New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-13
COMFORTING WITH LEADERS.



MATTERS OF STATE INTEREST DIsCUssHD-SuB'
JEcTs AND DECISIONS OF THE CONFER
ENCE. HOWEVER. KEPT SECRET
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. the Governor
elect, held two conferences with prominent Re-
publicans yesterday. meeting Joseph II. Choate
Elihu Root and Seth Low In the morning, ana
having his talk with Senator Plat and Ben
tamin b. Odel jr in the afternoon. Questions
Of party policy. Of legislation and OF the next
Republican State administration were discussed
at both meetings. Why all the men who were
consulted by Colonel Roosevelt yesterday were
called together at one conference was not
made clear. Colonel Roosevelt wants to secure
the utmost harmony between elements Of the
Republican party in this city and in the State
His nomination for the office of Governor united
factions OF the party which had been discordant
and warning. and the union made his election
possible He has planned to keep the party
united by consulting freely with the leading Re-
publicans who formerly were opposed TO the
machine. and also taking counsel with the
recognized leaders OF the Republican organiza-
ton.
Mr. Choate, Mr.. Low and Mr. Root met Colo
mel Roosevelt at o a. m. yesterday in the
house OF his sister, at No. $50 Madison-ave,
where he had spent the night, after attending
the dinner for General Miles They declined to
give information as to the subjects discussed
at their meeting. after the conference ended, and
Colonel Roosevelt would only say:
I'VE talked over matters OF State interest
My object has been to obtain their views ana
ideas regarding my administration"
1t was about $50 D. when Colonel Roose-
welt went to the Fifth Avenue Hotel He found
NJ In .ha hood NJ no
State Committee, and talked with him awhile
Then the two men went upstairs and took
luncheon with Senator Plat in the main dining
room Of the hotel talking over their meal for
nearly an hour Mr.. Ode came downstairs
with Colonel Roosevelt. and the Governor-elect
said to newspaper men In the lobby:
Il am not going to give any interview as u
conferences have had to-day"
Colonel Roosevelt went to hat store In the
hotel and bought a black soft hat, winch ne
wore when he walked out OF the hotel and got
into a carriage with Frederick W. Hollis. He
returned 70 the headquarters OF the State Com
mittee in half hour. and had another tax
with Mr.. Ode and to newspaper men there he
said ne would adhere to his policy OF not telling
what conversations he had with leading RepuDl-
cans whose advice he sought
Senator Plat went to Lakewood with Mrs
PIdtt TO stay over sunday leaving the HO'e'
soon after luncheon. Mr. Odell said the con-
versation he and Mr. Plat had with Colonel
Roosevelt covered subjects which had been dis
cussed with Messrs. Choate Root and Low at
the morning conference. and that the discussion
OF a general character. not intended to set
tie any course Of action by Colonel Roosevelt
but merely to let him know the opinions OF the
men he consulted. Mr.. Odell said 1t was his
wish TO have the party kept united and har-
monious during Colonel Roosevelts administra-
ton az Governor.
Colonel Roosevelt was not asked TO appoint
anybody to places on his staff. to other Of
fees. A report that he wanted Mr.. Odell 10
take the office OF Superintendent Of Public
Works succeeding George w. Aldridge. was de-
clared be ridiculous. The choice Of a United
States Senator TO succeed Edward Murphy IT.,
was not talked OF at the conferences. Police
and excise legislation was talked or but there
was no decision to recommend the passage OF
either pure beer law a bill to reorganze
the Police Department on non partisan lines.
Before he left the hotel Colonel Roosevelt was
asked TO tell exactly how his name should be
pronounced. and he replied: 1T should be pro-
nounced with three syllables. az II II were
spelled Rose-y-velt The old Dutchmen who
first had the name didn't know how to spell to
make II sound correctly"
Colonel Roosevelt said he going TO return
to Oyster Bay to-day. and he intended TO stay
at home as much as possible until he went 20
Albany to begin his duties Governor. but next
Wednesday he goes TO Boston to deliver a lect-
ure at the Lowell Institute.