The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-11
PLAYING POLITICS FOR 1908.
THREE AVOWED CANDIDATES ron
REPUBLICtN NOMINATION.
The Selection OF ortciyou's Succes as
Chairman OF the National Committee
May Have Some Hearing I'm the Fight
Fairbanks Opposed 10 Harry New.

WASHINGTON. March TO- -Republcan
politicians in Washington are very much
puzzled over the failure OF Postmaster :
General Cortelyou TO make public the name
OF his successor 81 the head Of the Repub-
ican national committee. On Tuesday
Immediately following the frst Cabinet
meeting Of the new Administration, Mr.
Cortelyou said that It was his intention
to retire from the national craftsmanship,
although he did not indicate when this
step would be taken or who would succeed
him. There is suspicion that politics
is being played beneath the surface and
that it has some bearing on the fight for
the nomination for President that will
undoubtedly take place in the Republican
national con vention in 1908.
Friends OF MIR Fairbanks make no pre-
tence Of concealment that he is an out
and out contestant for the prize Mr.
Shaw, the Secretary of the Treasury, also
has the Presidential bee in his bonnet
Senator Joseph Benson Foraker is another
who will enter the lists at the opportune
moment. But neither Mr.. Shaw nor Mr.
Foraker IL vitality concerned no far in
advance in the naming OF successor to
MIR Cortelyou at the head Of the national
organization.
Harry :. New OF Indiana is the senior
member Of the executive committee Of the
national committee. There is a feeling Of
bitter hostility between Mr. New and Vice
President Fairbanks. Formerly they were
close personal and political friends, but they
fell out as an incident of the factional troub-
les that have disturbed the party in the
Hoosier State in the last few years Il
has been the general impression for several
months hat on the retirement OF Mr. Cor
teyou from the chairmanship Mr. New
would be named as acting chairman, and
only within the Last few days has any
doubt arisen that this programme would be
carried out. Mi Cortelyou would not dis
cu-s the matter further than 10 say:
e. ! SHAH do what IS for the best interests
OF the party
The Postmaster General has n very deli
cate task on his hands In the first place,
il he names Mr. New he will he going counter
10 the wishes Of the second man in the
present Administration. while TO the public
at large, which is not acquainted with
the relations between Mr. New and Mr.
Fairbanks. the promotion OF tho former
might he accepted AZ an indication that
the Administration is grooming the Woe
President for first honors four years hence.
On the other hSnd. il Mr., New IL not named,
politicians might accept II as a sign that
the Administration looks with favor on the
candidacy Of the Yice-Presiient.
Mr. News promotion is covsrtly opposed
by the friends Of the Vice-Pn-sident. but
70 far they have not come ont IN the open
Whatever Mr., Cortelyou's decision. 1t is
bound to create dissatisfaction in some
quarters, Mr.. News friends expect that
he will be made acting chairman. but the
lest information at hand at this time indi-
Gates that some one else will be selected
FOR the actual chair1nnnsh,n