Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-28
A POLITICAL MARES NEST.
Democratic Journal Beholds Roose.
welt Party Dictator.
4 mbition Alleged 10 lie 70 SIT In the
senate and Dictate Nations Policy
What Ills New York Move
demonstrating Control Of
other states.

The democratic New York world points
the following from its Washington
Correspondent.
National politicians are just beginning
to wake up to the game President Roosc-
welt is playing. When it came out that
the President was endcavoring to make
himself the real leader of the Ropub
lican party in New York politicians
from other parts of the country began
to take stock
There has been n lively exchange Of
views during the last week Men high in
the party councils in all parts Of the
United states have held excited con-
ferences. They are convinced now Of
what they nave suspected for some time.
The leading Republicans in Congress
and the men who have controlled States.
although not in Congress, have arrived
at one conclusion, and that is: The Presi-
dent is not only making plans to estab-
fish himself as the Republican boss OF
New York, but has well under way plans
that will mako him the political boss of
the United States What 1t amounts to
is that the President Is organizing a
Roosevelt party regardless of present
party leaders.
lie has played moro openly in New
York than in other states because he
had to. He was found out in New York. ] f
he gets Wadsworth elected Speaker he
will be in absolute control of the situation,
with Higgins as Governor, Parsons as
County Chairman in New York City.
Woodruff in control in Kings. Wadsworth
as Speaker. and upstate men like AL
ridge, of Monroe; Hendricks, of Onon-
daga: James W. Wadsworth. sr, in his
Congressional district, comprising 1iv-
ngston. Orleans, Genesec. Barnes and
Niagara: Greincr in Erie, Barnes in AL
bany and other men Of equal power eager
TO do his bidding.
AFTER OTHER STATES ALSO.
New York is a big factor of course, but
New York is not all there is to it. The
President is reaching out. lie is after
ohio and he is using Secretary Taft for
his Ohio hgurchoad. lie knew Ill about
Taft's Akron speech that defeated Her.
rick, the Republican candidate for Gov
crnor i'll the late campaign. Senators
Foraker and Dick are not considered by
Foraker is especially bitter. for he wants
to be Il candidate for President himself
in 1905.
Through Lodge the President controls
Massachusetts. He is negotiating with re-
form republicans in Pennsylvania to push
along the work OF wrecking the old Quay
machine begun at the late election. He
is concliating Southern republicans in
every way he can. He has "A grip on the
West that cannot be shaken. Every inn
portant appointment he makes is to
strcng then his own hands. If the recon-
Imcnding powers fall in with him and re-
commend the men he wants for federal
jobs he appoints these men. but If his
men are not recommended he appoints
them anyway.
1t is the ambition of the President to
be a political dictator when he finishes
his present term. He cares nothing for
party lines as at present drawn. What
he intends to have is a Roosevelt party.
He plans to be the great dominating
figure in American political life after he
has left the White House. and he is enlist
ing men every day under his flag who can
help him to his ambition.
| lic thinks to spend tho remainder Of
his life in the United States Senate after
he has left tho White House. unless. in
deed, he can 80 bring il about that after
he has four of eight years as
senator there shall come a demand
for his nomination for President again.
| If he cannot do that he will remain in the
Senate and boss the job from there. That
| is what he is working for now.
ROOT FOR PRESIDENT.
| Incidental with his plans for himself is
| the naming Of n candidate for the re-
publican nomination for President in 1908.
| He expects to name the candidate. Just
ut present the man he has in mind in
! Elihu Root, his secretary of State. He
gave Root that promise when Root con-
scented to come into the cabinet after Hay $
death.
| Root is helping him in all his political
work now. He has been his constant
adviser in the New York State row. lie
is moro at the White House than any
other man. Root is outwardly cold and
calm, but he is nwardly consumed with a
burning desire to be President Roosevelt,
is playing on that to get tn" benefit OF
Roots wonderful intellect and his re-
markable political insight
| If Theodore Roosevelt has his way he
will be in supreme boss of a party or
Ganization in 1908 that will comprehend
the present Republican party as many OF
the new-linc democrats and other brands
of politicians, such as the Municipal
Ownership people, as he can control and
all stragglers who are willing to acknowl-
edge him as the fountain head. Supreme
lly selfish and II most adroit politician
there is nobody in his vision but Theo-
dore Roosevelt. lie is after political
dictatorship and he is having much sue
cess in getting his preliminarics in the
proper shape.