Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-03
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Timothy Woodruff Had Talk
With President Today.
WILL NOT TALK POLITICS
Tomorrow Night He Will Speak at
Staten Island.
HIS VIEW OF HUGHES BOOM
Thinks Governor Injured by Back
ing Of Ex-Gov. Odell and His
People-ohio for Taft.
WILL NOT TALK POLITICS
HIS VIEW OF HUGHES BOOM

The chief political visitor at the execu-
tive Offices today was Timothy Wood
ruff. republican state chairman of New
York He came to Washington with
William Barnes, jr.. of Albany, to at.
tend the dinner given by Senator Depew
tonight to Speaker Cannon. Mr.. Wood
ruff did not care to talk about New York
politics. as he is to deliver a speech to-
morrow night that will contain some hot
thoughts on the Empire state situation.
He does not desire to anticipate what
he may say at that time. The speech
will be at the dinner OF the republican
county committee of Richmond county
at Staten Island. Mr.. Woodruff has de-
clined to say word up to this time about
the speech Of Gov. Hughes a few nights
ago. Tomorrow night he will furnish an
expression of his views as to the speech,
and at the same time will comment with
freedom upon the various forces bah1nd
the governor l.. his preside ntial fight.
The speech will be indirectly aimed at
the Odell combination. which has yOlun-
tarily taken charge of the Hughes CAM
paign and is pressing the anti-Odell men
TO the wall. Mr. Woodruff will not mince
words. 1t is learned today. and the speech
Will either clarity matters in New York
or further embitter the two factions fight
ing so hard against each other. Mr.. Wood
run spent some time with the President,
and probably discussed portions Of his
speech with the chief executive.
Not Yet Accepted Hughes. Boom.
Mr.. Woodruff has not yet accepted the
Hughes boom. He has limited things that
made it appear that he would be favor
able to the governor, but there has been
none Of the frankness that has character
lied Herbert Parsons in his announced
support of the chief executive. Mr.. Wood
ruff is said, by close friends. to be hold
ing oft because of his belief that the back
ing now being given the Hughes boom by
ex-Gov. Odell and his cohorts will re-
suit in a serious reaction against the
governor, unless the latter puts a man Of
his own selection. not identified with the
Odell people, in charge Of his campaign.
Mr.. Woodruff is under the impression that
the majority of the people of New York
are too strongly set against a return to
Odell methods in politics to approve the
candidacy of even Gov. Hughes II they
feel that the candidacy and methods are
in any manner knowingly related to each
other.
The speech Of Mr. Woodruff will make
this pretty plain. The only way the pub
lie can be made acquainted with the fact
that Odell is not a regularly appointed
manager o. the Hughes forces. holding
his commission more or less directly from
Gov. Hughes. is from the governor him
self. This would have the effect Of sit
ting heavily on Odell and making Mr.
Hughes dependent almost entirely upon
the support of men who are not at heart
for him. but support him under the stress
of popular demand.
The county committee of Kings county
tBrooklyn) has not yet acted upon the
candidacy OF Gov. Hughes. 1t Is supposed
to move at the behest of Mr.. Woodruff.
Whether Endorsement of the governor will
come at the next meeting even Mr.. Wood
run does not say. Mr.. Woodruff and Mr..
William Bryan of Albany will have an ex-
tended conference with the President
later today.
1t is plainly evident that the Roosevelt
Parsons Woodruff people in New York
are now satisfied that the Hughes boom
is not as strong and forceful as at first
appeared, and that they believe Gov.
Hughes is being hurt by the backing he is
getting from ex-Gov Odell and the lat
ter's workers. The R.-P.-W. combination
will not withdraw it's promise OF honest
support of Gov. Hughes if the governor
gives an intimation that his campaign is
not In the hands of any disaSreeable per-
son. Unless he does SO they will stand
aloof and let things run. doing nothing
more than to protect themselves by saw
ing their organizations from Odell con-
troll.