Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-09-28
nnnsEvELT VICTORIOUS.

Theodore Roosevelt is boss" oil
the republican party in the state Of
New York. The "old guard" is in re,
treat.
In a convention marked by abuse,
vituperation, kissing and scenes OF
disorder unprecedented in republican
history the crown was placed upon
Mr.. Roosevelt's head in Saratoga yes
terday. He was elected temporary
chairman Of the state convention,
which had it's first session at noon,
by vote of 567, as against AS for Vice
President Sherman, who had been Sc
lected for the honor by the state COM
mittee.
At the same time the veterans OF the
party stepped aside with the plainly
implied message:
"You have won. You have humi-
lated the vice-president of the United
States and the managers Of the repub-
Iican party. Now go ahead and run
the party. We are through. "
The "old guard" went down fight
ing. Its overthrow and its withdrawal
from party management means that
the republican organization in New
York, practically on the eve Of presi-
Dental contest, is split and torn as it
has not been since the days when the
Blaine Conkling-Garfield war led to
the overturning OF the state OF New
York and the election OF Grove Cleve-
land for governor by a plurality OF
fS2. 900.
Senator Root was selected as perma-
nent chairman by the committee on
permanent organization.
The action Of yesterday tells the
politicians OF New York Roosevelt is
a candidate for the presidential nomi-
nation in 1912. His conquest OF the
party machinery means that il he re-
tains control, he can send the rs
delegates from New York to the next
national convention pledged to vote
for him. That is a big asset in a
campaign for the presidential nomi-
|
nation.
As in his old speeches, he refrained
yesterday from giving sweeping in
dorsement to President Taft. He
spoke kindly OF his administration,
praised some OF its achievements, but
did not bestow upon it half the en-
comiums he did upon the work oil
Governor Hughes. And his utterances
made it perfectly clear that he does
not intend to put his o. X. on
President Taft without string at
tAched.
The spectacle Of a man twice presl-
dent and once governor sitting in a
convention as the principal in po-
litlcal fight, while the chairman OF
the republican state committee as
sailed his motives and other speakers
hurled criticisms Of bitter character
at him, and with the vice-president
N the United States but a few seats
away suffering humiliation as a result
Of the row, was one which aused nc
end OF comment.
State Chairman Timothy L. Wood
ruff, OF Brooklyn, one Of the Ole
Guard leaders, was one Of the first tc
feel the effect Of the progressives
victory in the State convention yester-
day. Delegates from Kings county in
the Second Congressional District, al
meeting last night, retired Mr.. Wood
ruff as State committeeman, and
elected Alfred f. Vase to succeed him.
Members OF two other congressional
districts reported that they were ready
to elect Mr.. Woodruff member Of
the State Committee, but it was reported
that the State chairman had said hC
was ready to retire from politics. This
Mr.. Woodruff denied, stating that he
has nineteen OF the twenty-three Brook
Ign districts, and intends to remain
as leader.
There were numerous reports last
night that Colonel Roosevelt had in
Dictated that he did not desire Mr.
Woodruff to be returned to the new
state committee.