome will be
no one knows. Undoubtedly the state ticket
will run behind the national ticket. this
Is the general experience in. New York
elections. am doing all can for the state
ticket in Brooklyn. I have received requests
TO campaign in some of the counties up
state. Whether I will be able to accept
these invitations 1 cannot say at this time"
Object of His Trip.
The New York papers are full of con-
lecture about the trip of Mr.. Woodruff and
Its significance Some of them Indicate that
he may be invited into the cabinet so as to
appease the Platt wing of the party in Its
supposed hostility to Higgins. the repub-
lcan nominee for governor, while others
say that the President has become alarmed
at the revolt against the candidacy of Hig-
gins and has summoned Woodruff to Wash
ington to ascertain the situation.
There has been frequent talk that the
friends and hackers of Senator Platt and
Mr.. Woodruff are not as warm as they
could be in their support of Higgins. and
that they are really preparing to use long,
keen knife on him. The President is conf
dent of the complete success of the repub-
lican national ticket in New. York by
large majority, but he would like to make
sure of the victory OF the state ticket. Nat
urally he wants to do everything possible TO
harmonic every interest in New York The
President does not wish to interfere in the
management of the state campaign, and
will not do so, but heartily desires to see
every opportunity given for success Of all
the republican tickets.
The denial of Mr.. Woodruff as to the cabi-
net stories is taken as sincere and sensible.
The President. 1T is believed, would not con-
slider such a matter at this time, and there
is doubt of the political wisdom of such
ment of cabinet officer to succeed Mr..
Payne will be made for nearly a month. 1t
IS well known that Mr.. Cortelyou is to be
Postmaster General, but OF course the at
tainment of his ambition in this direction
could be deferred. He would undoubtedly
be the first to suggest Mr.. Woodruff
for cabinet position to the President
Mr.. Cortelyou in Conference.
chairman Cortelyou, went from the fu-
neral of Postmaster General Payne TO the
White House and remained there TWO hours
talking with the President. This confer
ence preceded the luncheon with Timothy
Woodruff. From Mr.. Cortelyou and Mr..
Woodruff the President secured more de-
tails as to the New York situation than he
would have obtained from a dozen other
men Mr. Cortelyou talked freely with the
President as to the New York outlook,
which he considers of the best as to the
national ticket, and growing better as to
the state ticket
Mr.. Cortelyou, usual, had nothing to
say for publication
Printing Office Closed
When the President issued his order
few days ago closing the executive depart
ments from to o'clock today. he failed
to include the government printing office,
which Is not connected with any depart
ment. j. L. Feeney. former president of
the Bookbinders' Union, representing the
Secretary Loeb this morning and presented
the following statement for the informa-
tlon of the President:
In your order closing the executive de-
partmentS from am. to / pm TODAY as
--. mark of respect to the memory of our
late Postmaster General Henry c. PAYNE
you did not include in that order the gov
eminent printing office, which is more
closely connected with the Post Office De-
partment than any other department in
this city. The employees of the government
printing office Join with you in mourning
the loss of our Postmaster General and as
most every division In the office Is more or
less employed on post office work we feel
that we should have the same privilege as
other employees of the government to pay
our respects to the honored dead by ceasing
work during the funeral services in this
city We kindly request from you an order
closing the government printing office dur
Ing the funeral services of our deceased
Postmaster General. and | can assure Won
If our request is granted 1t will be deeply
appreciated by every employee in the office"
Mr.. Feeney explained to Secretary Loeb
that the government printing Office has no
Cabinet officer to look after its interests
and that 1t not only desired to honor the
memory of Mr.. Payne. but to be put ON
exactly the same footing as other depart
ments of the government in the matter of
closing. 1t felt somewhat lonesome to be
so often left out of orders closing depart
ments. Secretary Loeb was invited to be-
come godfather for the printing office
This he did in an effectual way, ard Sc
cured from the President an order cIosing
the printing office from 1890 O'Clock this
morning until 1870 o'clock today. This was
satisfactory to the printing office which de-
sired the same treatment as other dausrt-
ments.