Evening star., 1898-09-07
Will Be the Republican Nominee for
Governor.
ACTION OF KINGS, COUNTY DELEGATES
How Platt Aided a Movement That
IL =
is Now Beyond His Control.
THE ATTITUDE OF BLACK
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

that they would support Col. Theodore
roosevelt for governor and Timothy L.
woodruff for lieutenant governor. These
Two points are, first, that Frank S. Black
Will not be renominated by the republican
state convention, and, second, that Col.
Roosevelt will be the republican nominee.
1t Is also announced that Senator Platt
"favors" Roosevelt. He has not indorsed
him unequivocally, but he has allowed him
self to be quoted as favoring the candi-
dacy of the colonel of the Rough Riders.
This Is taken by several well-informed
students of the political game to mean that
Platt has not committed himself entirely
to Roosevelt. He favors him because he
realizes that with the Endorsement of the
Kings county delegates the colonel can beat
Black, and the defeat of the governors re-
nomination is what Platt is determined to
bring about.
In this connection, the following state
ment made by an astute politician who has
held number of lengthy conferences with
Col. Roosevelt at Camp Wikoff is interest
ing:
ROOsevelfs Position.
Col. Roosevelt, l believe, does not expect
the nomination will come to him. If an
other man Of his caliber can be found, and
man with a new war record, the nomina-
tfon will certainly go to that fel-
low-Gan. Grant, for Instance. If he had
been in a glorious battle, the nomination
would have. without doubt, gone to him.
AS 1t is, Gen. Grant is out of the question.
Senator Platt does not want Col. RooSe-
welt. There is not a question as to that.
If he felt he could win with Gov. Black,
then Black would have been nominated.
At the same time, If he feels that Col.
Roosevelt is the strongest man he can get
hold of Col. Roosevelt will be nominated"
DO you believe Col. Roosevelt really
wants the nomination."
It's just this way: Col. Roosevelt Is
not seeking the nomination, and he won't
seek it. If Col. Roosevelt does rot get the
nomination he will shed no tears, promise
you. Undoubtedly he is like the rest of
mankind and appreciates all honors that
may be thrust on him, but ne does no: go
fishing for them. If the straight republican
nomination is offered him he will accept
it. If it is not he will pursue the even
tenor of his way
The facts leading up to the announce
ment of Senator Platt, that he favored the
candidacy of Colonel Roosevelt. have to
do with the attitude of the Kings county
delegates. When Governor Black started
south on his mission oftmercy in behalf of
the soldiers he believed he was strong with
the people and with the delegates. So con-
fdent was he of this that when Senator
Platt followed him to Washington to talk
about the situation he detied Platt to do
his worst, and asserted he would win.
governor said he would. stay in the race
until the end; that no. side inducement in
the shape of a United States senatorship
could swerve him, He would go in the
convention and stand or fall by the
results. He believed he was entitled
to denomination; that he had earned
1t by faithful record, and he was
certain the party would not be carried
away by a sensational sentiment.
Senator Platt said then that he did not
believe Black could be reelected This was
based upon what he had heard from va
rious sources. He also felt that the dele
gates favored Roosevelt However, he
would look further, he said
Blacks Attitude.
Since his return to New York he has
been locking One source of strength the
governor relied upon was the Brooklyn
delegates. When these delegates were
elected under the provisions of the Black
primary bill in June and turned loose on the
community they were virtually solid for
Black and Woodruff, the old ticket as it
was called. The Rough Riders had not
landed in Santiago, and had not, with
Roosevelt at the head, won their way to
victory in the face of almost unconquer-
able odds. Since that time there has been
a slow but certain falling away from the
governor on the part of the men elected to
the convention, and when it became eyi-
dent to Platt that the Roosevelt card could
Black he began to aid the movement NOT
openly, but in his usual quiet way. Pjatt's
stanchest supporters in Kings county,
one by one, announced themselves in fa-
. vor OF roosevelt and then came the indi-
rect announcement of the republican boss
himself, that he, too, favored the candi
dacy of Roosevelt The Platt renubIicans
say they believe in practical politics not
sentiment, and they are for Roosevelt. not
because they love him, but because thew
are positive he can win and carry the Iag
lslature along with him, and thus make
certain the election of a republican JTnite6
states senator to succeed Senator Murphy
Governor Black is in consultation with
his friends concerning the situation With
In the next few days he will undoubtedly
give the result of his latest views. after =
iuli consideration of the facts presented
by his friends, who have carefullv can
vassed the state. and the latest figures
gathered by Senator Platt through Ren
Odell, chairman of the state committee and
William Barnes, jr., chairman OF the execu-
tive committee He may change his deter
nination, as expressed to Senator Plat
that If he only has four delegates back of
him he will go into the state convention
ana light to the end, but his stanch friends
are very bitter and assert thew do nor
think SO. Lieutenant Governor Woodruff
is expected to reach Albany shortly on his
Journey from his Adirondack camp. and
Will then hear from Governor Black and
Mr.. Payn the result of conference which
is being held at the capital today. Super
intendent of Public Works Aldridge Louis
T. Payn, Superintendent of State Prisons
Collins and Mr.. Easton, the superintendent
of public buildings, are to go over the stu
alton with Governor Black, and it is un-
derstood they will have advices from Rep
resentatives Hooker and Ward Senator
Stranahan and other friends of the old
ticket. The detection of Brooklyn dele
gates is now conceded, and it is hard to
figure out where Black and Woodruff can
have a majority of the votes in the con-
vention against the wishes of Senator
Platt. After Mr.. Woodruff reaches Albany
the friends of the old ticket may announce
their future course.
Platt's Intentions.
Politicians are now saying Platt is a
great man, and the way he has wiped Black
out of the race is a tribute to his genius.
A Kings county leader says:
"Black was made well acquainted with
the fact that the senator did not approve
Of the way he disposed of certain legisla-
ton, when he met Plat in Washington.
The senator was then boiling over with
rage, and during their three hours car
riage ride, in which the subject was dis
cussed, he freed his mind of many things
he had been thinking about. When Black
went back to Albany, he knew it was a
fight to the end and prepared for it, OF
course he did not expect to battle with