New-York tribune., 1900-08-24
ODELL CONSENTS TO RUN.
POLITICIANS REGARD HIS NOMINATION.
FOR GOVERNOR AS A CERTAINTY.

Benjamin B. odel. 1r.. chairman Of the Re
publican State Committee. has consented to ru,
for Governor His nomination by the Republi-
can State Convention that meets at Saratoga On
September will be regarded by most poiticians
a certainty in view of his announcement o,
Willingness to be the candidate. He VIII keei
his place as head of the state Committee ant
continue TO direct the work of the campaign
until the election.
'I seem to be up against it," Mr.. Odell said tF
newspaper men at the State Headquarters, IL
the Fifth Avenue Hotel, yesterday, when H.
was asked about the correctness of report thai
he had consented to be the candidate for Gov
ernor Then he continued: Il don't care t.
discuss the nomination for Governor. That vii
be settled by the State Convention. I am read
to acdufesce in Whatever the decision OF tn.
Convention may be-"
Only few weeks ago. when the Republican
leaders of the State were apparently agreee
that Mr.. Odell should be the candidate for Gov
ernor and were urging him to consent to be
CO andidate Mr.. OdeI announced that for famil.
and business reasons he was determined not t
take the nomination. and he wanted the leaders
to understand that he was not to be forced t
take IT, His sincerity was unquestioned by tho
politicians. but Senator Platt and other leader
continued to apply pressure. in the hope that
Governor Roosevelt was among the leaders wh'
urged Mr. OdeT to run for the Governorship.
Friends of Lieutenant Governor woodruff
were encouraged by the announcement of Mr..
OdefTs unwi1Iingness TO run, and started an
other boom for Mr. Woodruff. The Lieutenant
Governor talked with the leaders and said he
was not seeking the nomination. but he was
willing to be a candidate If there was a genera
demand for his candidacy. Within few days
as announced in The Tribune yesterday. thl
woodruff boom faded and the demand for Mr..
OdeIl's nomination increased. until the leaders
were talking OF Mr.. Odell as the probable can
didate
Senator Platt had a talk with Senator Hanna
at the Republican National Headquarters or
wednesday. and then went to the Fifth Avenue
Hotel and had a long and earnest talk with Mr.
OdeII. Before the end of that talk Mr.. Odel!
told Senator Platt that he would abide by the
decision Of the state Convention and run for
Governor If the Convention insisted upon nom
mating him. When Mr.. OdeIl said to the news
paper men yesterday that he was ready to &C
quiesce in the decision of the State Convention,
he was asked If he intended to remain Chairman
of the State Committee in the campaign
Yes" he said Il will continue to manage the
campaign. 1 am going to do my best, irrespect-
i've of what the state Convention may decide
to do, to elect Mckinley and Roosevelt"
Will Governor Roosevelt place you IN nom
ination in Saratoga?' was asked.
That has not been settled yet" was the
reply.
"Will State Senator Horace White, of SYRIA
cuse be the candidate for Leutenant-Gov-
ernor?"
He would be good candidate"
Senator Platt would not admit yesterday that
the nomination of candidate for Governor had
been practically settled, but he said the in
dications pointed strongly to Mr.. OdelIs nom
nation. State Senator White has been spoken
of for a long time as the probable candidate for
Observation-Disclosures. The leaders seem to he
nearly, agreed that the present State officers
should be aFenOminated
William Barnes jr, chairman Of the State
Executive Committee. said yesterday:
'I do not think It is certain that Mr.. Odell
will be the Republican candidate for Governor.
l think the question of the nomination is to be
held open until the Convention assemblies at
Saratoga When the delegates get together and
have opportunity to exchange views they
can decide who will be the strongest and most
popular candidate 1 believe the wish to NOM
mate the strongest candidate will prevail at
Saratogasl The situation is peculiar this year.
TherPr isr no avowed candidate for the nomina-
ton. Mr.. Odell is not seeking the nomination,
and in fact he does not want 1t. Mr. Wood
ruff is not seeking the nomination. although he
might welcome 1t. No of the prominent Re
publicans who have been mentioned pos
sibe candidates has been willing to be put for
ward as a candidate in advance Of the Conven-
ton and the delegations to the Convention will
be unpledged to any candidate The situation,
therefore, is favorable for the nomination of the
most available as a candidate"