New-York tribune., 1907-11-07
SWEEP FOR ROOSEVELT.
WOODRUFFS OPINION.
Gives His Vie7cs as Citizen on Ma
tiOnaI Situation.

chairman of the Republican State Committee.
and Timothy L. Woodruff, citizen, Mr.. Woodruff
said last night that he hadn't the slightest doubt
that the next Republican National Convention
would unanimously renomnate President ROose-
yelt and that his election would follow by the
most phenomenal plurality ever recorded for a
candidate.
Mr.. Woodruff. after busy day. starting with
the politicians in Brooklyn. where he received
the congratulations of hundreds of his friends
on account of the brilliant Republican victory in
Kings. and winding up last night after dark
with bankers and insurance men in conference
over the affairs of the Provident Savings Life
Assurance Society, reached the Republican state
headquarters, in East Both street. at about 6:45
O'clock and was there seen by Tribune
porter.
"Mr. Woodruff" said the reporter. now that
the state election is thing of the past, the most
important thing, politically speaking in the pub
lie mind is the Presidential campaign. You took
II upon yourself to champion the President and
his policies in your debate with Senator McCar-
rem Does that mean that you are for him for
renomination?"
II have decided said Mr. Woodruff. laugh
ingly, "to initiate the late Matthew Stanley
Quay. and adopt policy of silence on that par
ticular point. 1t would be manifestIy improper
for me to say anything about what I think the
Republicans of this state will do next year in
the Presidential canvass"
"Are you in favor of the denomination Of the
President?"
THAT comes within the category of questions
which must refuse to discuss" said Mr. Wood
ruff.
CANNOT ESCAPE RENOMINATION
When the reporter again called attention to
the position maintained by Mr.. Woodruff in his
Joint debate the state chairman said:
1T will not he improper for me to say. speak
ing a business man and citizen, that in my
Judgment there IS not the slightest doubt about
what will happen at the next Republican Ma
tional Convention. I am just am
that am sitting here that President Roosevelt
will be renominated whether he wants to run
again or not He may fatty decline renomi-
nation But how can he control it? The situ-
alton is extraordinary. 1t is not within the
keeping or control of any one man. 1t seems to
me that certain forces which are gathering
strength are at work. and that the elimination
and development Of political history in the next
six or eight months will inevitably result in the
denomination and reelection of President Roose-
velt"
What about the result yesterday in New Jer-
| sew where a state which went Republican by
| 10000 two years ago. narrowly escaped being
| captured by the Democrats? Is not that a proof
that the President Is weaker than his friends
| assert him TO be?'
NO" said Mr.. Woodruff. 1t does not mean
anything of the sort Local and state issues cut
down the normal Republican vote in New Jer-
sey this year AS against the vote in New Jer-
sey. why not consider for minute the enormous
Republican vote In Massachusetts,. where Curtis
Guild tr. won by a clear majority Of $4,000? BY
that I mean that he best ;'le aggregate vote OF
his oppouents by 1S.0o0. Iu Massachusetts inc
,ssue was President Rooscvclts policies more
than anv other one thing. There isn't any get
,,rc ev,av from the fact. The people are Tor the
President.
EFFECT OF MCARREN DEBATE.
g, .,,s+ - will not seem egotistical II refer
60 tho debate which engaged in with Senator
,,Correp IN Brooklyn last week. II senator
NIoCarren had not got into that debate PROB
obI,, his entire county ticket would have been
elected Yesterday. But after the issues framed
bv President Roosevelt were thoroughly
thrashed out in the Brooklyn papers, the voters
voted with a conscience and the Democrats
we're beaten 1 undertake to say that an audi
ence of a thousand bankers or business men
of this or any other town. after hearing the
Presidents policies discussed. would aosoiVe
him from responsibility for any temporary en-
barrassment of the financiers. They would look
deener. and recognizin, the essential quality Of
the problem which is confronting the nation
a problem which the President is satisfactorily
solving-they would indorse the President. even
though they might be sufferers temporarily
from the prevailing financial depression. The
victory in Brooklyn on Tuesday was to large
extent due TO the campaign having been fought
with the knowledge that the Roosevelt issues
we're involved"
IF this is what you think is II not a fair
assumption that you will tell the President as
much or more when you him?"
ct think the President with whom I have
been we'll acquainted for years. knows exactly
how 1 feel personally about the probability that
he will be forced to accept a denomination.
must be excused from discussing any impress
sion that may have obtained from him in any
conversation
When do you expect to see tie President?'
WILL SEE PRESIDENT SOON.
Probably about the 18th of this month A
business engagement will take me to Washing
ton. and expect to call on the President"
Mr.. Woodruff tried to make II clear that in
what no said he was expressing his opinion as a
private citizen and not as chairman of the
Republican State Committee. He gave the I'm,
preston Enthusiastically that head of the
republican state organization he would not
allow his personal views to make any difference
with his conduct of the business of the state
committee
what about the speakership of the next As
semby?' he was asked
Il assume" said the state chairman, that
there will be only one candidate Mr. Wads-
worth l know nothing TO the contrary"
'Is not Mr. Merritt probable candidateT"
with Mr. Moreland, the Republican leader.
defeated. should doubt about Mr. Merritt being