Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-05
GEO. t GREEN s CAREER
Political Prominence Attained
by the Man Now on Trial.
WAS FRIEND OF ROOSEVELT
Intimacy Began Over Twenty Years
Ago.
HAD MANY POINTS IN COMMON
Close Relations Of the Two in Cam
paigns and in Public Service
in New York State.
WAS FRIEND OF ROOSEVELT
LAD MANY POINTS IN COMMON

OF all the men against whom indictments
were found In connection with the postal
frauds cases none had ever attained to such
prominence politically, or seemed to have
better prospects of future political prefer
ment than former State Senator George E.
Green of Binghamton. n. Y, who Is now
on trial in this city. 1t is peculiar TACT
that his political career for many years
seemed to be closely identified with that OF
President Roosevelt who has taken de-
termined stand in having all of these cases
pushed
Mr.. Green and Mr.. Roosevelt became ac-
quainted and close friends over twenty
years ago. while the future President was
one of the youngest and most active mem
bers of the New York state assembly and
Mr. Green was one of the most successful
young statesmen of that state. At that time
Mr. Green's wholesale coal agency was just
assuming large proportions, and in his city
he was beginning to take an active part III
republican politics.
There was similarity about the two
young men which attracted them to each
other Both were extremely active, ag-
gressive and independent, and always found
way to carry desired point IL hard work
would accomplish it.
When the young assemblyman had be-
come civil service commissioner, MI.
Green whose political career was still con-
| fined to his city, had been several years IN
it's common council, and was then president
of that body and was aspiring to become
mayor.
When Roosevelt Was Police Commits
sioner.
Mr.. Roosevelt had already had such as
pirations in New York. Like the future
President, Mr. Green's mayoralty aspira-
lions met with defeat the first time he was
| nominated but the next year he was cleo
ed and served his ely well in that capacity
for three terms. He was in that position
when Mr.. Roosevelt became police commits
sioner of New York. and at that time his
business necessitated his being in New
York city much of the time. One OF his
closest friends in that place was the ag-
gressve Young police commissioner who in
sisted tina . long as laws remained on the
statute books they must be enforced.
To help enforce the laws the new police
commissioner decided that new blood was
| needed on the police force and to obtain 1t
| he went outside the city and recruited the
| police ranks from young men from "up
state 'Roosevelt's farmer policemen
the New York papers dubbed these new
officers. When he decided on that course
one of the men to whom he turned and
| with whom he consulted freely was Mayor
Green, whom he asked to suggest to him
any likely young men as candidates for
New York's police force.
On the New York police force today are
a large number of men from Bnghamton
and vicinity, several OF whom have been
promoted from the patrolmen's ranks. who
were recommended to Commissioner Roose-
Welt by Mayor Green, and who owe their
appointments entirely to his assistance
Doomed Roosevelt for Governor.
When Col. Roosevelt came back from
the Spanish-American war Mr.. Green had
been for several years chairman of the
Broome county republican committee and
he was one of the most influential poll
ticians In the state. Immediate sug-
gestions began to be made that the hero
of San Juan was just the candidate for
governor for whom the republicans of the
state were looking at that time. One of
the first to make such a suggestion and
one of those who held to it most strenuous
ly was George e. Green. who had just re-
tired from the Office of mayor. Many of
the older politicians objected and tried
to stem the tide of public sentiment that
seemed to demand such choice, but the
younger members of the party, of whom
Mr.. Green was perhaps the most active in
the central part of the state, insisted that
Mr.. Roosevelt was the most logical can
didate
During that strenuous state campaign Mr.
Green was one of the most active workers
not only doing much to insure the large
republican majority which was given from
his part of the state but making speeches
and comforting frequently with the cam
didate for governor and sometimes travel
ing with Mr.. Roosevelt on his speech-r,lak-
Ing tour of the state
After Col. Roosevelts election as govern
or he continued to count Mr. Green as one
or his closest friends and advisers and
several times sought to have him accent
| important positions in the state service
When he insisted on removing Louis Payne
from the position of commissioner of In
surance ne oHered the appointment to Mr.
Green, but the Binghamton man refused II
on the ground that he could not afford IT.
Mr.. Green was prominently suggested for
the appointment of collector of the port
81 new YORK but Senator Platt insisted on
the appointment of another man
Green on Canal Commission.
Finally. when a bill was passed for the
appointment of special camel commission
to investigate and report on the best course
TO pursue In regard to the continuance, en-
largement or abandonment OF the Erie
canal, Governor Roosevelt appointed his
Binghamton friend the head OF the COM
mission being another man of the same
name, With an added. General Francis
" Greene. Mr.. Green accepted this an
pointmem because he could perform the
duties OF 1t without giving up his private
business.
In 1850 Gov. Roosevelt was the candidate
Tor vice President and Mr. Green was the
republican, nominee for state senator Again
IN that campaign the political asuira tfnn az
the two strenuc1s young men Conceded 10
certain extent, for Mr.. Green was the
most active worker in that part of the state
to obtain the large republican majority
given In that section for Mckinley and
Roosevelt The writer heard Gov. Roose-
welt near the close of the campaign compIi-
ment Mr.. Green on the excellent work that
he had heard had been done by him for
the party in that section. But repeatedly
throughout that campaign, In speeches and
In his directions to the party workers the
writer heard Mr. Green say: Never mind
my candidacy for senator, but roll up
big majority for the head of the ticket"
Mr.. Green felt certain of his own election
but what was particularly determined
should be done was done, and Mckinley
and Roosevelt did obtain record breaking
majority In that part of New York
The Postal Investigation.
In 1901 Mr.. Roosevelt became President
and Nr. Green. then one of the most active
workers in the state senate, was beginning
to cultivate aspirations for the position
l,k .i1.d ida,,