The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-11-27
Interesting Political Story That
is Heard in Washington.
Tourists Steer Clear of Washing
ton When the Chief Executive is
Away-Woodruf's Election to the
Senate Probably of Great Personal
Interest to Roosevelt.
Especial to The Messenger.)

Especial to The Messenger.)
Washington, November 22.-Wash-
ing hotel proprietors will be glad when
the president gets back. Their bust
ness has suffered a sad slump since
Mr.. Roosevelt started for Panama.
It's a queer thing why tourists are
loath to come to Washington unless
the chief executive is in town, because
not M in a thousand Of them ever
get a glimpse of him; but that such is
the case has been strikingly demon
strated during the past fortnight. It
has been known in a general way that
during the summer months the nation
al capital was not a tourists mecca,
but the assumption has been that it
was because of the heat rather than
because the president was away from
the White house during that period Of
| the year. Mr.. Roosevelt's Panama trip
has thrown new light on the situation.
When the president came back from
Oyster Bay, the Washington hotels be-
gan to fill up with tourists, and there
was every prospect of a prosperous
winter. Then the president set out for
Panama-and the tourists stopped COM
ing. The hotel proprietors cCm"lair,
| of course; but that isn't the point. the
interesting question is why tourists
! should stay away from Washington on
| account of the abser-e Of the president
when the chance that they would sec
him even were he here, is SO slight -
to be hardly among thc possibilities.
Washington was greatly interested IN
the Story that Timothy l.. woodruff
was likely to succeed Thomas c. Plat
in the United States senate. 1t is l0I
because the Teti1 ement Ct Platt would
be of any special moment. but because
Woodruff in the senate would be an in
ter esting figure. / happens, no" an
then, but not often, that Il man become
known to fame by the clothes he wear.
| and WOodruff's is case in point. Ur-
dOubtedly., he is a man of ability, ana
it may be he has done things emitting
him tC 6eri0r~ cen rideIafiCl rs a
| United States senator but Ct these the
public knows little or nothing But
everyono who reads the neW1F1Ee1
knows that Tim Woodruff wears fan
CIV vests. Should he come to the senate
visitors in tho gelleries would ask tFa1
Woodruff s vests be I0inted Gut t.
them.
The matter is also interesting be-
cause of the generally accepted Esliel
that President Roosevelt desires % lep-
resent New York in the senate when
his White house term has expired
Senator Platt'S term as 9natO VII
expire March 3, 1909, coinciden, Will
Mr.. Roosevelt's Iresider ,ial term
Should Plat resign and WOod1L III DC
selected to succeed him, th5 latte
might cheri.h a very natural amoltloH
to succeed himself and possibly not be
willing to get out of the way or ever
President Roosevelt. 1t would be en-.
barrassing for the president, WINE Still
in Ofre to enter a campaign Tor tne
seratorship, especially if he shou-e
happen to be defeated. He could "dl'
of course. until Senator Eepew's tern
expired. in 1911. but it has been unaer'
stood to be Mr.. Roosevelt's am bitloI
to stem from the presidency into The
senate chamber.
Sneaker Cannon's friends are very
much gratifed by the showing he made
in the recent election against the oppo'
sition of ORGANIZED labor. The speake.
did not expect to nave the ao'anGtS>
of the ground swell that swept IN
country two years ago. The candldat'
of organized labor in Cannon's distrlc'
was a man named Walker. nominated
J bv the Socialists and Endorsed by or
ganized labor, which ~repudlated tnt
democratic candidate. In the preslden
tial campaign of two years ago, IN
socialist candidate received 1899 votes
this year the vote of that party cano'
date with the added support Of tn
labor vote opposing Mr.. Cannon, wa
hut 1881. q gain of 452. The friend
of the speaker say this gain Of less tha'
5OO on the socialist ticket represent
the efforts of organized labor 70 oelea
the speaker.