Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-23
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
MUST ASSUME THE LEADERSHIP
DE FACTO,
Will Soon Have Control of Every Es-
sential Political Branch
In the State.

President Roosevelt is making himself the
militant head of the republican party in
New York state, in the opinion of New
York republicans in Washington. He is to
be the new leader. although he will work
through other men. Every political occur
renee Of the past month has tended toward
one Inevitable end-the complete control OF
the republican party in New York by Mr..
Roosevelt.
Starting in to clean the Augean stables
and to smash Odellism, 1t was evident that
the President would have to assume the
leadership de facto if not nominally. Such
will be the outcome, and 1t is already recog-
nized in New York that opposition to the
present plan Of reorganization is opposition
to Roosevelt In the end.
He is studiously avoiding the nominal re-
lation, but. he cannot get away from the
actualities of the case There was no man
in all New York state powerful enough to
crush Odell but Roosevelt and it was "up
to him. to do it. the politicians say.
If Wadsworth is Speaker.
If the present favorable prospect for the
election Of Mr.. Wadsworth as speaker of
the assembly materializes the President
will have loyal supporters promptly in con-
troll of every essential political branch in
the state except the state central commit
tee, and that Is bound to follow. He will
have:
First-The county committee OF New
York, which will give him Manhattan and
cause Brooklyn to fall into line.
second-The warm support Of the state
executive through Gov. Higgins with all
that it means In the way of political In
fluence.
Third-The cooperation of a friend In the
speakers chair in the assembly with all
that his position brings.
These benefits are immediate and will
have important bearing upon the next state
convention, which will reorganize the state
committee and choose chairman in the
place Of Odell. 1t may be set down right
now as fact that President Roosevelt will
go after Odells scalp with all the vigor of
his nature.
Conceding that the President will soon be
in possession of this paramount influence
In New York republican politics, the poll
ticians are asking What will he do with
it?" The answer of his friends is that he
will use it for the upbuilding of his party
in the state and the strengthening of re-
publican prospects for victory in the gu
bernatorial and congressional elections next
fall.
Personal Compensation.
1t Is not overlooked, however, that there
will be some valuable personal compensa-
tions. If he chose to exert it, he would
undoubtedly have the power to swing the
New York delegation to the next national
convention, assuming that he was bound
up in the presidential aspirations of a
friend.
He will be in position to name the sue
cessors to Senators Platt and Depew, and
this privilege may be valuable to him at
the close Of his presidential term. Pon-
ticians frequently discuss the future OF
Roosevelt after he leaves the White House.
Nobody thinks that he will Princetonize
or Harva rdize himself.
The opinion is frequently expressed that
Mr.. Roosevelt will keep in the public eye.
for, while implicit reliance must be placed
in his declaration of a year ago that he
will not accept third term, there is moth
ing to prevent him laying off for four
years and then coming up for nomination.
1t has been suggested that the United
States Senate would be a handy place for
him to dry-dock in during those four years.
The way things are shaping in New York
now there would not be the slightest diff
f1culty in framing senatorial game If ne
should ever want to do so.