The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-30
New Yorker Steps Down and
Out Of Sensational Race
for Part's Good
TAFT is WELL PLEASED
At THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Woodruff Issues Statement Giving
His Reasons for Withdrawing
From Race Which Are To
Give Fullest Service.

Hot Springs, va, November 29.-Tim-
othy L. Woodruff. chairman of the New
York state republican committee, today
eliminated himself from the Senatorial
race in favor of Secretary of State Elihu
Root.
This action was taken after a protracted
conference with President-elect Taft
and was followed by statements by both
Messrs. Taft and Woodruff. Aside from
these statements. each of which comedies
the election of Mr.. Root to succeed Sem
ator Platt on January 10, next, no de-
tails were made known. Mr.. Taft said;
II can only say that am very much
pleased at the attitude that Mr.. Wood
ruff has taken in this matter. He has
been moved by an earnest desire to pro-
mote party harmony and has established
his claim to the gratitude of the repub-
licans of New York and also of the coun-
try at large for making it as certain as
possible that such a statesman as Mr..
Root will be chosen to represent the state
of New York in the Senate.
Il am personally very much pleased
pose to continue Mr. Root in the cab
met, that I shall have the support and
assistance which he will render to the
administration with his great ability and
knowledge of governmental affairs,
am sure from what l know that the
action of Mr. Woodruff and the election
of Mr. Root will conduce to great har-
mony among the republicans in New
York and will strengthen the party"
Mr. Woodruff's statement follows:
"I have refrained from all public dis
cussion of the United States Senatorship
and have made no statement as to what
my course concerning it would be. both
because of the views I hold, as frequent
ly expressed at the time of the last ma
tional and state conventions, that the
power of the state committee should not
be used to further the candidacy of any
one person against another, and also be-
cause | have been awaiting, as l have
stated to the press, the disposition of all
matters left over from the congressional
committee, including the preparation and
filing of our financial statement, before
giving this matter my serious consider
alton. AS soon as this work was cleared
up | came to Hot Springs at the re-
quest of the President-elect. have
learned from him that as it Is now def
intely determined that he cannot retain
Secretary Roots services in the cabinet
he is very desrous but without inter-
ferrlng in the matter, that his admins
tration shall have the benefit in the Sen
ate of the exceptionally valuable assist
ance which Mr.. Root can render by rea-
son of his intimate knowledge of all the
important matters with which the gov
ernment has been concerned, both at
home and abroad, during the Mckinley
and Roosevelt administrations.
"All will doubtless agree with me that
every right-minded supporter and we'll
wisher of Judge Taft should subordinate
any personal ambition to whatever may
seem to be essential to the complete sue
cess of the new administration, to which
the American people are looking forward
with the highest expectations.
Furthermore, the unanimous support
of Secretary Root by the state organiza-
ton would unquestionably insure har-
monious party action by the state officers
and the federal authorities, and an i'm
partial consideration of the claims of all
the local organizations in the state, un-
biased by such factional antagonisms as
a contest for the senatorship would sure
1y provoke
aIn addition to these considerations it
is of the greatest Importance that in the
greater city of New York perfect har-
mony should prevail in the ranks of the
republican party, especially among the
republican organizations of the city, in
order to secure the defeat of Tammany
Hall in the municipal election of next
fall thereby securing an administration
that will put an end to the extravaganza
and inefficiency in the government of the
city, which is now reproach to every
person living in the first municipality
of the land.
.,For these reasons I am not and will
not be a candidate for senator, although
profoundly appreciating the unanimity
and earnestness with which have been
appealed to by the organization and the
members of the legislature from my home
county of Kings to become candidate,
and the cordial offers of support which
have come to me from every section and
almost every county of the state
Judge Taft was the recipient today or
a carefully made set of golf Clubs, the
gift of George Lowe of Baltusrol. N. j.
''I hope it will not snow tonight, ne
remarked, "for l want to try this set OF
sticks tomorrow"
Mrs. Taft reached here from New YORK
today Gen. Clarence r. Edwards, who
has been at the Taft cottage for several
days, left tonight for Washington.