The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-11-12
WOODRUFF IS NOT
READY TO PULL
OUT FOR ROOT
Thinks He Has Fighting Chance
For SenatOrship
TALKS WITH THE PRESIDENT
Leaves Washington in Moody Frame
Of Mind and Refuses to Discuss
His Visit

Washington, Nov 12.-When limo
thy l. Woodruff, chairman of the Re
publican state committee Of New York
went back 10 New York City yeste9-
day afternoon after having talked
over the question of the succession to
Senator Plat with the president at
the White House, he was in no pleas
ant frame Of mind He had nothing
to say for publication.
His long cherished ambition to resu
present New York in the Senate had
received another severe check.
Mr. Woodruff was non-committal on
the proposal to give Secretary of Stale
Ellhu Root a clear path to the senator
ship. Indications here tonight, how
ever, are just as strong, if not in fact,
somewhat stronger, that Secretary
Root will be the man chosen for the
place about TO be vacated by Mr..
Plat.
It has been understood that yester-
days luncheon at the White House
would be OF a political character but
the guests included a number of ladies.
Discussion OF New York politics af-
ter the ladies had left was impossible,
because the ladies remained until Il
became necessary for some Of the pol
itically inclined to leave the White
House Later i'm the afternoon Mr.
Woodruff did secure an opportunity
for few minutes private conversation
with the president.
What all the conversation was about
was this. Mr.. Woodruff is hesitating
between TWO opinions regarding the
senatorship. He is good deal inclIn-
/ ed 10 stay in the race and make a fight
| for IL. He knows that Mr.. Root will
not enter into any scramble for the of
! nee and he feels that IL there is to be
a scramble he has a better chance
than anybody else Of carrying on the
contest he counts on going to Albany
with more strength than any other can
didate can custer.
would develop some strength in a gen.
eral scramble for the senatorshiD but
1t is not believed that he could acbtepe
q victory. The main thing he could
accomplish by making the fight would
be the probable elimina ion of Mr..
Root through his refusal to 90 into
such a contest.
II Is understood three or four other
asprauts will also decide TO let the
| legislature determine their claims.
man James w. WadsWorth. Both
Congressman Bennett and Parsons are
also mentioned as being I'm a receptive
attitude regarding the senatorship.
This would make a scramble which
Mr. Root would never for moment
think OF entering. What the presi-
dent and his friends want is to get
| Woodruff to agree to stand aside, so
that the other lesser candidates will
also see The light and make no trou.
Bile
II was pointed ont TO Mr.. Root
with torcetul lucidity by the president
| and others that II was most desirable
10 get for New York the services in
the senate OF so distinguished and
able man as Mr. Root. II was eX-
planned also that Il was equally desir-
able TO have Mr. Roots election un.
contested. OF course. any contest
against Mr.. Root would be founded on
his record as a corporation lawyer and
II was pointed ont that II was very
| undesirable TO nave any struggle with
in the party laid on such foundation
All of this Mr. Woodruff heard. and
some more, without giving any express.
sion of assent or dissent He remain,
ed entirely non-committal. II was con
yeyed to him that his pathway out OF
the contest would he made as smoot n
and attractive rs possible. There are
numerous things which he would find
useful IN his business and his claim on
them would be greatly strengthened
by renewed example OF unselhsh-
ness
Nevertheless. Mr.. Woodruff went
home dissatisfied aud unhappy and
tonight Messrs Sherman and Ward
went on to Hot Springs, Va. to talk
over the results OF the election with
Mr.. Tart Mr.. Root went to New
York on the same train with MIR.
| Woodruff