The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-30
ROOSEVELT LENDS APPROVAL.
EXPLAINS WHY HE'S INVITED
PARSONS TO LUNCHEON.
Not Mixing In Politics. but Wishes TO
Show His Cordial syInpathy''-ParsOns
Not surprised Republicans Think II
Means the End 0f Ode,l in Politics.

Not Mixing In Politics. but Wishes TO
Show His "Cordial sympathy '-Parson
Not surprised Republicans Think II
Means the End of Ode,l in Politics.
OYSTER BAY, Aug. 2e.-Secretary Loeb
announced to-day that Herbert Parsons,
chairman Of the New York county COM
mittee, would be a guest Of the President
at luncheon on Friday. After his morning
conference with the President Mr.. Loeb
gave out the following:
THE Presidents interview with Con-
gresham Parsons has no further political
significance than that Of expressing the
Presidents cordial sympathy with the pur-
poses and methods for which Mr.. Par
sons stands in public life and which the
President believes must obtain In the Re
publican party II the Republican party is
10 fulfil It's full measure Of usefulness to
the nation.
THE President does not regard It as
his business under any ordinary condi-
tons TO interfere in State or local contests.
He thinks that such interference Is not only
not desired but would be resente by the
people. But he has made no secret Of his
cordial sympathy with men like Congress
man Parsons, the chairman Of the New
York Republican county committee, with
men like James W. Wadsworth, Jr., the
Speaker OF the New York Assembly, who
stand not as individuals but as types OF
many other men like them, who have gone
into politics with the intention to render
disinterested, honest. common sense ser
vice to the public as a whole and with
whom the President as a citizen cordially
sympathizee.'
Mr., Parsons made this statement last
night:
Il have known for some time past Of
President Roosevelt's friendliness to me
personally and 70 the cause that l repre-
seat, I have known 1t ever since I wrote
that letter to Mr.. Quigg in June. when l
made it plain TO him that the Federal pat
ronaae was not being used to help my fight
In the local organization. That letter MIR.
o,,igg has refrained from making public,
although I nave asked him to give 1t to the
press.
The Presidents invitation came to me
over a week ago. 1t was unsolicited on
nv part, but l regard it as most natural
that he should make an opportunity to
show that 1 and my supporters had his
good will. Six years g President Roose-
VPlJ akhtI HlCf W IlLdhc tho iBh vi NAo
leadership Of my district. Since then he
has constantly shown faith in the upright
ness of nv purposes and a desire to see
me achieve success, He has honored me
as well as encouraged me. No man fight
ing the forces I am fighting could fail to
know how helpful is the support which
it is possible for President Roosevelt to
give. / regard the kind words from him
- g. 49, L,t e~r thn VANS
who are fighting for me-
President Roosevelt's invitation to Mr..
Parsons was interpreted by Republicans at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday to mean
that President Roosevelt after all ia to take
a hand in the shindy which has agitated the
Republican factions in the county for the
last two months. 1t was authoritatively
made known also that President Roosevelt g
Federal oficeholders in Brooklyn received
Yesterday the tip to stand by Timothy
Lester Woodruff in his fight to retain the
supremacy Of the Kings county Republican
organization.
President Roosevelt, his friends have
asserted all along, would not interfere in
the fractional Republican fights In the
Empire State any more than he had inter-
fered in the ~fracases in Iowa and elsewhere.
But with Mr.. Parsons going to Oyster Bay
Rnu lUt dutuOI -
Secretary Loeb on behalf of the President
that Mr.. Parsons is to be a guest at this
time of the President 1t was unanimously
accepted that President Roosevelt favors
the reelection OF President Parsons as head
mittee and the word passed around among
the Federal oficeholders OF Brooklyn, it
was asserted, mean also that the President
favored the supremacy of Mr.. woodruff
as head Of the Kings county organization.
L,rthar iptorD rof ationa ware NIT ln0n
the Presidents invitation to Mr.. Parsons
by Republicans at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
They were, in effect, that President Roose-
welt, having sided with Gov, Higgins IN
to be Speaker Of the Assembly and Of Mr..
Parsons as president Of the county com
mittee last winter, now believes that Gov.
Higgins and the Governors friends should
win out in their fight tc renominate Gov.
Higgins.
It was even said that Gov. Higgins has
hesitated all along about declaring himself
q candidate for denomination until there
was some indication from President h9ose-
welt hat the Federal Administration at
dent Roosevelt, it is known, lost PATIENCE
with Gov. Higgins when the Governor did
not follow up his victories in the 'elecfion
of Wadsworth, and Parsons, by turning
B. B: Odell, Jr., out as chairman OF the
Republican State committee at a time when
Gov. Higgins could control from twenty
three to twenty.six members of the com
mittee. The defeat of the Higgins forces
at the meeting of the Republican State
committee two weeks ago made it very clear.
it was said, that there must be q close
rn:on between President Roosevelt and
Gov. Higgins IL Odell was to be supplanted.
F~actionally speaking, most Republicans
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel last night inter
preted President Roosevelt's invitation
to Mr.. Parsons to mean the death knell OF
Odell as State chairman and the elevation
of William Barnes, Jr., Of Albany. chair
man OF the executive committee OF the Re
publican State committee. as Mr.. Odelrs
successor as chairman Of the State COM
mittee. .
President Roosevelt is a keen observer Of
political situations and since the boom OF
William Travers Jerome for Governor has
reverberated through the State the Presi-
dent. it is said. thought that it was about
time something practical was done. The
President, it is known. is very friendly to
Charles f.. Hughes. A close friend OF the
President. speaking Of the Presidents
attitude yesterday, said
n The President has been always par
t~icularly interested In the politics OF his native
State, and he ia aware as well as any one
OF the anti-boss rebellion which Is sweeping
over New York's voters. Mr.. Roosevelt