Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-07
PLANNING FOR FIGHT
Parsons Conferring With Dis
trict Leaders Today.
FOR Committee CONTROL
Important Feature of General Con-
test in New York.
FOR STATE ORGANIZATION
Former Gov. Odell Leads in Strug-
gle for Supremacy-Real Reason
Behind March Primary Battle.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. February 7.-Representa
tive Herbert Parsons. president of the re-
publican county committee, is in the city
today. After consultation with various
district leaders he will perfect his plans
for the fight at the March primary for
control of the committee. 1t is expected
that this fight will be bitter one
President Parsons will not discuss the
matter for publication. but he is we'll
mittee will be made and to his friends he
has expressed complete confidence in his
ability to retain control.
This local fight is an important part OF
the general fight for control of the state
organization. The republican state com
mittee. which is the state organization. is
now controlled by State Chairman Wood
ruff. Representative Parsons and William
Barnes. jr.. of Albany. with the active
moral support of William l.. Wood. men,
ber Of the republican national committee
from this state. Mr.. Parsons controls the
New York county organization. Mr. Wood
ruff the Kings county committee and Mr.
Barnes the Albany county machine. while
Mr. Ward Is in control in Westchester
county. These leaders. it is we'll under
stood. have the backing and moral sup
port of President Roosevelt.
The fight in the city and state for.
change Of control of the party will be led
by former Gov. and State Chairman B. B.
Odell. ir.
Tie call for the meeting of the state
committee, to be held in April, to elect
the four delegates-at-large to the re-
publican national convention will contain
a provision for the election at that con-
vention of new state committee. The
committee elected at that time will serve
for two and half years. and will manage
national
year and control the organization of the
state convention of 1910. Control of the
state committee this year. it is admitted.
means a dominating control of federal
years in the event that the republican
party is successful at the polls in No
vember.
Inside Reason for Fight.
The real inside reason for the fight that
is to be made at the March primary was
described by republican politician at
state headquarters today in this way:
President Roosevelt is recognized as
the real dominant force OF the republican
party in this state. If the party is sue
cessfuI at the next election the amount Of
federal and state patronage involved will
be enormous. No matter who may he
elected President. it is reasonable to
assume that at least one cabinet officer,
two ambassadors to foreign countries.
ndit oOzen ministers, Two minor govern
ment and a number of United States con-
suls will be appointed from this state. to
say nothing of collectors of internal rev.
enue and other important federal officers
within the state.
"The salary of the collector Of the
port of New York is $1,000 a year and
there is much patronage involved. The
salary of the New York city postmaster
is 5000 a year, with some incidental
patronage. The republican state COM
mittee elected at the April state conven-
ton will in the ordinary course of politi-
cal events be 50 firmly intrenched in pow
er for more than two years that any at
tempt to overthrow it would be futile.
THAT is why the fight at the March
primary is likely to be the hardest on
record in the history of the party in this
state"