Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-29
ROOT GETS IN TOUCH
Defines His Position as New
York Senator.
SPEECH TO LEGISLATORS
Criticises Public Officials Who Ex-
coed Their Powers.
SEE IN HIM STATE LEADER
Bosses Interpret Address as Opposed
to Hughes-Talks on Patronage
and States Rights.
SEE IN HIM STATE LEADER

ALBANY. January 29.-In half hour 5
speech to the 200 legislators gathered in
the assembly chamber at noon yesterday,
expressing his thanks for his election
to the United States Senate, Elihu Root
made plain these facts:
That he intends to be the leader of the
Republican party in this state, at least
so far as federal patronage is con-
cerned
That he is opposed to the election Of
United States senators by direct vote.
That he is in favor of a parcels post.
That, while believing in the principles
! enunciated by Alexander Hamilton, he
| is an advocate of the full exercise Of
state rights, and that he is opposed to
a system which leads public officers to
disregard limitations upon their powers
| and to become benevolent despots.
According to the bias of the politician
who listened to the speech. Mr.. Root de-
livered a left-handed blow at Gov.
Hughes, President Roosevelt. Senator
control Of the republican state machine.
| The part of his speech which caused
| more comment than any other reads as
| follows:
Limitations of Law.
| Il believe that the essential quality OF
free government is to be found in the
observance by all public officers of the
limitations set by law upon their powers.
"Once admit the right of public officers
to disregard limitations upon their powers
| and you are launched on the course by
! which good men grow to be benevolent
despots, with the inevitable corollary that
bad men have the opportunity to become
tyrannical dictators."
Although mOnopolized during his stay
here by the leaders of the movement
against the governors plan for direct
primary nominations. Mr.. Root adroitly
side-stepped all opportunities to draw
him out on that much-mooted issue His
positive declaration In opposition to the
election Of United States senators by
direct vote was grasped by the bosses as
an indication of his claiming toward their
cause.
Republican Boss Barnes, who had the
ear of the senator-elect, was the first &c
jump to that conclusion. This intcrpre-
tation. coupled with Mr.. Roots invitation
consult with him upon all questions OF
federal patronage, put the bosses in a
cheerful mood.
Nothing would be better" rema rked
one Of them, than to have Mr. Root the
titular leader of his party in this state
while the details involved in the distribu-
ton OF state patronage were being looked
after by men more closely in touch with
the organization.
Came to Get in Touch.
Mr.. Root said in part:
| Il have come to Albany in the hope Of
meeting the men who are leaders Of opin-
ion and of political action in the state of
| New York. and who are. as they ought
to be, in the two houses which legislate
for the state. 1t is my strong desire to
get into touch with you as the representa-
tive of the people in the state legislature.
| And l would be glad to establish such a
personal relation of acquaintance with
every member Of the senate and assembly
that II YOU have anything to say to me as
| your senator in Congress you will feel at
liberty to do so. and that if 1 have any
thing to say to you shall feel at liberty
to say II.
Il mean this not merely with regard to
the filling of offices. although every sena-
tor Of the United States is charged with
the duty to represent his state in regard
to appointments to federal office from that
state and In that state"
Mr.. Root pointed out what he believed
were two dangers due to the development
of this country. One, he said. was the
danger Of the national government break
ing down in its effective machinery
through the burdens that threaten to be
cast upon it.
"On the other hand he continued. lis
the danger of breaking down the local
self-government of the states.
Tendency Of Capitalization.
The tendency of vesting all powers in
the central government at Washington -
he said, lis to produce the decadence of
the powers of the states. Now do not
misunderstood me. l am a convinced and
uncompromising nationalist of the school
of Alexander Hamilton. 1 believe in the
exercise of the executive. the legislative
and the judicial powers of the national
government to the full limit of the con-
stitutional grants as those grants were
construed by John Marshall and would
be construed by him today.
But l believe that the founders of
the republic builded more wisely than
they knew when they set the limits be-
tween the exercise of that national power
and the exercise of the local powers by
the states. And while l believe in the
exercise of the national power throughout
the province of the constitutional grants
of national power ! believe also in the
preservation of state power within the
limits of It's constitutional authority
Il am opposed to the direct election Of
senator's as l am opposed to the initiative
and referendum, because these things are
based on the idea that the people cannot
elect legislatures whom they trust"
Lieut.. Gov White and Speaker Wads-
worth entertained Mr.. Root at luncheon
and attended a dinner given to Mr.. Root
by Judges Of the court of appeals. Earlier
In the day Mr.. Root had conferences
with other republican leaders.
Republican Leader Griener of Erie had
talk with the new senator. The i'm
preston here is that Mr.. Root will favor
the organization in distributing federal
patronage, and will not Undertake &c
wrest control Of the machine from those
now in power