The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-23
BARGAIN FORSTEFE CHAIRMAN
RUMOR OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN
WOODRUFF AND ALDRTDGE.

woodruff to he Chairman OF State Republi'
can Committee to succeed Odell and Ale
drtdgc to succeed VIM. Barnes, Dr.. as
Chairman OF the Executive Committee.
WASHINGTON, March 22.-Word has been
received in Washington that Timothy Il.
Woodruff and George W. Aldridge have
entered into an agreement to pool their
political interests for the purpose OF Sc
curing the election Of Mr.. Woo drud as
chairman Of the New York Republican
State committee, to succeed Benjamin b.
odell, Jr.. and the election Of Mr.. Aldridge
as chairman of the executive committee
of the State committee, to succeed william
Barnes, Jr.
This information Is not pleasing to New
York Republicans In Washington 40 far
as 1t concerns Mr.. Aldridge. The notoriety
into which Aldridge was brought in CON
nection with the 80. 1000 900 canal scandal
6 regarded by these Republicans as likely
TO cause trouble for the party in the CUBE
Material campaign, n It is realized that
il the party hopes to win next November
no ma n involved in any way with the
management Of Republican affairs in New
York must be In q position where the charge
Of completely in alleged improper schemes
can be brought against him. That wa
pointed out to-day as the basis for the
opposition to the continuance of Odell as
State chairman, and it was ~contended
that the objection applied with equal force
to the craftsmanship of the executive
committee.
Considerable surprise was Expressed over
the bargain understood to have been made
between Mr.. Woodruff and Mr.. Aldridge,
and il canno be said that there is any strong
belief here that MIR. Woodruff stand very
much of a chance in any event Of obtaining
the craftsmanship. He * well thought of
by prominent New York Republicans in
Washington, and there is no criticism TO
offer Of his record. but the belief is prevalent
that he cannot secure the requisite strength
to get Odell's place on the State committee.
Since the declination of Representative
Vreeland to become a candidate for the
State leadership his Republican colleagues
in Congress from New York and other
New FORK Republicans who hold official
positions in the capital have been all at
sea. They have no hope of securing Gov.
Higgins's help at this critical time in OBJ
tanning the right man to succeed Odell,
u ms buNeTnOI has let II De hIlOWn lHdl
he will not take part in the craftsmanship
matter until after the az adjournment of the
Legislature, which is expected to take
place in April. For the present they are
waiting for something to turn UP in the
hope of the appearance of a strong candi-
date for the craftsmanship, about whom all
the better class of Republicans who take
part in State politics can rally.
Republicans at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
said last night that whilet no serious OBJ
lection had been heard to the selection
of Mr.. Woodruff as a possible successor OF
Mr.. Odell as Republican State chairman,
there was a great deal OF objection to the
proposition to make MIR, Aldridge exeou-
tive chairman of the State committee in
place of Mr.. Barnes. Il was then said that
Mr.. Barnes was entitled TO continue in his
place az executive chairman as long as he
chose, for the reason that he is not only an
efficient campaigner. hut has even earned
promotion to be State chairman. Mr..
Barnes has been chairman of the executive
COMMITTEES for the last half dozen years,
and any proposition to displace him for
MIR. Aldridge, it was asserted, would meet
with very strenuou objection from the
friends of President Roosevelt and Gov.
Higgins, and the twenty-four Republican
State committeeman who stand ready TO
select MIR, Odell's successor at the proper
time.