The evening times., 1898-09-23


be of exceptional interest as it will I'M
doubtedly have an important bearing up
on the Presidential battle of two years
hence.
Six months ago, the Republicans ad-
mitted very frankly that their chances
for carrying the Empire State this au-
tumn was very slim; in fact. at that
time, the Republican management was
concentrating its attention on the legis-
Iative contests with the view of saving
the legislature and capturing Senator
Murphy's seat in the United States Sem
ate from the wreck.
Senator Platt would have been willing,
according TO his closest friends, at that
period TO have sacrificed the governor
and the balance of the State ticket, pro-
vided he could have been assured of the
control of the Legislature which carried
with IL the election Of a United States
Senator.
Since then, however the situation has
changed in some respects. The Repubh-
cans have obtained sufficient encourage
men from the war issue 10 justify them,
in their judgment, in the hope OF captur-
ing the State, and they are, therefore,
taking a more cheerful view OF the out
look.
The Republicans are banking upon the
war sentiment 10 save them, but. at the
same time, Mr.. P.att and other Republi-
can leaders have been fully aware all
along that they could not hope 10 win
IL they undertook 10 ''Vindicate' Coy.
Black OF any Of the members Of his ad-
ministration. Their sole chance Of sue
cess, from their point OF view, was to
f,,rr IN haaI
ticket: a man who had not been identi-
fed in any way with the numerous scan
dals connected with the Black admins
tration. They also believed ii desirable
to- II possible secure candidate for the
first place on the Republican ticket
whose own reputation would prevent the
opposition from making any capital out
of the Black scandals; a man of recog-
nized integrity and absolute independ-
ence
Several months ago. il can now be stated
as a positive fact. Mr.. Platt decided not
to encourage tho denomination of Gov.
Black. The reasons which led up to this
decision on the part of Mr.. Platt need
not be gone into: they are well under
stood by every person who is at all IA
miliaF with the politics of the Empire
State.
If Theodore Roosevelt had not taken il
into his head 10 organize his famous reg
ianeat Of Rough Riders and go TO Cuba,
Mr.. Platt would have. unquestionably,
found some other man whose name he
could use 20 defeat Gov. Black; in other
words Mr.. Plat has simply utilized
Roosevelt and his achievements TO fur
ther his own purposes.
Outsiders have been somewhat mystified
at the rapid changes in the New York
situation. They have not been able Il
follow the shifting combinations, and
many are Yet puzzled for some eXplana-
tion OF the case.
IL was assumed six months ago that the
organization of the Republican party ol
this State would be behind Gov. Black
to a finish; that mis- denomination was 3
foregone conclusion. This however. was
merely a superficial view of the condition.
which existed. Many people had lost
sight Of the fact, apparently, that Gov
Black, in the first instance, had been
forced upon Mr.. Platt and his friends
Gov. Black never was the choice of Sen
atOr Platt for the governorship. WheI
Gov. Black was dominated two years age
his name was sprung on the convention
at the last moment and was in the natur,
OF a surprise. He entered the convention
with very small following, and was al
most unknown in the history OF the poll.
ties Of the State.
The PIatt-BIack Disagreement.
II will be recalled now that Senator
Platts name was brought very promi-
nently before the public at that juncture
for the nomination. His friends urged
him to accept it and make the fight They
said that. being a Presidential year, he
would unquestionably receive the support
of the rank and file Of the party, and,
necessarily would be elected Senator
the nomination; he had no ambition u
become governor of the Empire State
but, at the same time, he felt compIi-
mented by the suggestion of his name for
the candidacy and might easily have
been persuaded. under the circumstances
to have permitted himself to become the
nominee of the party for the highest Of
flee within the gift of the Republican or
ganization of the State.
IT is believed by many people that Mr..
Platt had fully made up his mind to ba
persuaded to accept the nomination for
governor in 1896 when he started for
Saratoga Arriving there. however, some
of the men who had been most profuse in
their loyalty to the senator, went to him
frankly and said that his nomination for
the governorship would be a load which
the party could not carry; that il would
endanger the success of the Presidential
ticket Among the gentlemen who made
this friendly communication TO Senator
Plat was George w Aldridge. who was
himself q candidate for the nomination
and who IS at present the superintendent
OF public works the best office within the
gift OF the governor.
Mr.. Plat was very much hurt by These
frank expressions Of opinion from his for
mer friends. He did not care particularly
about the governorship for himself but [,
be confldentially informed that he was
Jonah" by his old-time friends and asso-
ciaets was not what he had expected. H,
Immediately renounced all aspirations fOl
himself, but he would have been less thar
human IL he had overlooked the disinter
ested advice and declarations of MIR. AL
bridge and men OF his character as to hi:
own availability as a candidate.
The convention met, and was apparently
deadlock. The leading candidates were
Odell, Black, Aldridge. Fish, and Roberts
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Plat, a commit
tee was appointed TO select a candidate
The decision of this committee was TO b,
final A majority of the committee, which
consisted Of eleven members, voted in IA
Vor of Benjamin b. Odell. Mr.. Odell and
all the newspaper representatives at the
convention accepted this decision as
fact. The newspaper correspondents teIe
graphed TO their respective journals tha,
Mr. Odell would be the nominee of the
convention Mr.. Odell himself telegraph.
ed his wife that he would be nominated OF
the next ballot. The Aldridge and tn,
Black people, under the astute leadership
OF Lou Payn, however. led a revolt TheJ
went 10 Mr.. Plat. with Mr.. Payn a: