The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-24
YOUNG ROOSEVELT
HAT GOES INTO RING
Colonel's Son Looked Upon
as Candidate to Head Board
of Aldermen.
MAIDEN TALK MAKES HIT
War Regarded as Big Asset
Challenged by Irish
Poet.

Lieut.-Col. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr..
has concluded to abandon his business
career, and to use a term made famous
by his father. has flung his hat into the
political ring.
Serious mention of young Roosevelt as
an aspirant for political honors was first
made yesterday, following the surpris-
ingly favorable impression the Young
man made In his maiden speech Thurs
day night before the Republican County
Committee. The occasion was purely a
war talk by Roosevelt, but the impress
sion he created was such as to start
activity among the political slatemakers
to the end that he has been suggested as
particularly available candidate 70,
President of the Board Of Aldermen next
November.
Young Roosevelt declined YESTERDAY to
comment on the suggestions that have
been made in regard TO his political flu
ture. But, while admitting that the
proposition of his candidacy had been
put to him, he would not deny the story
that next November might see his name
on the ballot.
Silent, but Is Ready.
Just say for me-" he requested Of
THE Sun representative, that 1 have
''NeA'Ae " soy VII ZIG SUBJECT 1T IHlS
time There are a lot of spring flowers
that die in the summer, you know"
Nevertheless. THE SUN Is able to say
on the best of authority that young
Roosevelts mind Is quite made up on the
subject of entering politics. 1t became
known yesterday that the young man
plans to sever his connection with the
bond firm of Bertron, Griscom & jerks,
40 Wall street. with which he has been
fnr G,-a
to going overseas. He has confided to
friends that political career has GER
tain attractions for him, and in general
way has outlined some of his ideas on
party and national questions. Whether
he VIII elect TO become a candidate for
the Presidency OF the Board of Alder
men, as has been suggested, or begin his
career in some less conspicuous contest,
is matter upon which he has not fully
made up his mind.
May Enter Fight This Fall.
1t is known that pressure Is being
brought to bear on him to throw him
self into the local fight this fall. There
are several reasons for this. Chief
among these Is the desire of the local
Republican leaders to find a candidate
with war record who will also have
distinct appeal to the electorate. In
young Roosevelt they believe they will
have the man. The Office will be the
most important to be filled at the next
municipal election and a Republican
success would mean the introduction Of
potential factor in breaking the
stranglehold that Tammany now has on
the Board of Estimate.
Robert L. Moran of The Bronx, who
succeeded to the office when Alfred e.
Smith was elected Governor, is prac-
tlcally certain to be the Taminany
nominee next November, to succeed
himself for the ensuing two years Of
the term. He will have the advantage
of being nearly year in Office, but
will not have the appeal OF a man
who has seen active service abroad. His
chief support will lie in the organiza-
ton vote, and against this the Repub-
lican managers think young Roosevelts
record and personality will be effective.
See n Harmony Candidate.
Furthermore. there is every indication
among the political wiseacres that a can
didate of the Roosevelt type would go
far in attracting those independent DEM
ocratic voters dissatisfied with the pres
ent administration to say nothing of the
disgruntled organization men who see
too much Hearst and not enough Four
teenth street in city affairs as at present
administered.
Mayor Hylan's term expires December
81, 1921, and while Republican leaders
are not ready to say that fusion of Re-
publicans and Independent Democrats
will be resorted to in an effort to Dust
the present administration they do feel
that the man they can put across next
November for President of the Board of
Aldermen will be the logical candidate
two years later for the Mayoralty, and
become, in effect, the party leader In the
\ State In this connection II Is recalled
Athat the late Mayor Mitchell stepped
from tine Aidermanic Presidency TO the
Mayors chair after a slight interval as
Collector of the Port under n Federal APP
pointment, and Gov. Smith went from
the same office to Albany as the States
Chief Executive.
other Names Mentioned.
Tho only other names prominently
mentioned in connection with the Re
publican nomination for President OF tho
Board of Aldermen are those of Major
r. II. LaGuardia, Major Henry II. Cur
ran and Col William Hayward. Majot
LaGuardia, however, is said by some to
prefer to retain his Congressional seat,
and the same persons say that Col:
Haywards political path lies more im-
mediately in State or national directions'
Major Curran. who until young Roose-
vets NAM came UP, was most pronin-'
entity mentioned for the nomination. -
stlll in France. although expected home
in few weeks. He has been i'll, how
ever, being a victim of pneumonia and
diphtheria, and on his return may pre-
fer to fill out his term as city magis-
trate, which does not expire until 1927,
rather than enter upon political con-
test.
Should young Roosevelt declare his
candidacy for the office in the near
future he may find himself compelled to
defend statements he made in his first
public address of Thursday. in re-
ferring to a banner carried in the st.
Patrick's day parade bearing the words !:
england: Dam Your Concessions: We
want Our Country" In this connection
he said that he had no sympathy with
residents of this country who refer to
another place as our country
Challenged 10 Debate.
In n letter to the Lieutenant-Colonel
Yesterday Shaemas O'Sheel. an Irish
poet and critic, challenges him to public
debate on the proposition that the Irish
Republic deserves the sympathy and
support OF the American people. In his
letter Mr.. O'Sheel suggests that young
. 20.