Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-14
ROOT WON'T TALK OLD SPLIT RECALLED
Senator, in New York, De- Administration Threatened
clnes to Discuss Politics. With Revolt Like That of 81
CONFERS WITH LEADERS DISCORD IN NEW YORK
Said Will Bgerency of the Republicans at
Chairman Albany
OPEN BREACH NOT DESIRED AWAITING RETURN OF ROOT
Woodruff His Followers
Thought by Some Will Abandon
ton Thew Not Understand
Senator, in New York, De-
ciines to Discuss Politics.
CONFERS WITH LEADERS
Woodruff, It Is Said, Will Serve Out
Term as State Chairman.
OPEN BREACH NOT DESIRED
Washington Republicans Accused
of Having Hysteria Over Situa-
ton They Do Not Understand.

ton They Do Not Understand.
NEW YORK, March Ex-senator Root
sent out word from his house at 49,
Park avenue this morning that he abso-
lutely refused to make a statement re-
garding state or local politics and that
he would not discuss the subject in any
way. He said he expected to return to
Washington this afternoon.
The senator talked yesterday afternoon
with a number of republicans of more or
less prominence. including Lloyd c. Girls
com, president of the New York repub-
lcan county committee; James w. Wads-
worth, Timothy l.. Woodruff, chairman
OF the republican state committee, and
William Barnes, jr.
While no official statement was made
after the conferences, it was generally
understood that Chairman Woodruff
would serve out his term as state chair
man. 1t was denied that Senator Root
had come to town with the intention of
getting Woodruff to resign.
Senator Non-Committal.
Senator Root would not say directly
yesterday that such was his purpose, but
he virtually admitted it.
What do you, as judges of politics,
think came on for" he asked the news
paper men.
And when they told him what the gen.
eral understanding was, he added:
i seldom fail to accomplish what l set
out to accomplish.
scented to Interview himself for the news
papers.
.'You may say this he said:
When Mr.; Woodruff was s.. asked oa d. if
ton. he answered ASK Root"
when Mr.. Woodruff asked II
there was any question of retiring him,
he answered with even more emphasis,
"'When Mr.. Woodruff was asked if he
intended to resign of his own volition,
he answered with an emphasis bordering
almost on belligerency, ASK Senator
Root"
In spite of the wide diversity of opinion
as to what ii is proper to do in the pres
ent crisis within the republican party of
the state and what is the proper way to
do 1t. both sides are still sincerely anxious
10 avoid an open breach at the primaries.
The adherents of Woodruff sum it up in
one word-hysteria.
See Hostility to Albany.
Down at Washington" said one of
That much is history, but now there is
added element Of difficulty. l have
always felt that the administration at
Washington in its attitude toward the Al
bany administration might be compared
to a man on the back seat of carryall.
who can't see the horses. Every time the
wheels go over bump he breaks into
cold sweat, but the man in the front who
holds the reins is too busy to worry
That's the. trouble down there now.
When We had Roosevelt we might not
always like what he did. but at least we
knew that he had full knowledge of the
consequences OF his own acts. He knew
politics in this state from the ground up.
But President Taft, with all due respect
TO his abilities. couldn't tell you to save
Your soul what counties are in the con-
sressional district of any one New York
representative. and Senator Root for
wears has been out of touch with details
here-since the days. in fact. when he
first took a cabinet position with the Nc
Kinley administration.
Said to Be Frightened.
They're frightened to death in Wash
inston. They say to one another, What
are they going to do with the Aids
trial.?
They believe the organization has the
affair all cut and dried in advance, and
that an acquittal is on the cards. Now. I
submit first that it is wrong to PREJUDICE
Senator Aids before the evidence is all
in. and, secondly, believe the verdict for
the senate will be on the merits of the
evidence. Therefore, we who stand by
Woodruff say hysteria.'
On the other side. Senator Roots fol-
lowers believe that when he sent his now
famous telegram advising the senate to
elect Human president pro tenn. he acted
only as might any individual member of
the party, however humble, who had its
best interest at heart. They feel sure
that he does not wish to be boss" and
IN support Of their argument they in
stance the very unfamiliarity with state
politics cited by his enemies
II was learned also that the Woodruff
adherents are right In ascribing to SEN
ator Root and Mr.. Griscom the gravest
concern over the outcome of the present
crisis For the Root supporters private
advices are, indeed, that Snator Aids
VIII be acquitted. and they fear that this
would be interpreted by the votes as a
white wash verdict.
Interest in Result.
ALBANY. n. Y. March 1.-THE result
of the political conferences in New York
between Senator Root and the republican
leaders was awaited here with intense
interest. The victory of the organization
forces last Thursday night, when they
elected Senator Cobb Of WATERFOWL pres
ident pro tenn of the senate, is regarded
as little more than the first round in
party battle that will write it's results
in the ballots cast next fall for state and
congressional offices. Yesterdays meet
ing In New York was looked upon as
only the first of a series of efforts to
restore party harmony in the face Of an
approaching state election
President Taft's visit to Albany next
saturday Is regarded as timely. While
there is little expectation that he will
touch upon the parys predicament In
either of his two public speeches here,
the Root-Hughes men expect to derive
encouragement from his presence and
from possible private conferences with
the legislative leaders
With only two or three days OF teSti-
mony TINS week. interest in the Conger-
Aids bribery investigation centers upon
promised attempts to extend the inquiry
beyond the charges involving Aids This
matter Is OF secondary Importance now,
however, for any action that is taken will
depend upon the answer given to the
pending question OF party control
Avenue to Be Widened.
Massachusetts avenue northwest he