The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-26
ROOSEVELT IS NOW ENGAGED IN FIGHT Republican Leaders are Fearing
 for Future ODELL MUST BE D0WNED Danger of senate's Stand on Rate Leg islation May Cause Split Which
 Will Mean Democratic
 Victory.
 
ODELL MUST BE DOWNED

Chicago, December 25.-Walter Welman from Washington:
 President Roosevelt is now deep in one of the most arduous political struggles of his entire career. He has virtually made himself the militant head of the republican party in his own state of New York Nominally the President has stu diously endeavored to make his interfer- ence with New York affairs in such way as to escape responsibility, because of his great reluctance to involve the presi- dency of the United States in d purely local and party struggle. But he can not escape such responsibility. Every one knows the movement to down Odell has the Presidents support. Without him there is no life or effectiveness in the effort to clear out the Augean stables. With the President back of Governor Hig- gins and Wadsworth, their candidate for speaker of the assembly. Odell seeming ly Las the losing end of the fight. His overthrow and the triumph of the Presi- dent In the reorganization of the party in that state is freely predicted by men who are familiar with New York poli- tics. Odel is defiant and impudent. Driy- en to the wall and discredited as a boss, he is making statements about MT. Roosevelt which are not true. The con- dition of the republican party in the greatest state of the union had fallen so low President Roosevelt found it was his duty to interfere. 1t was an un- welcome and unpleasant task, but the President did not shrink. He Is willing to assume all the responsibility that may be necessary.
 But New York republicans are anxious as to the future. They expect to see the party defeated in the governorship con- test next year. Assuming that the Presi- dent and his friends will be successful in obtaining control of the assembly, and probably in time of the state commit tee and the organization as well,- the candidate for governor to be nominated next year should be selected by Presi- dent Roosevelt and his associates.
 In that case treachery will almost sure ly follow. The Oddities will revolt. They will bury the Presidents ticket. It is com sidered not at all improbable that the re- suit of next years campaign in New York will be something like that which oc- cured in the famous war between the stauwarts and half-breeds durinp tho Ar thur administration, when Judge Folger was overwhelmed by great landslide.
 Many republicans are considering what effect this row in New York and the gem eral condition of the public mind is likely to have upon the future of their party. They see the Empire state slipping away, and a possibility, almost a probability. that the democrats will name Hearst for governor and elect him That, of course. would be followed by the complete radi- calization of the democratic party and a strong bid for the next presidency on a combination of government ownership. municipal ownership, down with the trusts, turn the rascals out of insurance. railways, other corporations and public office.
 Meanwhile new House of Representa- tves will have to be chosen next fall. And if New York is going democratic and discomfort and suspiciousness continue to run riot in the public mind the repup-
 
 any sort of majority in the tower branch.
 It is now generally admitted. in line with suggestions made many weeks ago and re- peated from time to time in these dis patches. that the predominant feeling in the United States Senate is one of half yelled hostility to President Roosevelt. It is also apparent that unless the Presi- dent consents to a compromise on the rate question he is in serious danger of suffering an outright defeat that Is. he will have to make terms with the friends of the railways and the conservatives or they will see to it that nothing effective is accomplished Already the cards are stocked in the Senate to bring about thia result That is the significance of all this bother about the canal, the press agent salaries, etc.
 If this session of Congress comes to an end without effective rate legislation, deep will be the disgust of the people. especially in the west. And if MT. Roose- welt, instead of compromising, fights to the bitter end and appeals from the Sen ate to the people Gas to whether he will Or not, I make no predlction), another cause of great popular discontent with the republican regime will be at work, and that will mean an increase of the proba- biity that the democrats may be able to carry the next House of Representa- tives.
 Taking all these things together. the shrewdest political observers we have are saying that MT. Roosevelt's second term in the presidency is likely to be stormy one, marked by quarrels within his party. by differences and gradually increasing tension between himself and the Senate, by failure of constructive policies and by bad feeling all along the line, and pos sbly by a democratic sweep of the coun- try next fall. If all this be granted and it is put forth here as the gossip of the day not as prophecy-the logical sequence would be what history must re- gard as the failure of the second Roose- ,,olt adm ini stf.a finn and a great danger