Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-15
Neither Side In New York Is
Certain of Control.
MADE MAD BY ROOSEVELT
Goes Merrily Ahead as if His Were
the Only Say.
A BETTER BUFFER. MAYBE
Regulars Relying on Fact That
They Have Smooth Politicians
in Charge

Special From Staf Correspondent
NEW YORK. September l5.-one Of
the most interesting features of the re-
publican situation in New York is the
amazing audacity with which Col.
Roosevelt is proceeding joyously to as
sumo command and domination OF the
coming state convention. II is a part
of the game of blur and bluster which
both factions. are playing. however.
The fact is. the contest for suprem-
acy between the old guard and tho
Roosevelt factions is so close that both
sides are compelled to resort 10 a good
deal Of simulated confidence. where In
Tact they entertain considerable doubt.
When it comes to playing a bold hand
OF this kind the colonel is q little the
better expert at it. and he certainly IL
doing 1t to the queens taste this time.
Getting Platform Ready.
1t will have been observed in the
past twentyfour hours that dispatches
from Oyster Bay have told OF the
colonel being at work on a labor plat
form for the state convention. He called
in James b. Reynolds--not our Jimmy"
Of the Treasury Department. but he
OF the Packinstown inyestigations-and
after three hours Of conference and one
hour Of tennis Mr.. Reynolds announced.
gravely, that the labor plank was we'll
under way.
Well. you should see them grit their
teeth around at republican state head
quarters. where the old guard leaders
hang out. upon hearing this:
who in blazes delegated Roosevelt
Ia L., fa,. H.
tion?' they demanded. angrily IL We
can help it, he will have precious little
to say about the platfrom.
Merily on His Way.
But the colonel pays no attention to
these protests and goes merriiy on his
way of assumed domination Of the whole
shooting match. His plan in obvious. Il
Is said He desires to give the impression
that he is by common consent. Is 1t were,
to take the leading part In the convention.
to point the way to right acting ana
clean leadership, and aceusten. the pub
lie in advance OF the meeting to take 1t
for granted that he is to lead and others
follow.
Whereupon the old guard leaders are
growing madder and madder and are en-
ploying every device known to the most
astute bunch of politicians New York
state has harbored for q generation to
head off the colonel.
In some respects this Is a contest be-
tween machine methods and popular SEN
timent. 1t is a fact that the old guard
include in their management the most
clever politicians in their psrty--such men
as William L. Ward. George Malby. WI
liam Barnes, Timothy Woodruff. Ed Mer-
ritt. James s. Sherman, George w. Al
bridge and the likes OF them.
odell Among the Missing.
To be sure, one familiar face is miss
ing-that of ex-Gov Odell Upon his re-
turn from Europe last week Mr.. Odeil
gave one glance at the situation AMI
took to the tall timber. He turned his
entire machine over to another and
ducked. but i fear that close scrutiny
would reveal his fine Italian hand some
where in the deal, just the same.
The old guard are taking great JUNCTION
unto themselves for thus possessing as
their political assets the ablest wide pull
ers In the state. STUFF and nonsense.
said a Roosevelt lieutenant today. IN
scornful refutation Of that suggestion:
I'VE have one politician with US who has
got that bunch of NUTS beat a city
block. and his name is Roosevelt He Is
more Of politician in his little finger
than they are In gross.
But, jeSting aside and considering tn.
serious phase of this situation, IT'S mighty
precarious. and right now it's a toss-up
whether Roosevelt or the conservatives
will control the state convention.
Business Against Roosevelt.
One important factor is being assem-
bled in opposition to Roosevelt namely.
he hnSipoSS claimant of fhic CITY
know it to. be a fact that these old
guard leaders are being secretly but
very earnestly encouraged to fight
Roosevelt by prominent financial and
interests. 1t will have been
stantly harping on one string, the al
legged menace of Roosevelt to the bust
ness community. He is rejecting the
feeling of the big men down town" In
this course, and sounding a note Of
alarm to the small business men
throughout the state.
, I am told, too, that big interests here
are writing privately to their correspond
ents, clients and cutomers throughout the
state, urging them to take cogniZance OF
the Roosevelt movement and suggesting
Its so-called menace to prosperity.
Col. Roosevelt is far from being OBJ
livious to what is going on and he is FOL-
lowing the only course open to him, keep
ing before the public and standing as the
guardian of popular rights.
He is said to be relying largely upon a
popular stampede for him at Saratoga,
which will sweep down the old guard.
n. 0. NJ.
Governorship Not for Him.
OYSTER BAY, N. T.. September l6.-
rhe planks Of the republican state plat
orm will bear very distinct evidences OF
sycamore Hills carpentry work il the
.lans of Col. Roosevelt mature. James