New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-10
NO CHAIRMAN CHOSEN.
DENIAL OF REPORTS.
President Has Not Yet Selected the
Chief Campaign Manager.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE sUREAU.I

Washington. April S-The widely circulated
report that President Roosevelt is experiencing
difficulty in selecting a chairman Of the Repub-
lean National Committee may again be denied
with the same authority with which il was con-
tradicted month or two ago.
"N1 man has been asked to accept the chair
msnship. and no man has declined to serve" the
President said the last time the rumor was
spread, and the same assertion is good now
When the time comes. shortly before the meet
ing Of the convention at Chicago. the President
will offer the place to the man he thinks best
fitted to manage the campaign. In the mean
time the various statements made about this OF
that man having been considered and elm
mated" or Offered the place and declined for
business reasons are Just much waste OF
good newspaper space.
As a matter Of fact the President has not yet
made UP his mind in the matter. and until he
has done he will not extend the invitation
He has several men under consideration. any one
of whom he feels certain would make an sx-
ceIlsnt chairman and loyal campaign manager
He has two months and more IN which 20 study
the situation and In that time it Is possible that
events may so centre attention on some indlvid-
uaI as to make him the logical choice for the
work. Within the last few days the friends OF
Governor Franklin Murphy OF New-Jersey have
been urging the President to look favoraoiy on
him for the chairnanship. and have even gons
SO far as to announce that he will probably Be
selected" They have assured the President that
Governor Murphy is a man OF great executivs
ability, with an unsurpassed talent for politics.
and that he will have the much desired con-
fdence Of the business interests"
The President does not doubt these claims sc
all but as he knows little Of New-Jersey's chief
magistrate has never worked with him and IL
not familiar with his methods and sympathtes.
IL is not at all likely that he viii invite him TO
take charge Of his campaign for the Presidency.
A like objection would apply to Senator Dryden.
Of the same State who is also wonderfully
successful business man. but IS not yet expert
enced In public affairs or the game of politics.
The President. confident he Is OF both the
nomination and the election. does not intend to
jeopardIze his chances by placing his future in
the hands Of a man who Is unfamiliar with
practical politics. He knows the opposition VIII
avail themselves OF every trick known TO the
political chessboard. and TO nullify their efforts
will require the services Of men who are equally
well schooIed IN the rules. the exceptions and the
fine moves OF the game
The names of Elihu Root and william Murray
Crane have perhaps been more often mentioned
than any others in connection with the chair
manship of the National Committee. and. al
though it is hardly probable that either win be
asked to serve. It may be said with certainty
that both viii be connected with the COMMITTEES
in the coming campaign
Mr.. Root viii have advisory connection
with the work ard Ex-Governor Crane win be
the Eastern financial head OF the Roosevelt
forces. Mr.. Cranes connection with this feature
Of the work is equivalent to saying that lack CO
funds Will not be one OF the obstacles to confront
the Republican managers this fall The rumOrs
Of opposition IN Wall Street. which were 50
prevalent before the merger decision. have not
been heard since. and it is practically assured
that when the time comes the Republican man
ayers viii be aided by the big business men OF
the metropolis TO almost any reasonable extent.