The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-11-25
New YOPk's Governor Is
Platt's Confidential Man

. gain, and for this reason a moderately
decent person occasionally purSues It.
/ for short periods. to tide him over the
+ stress Of misfortune. But it is rare to
/ find a man who is rich and well look
/ ing take 10 this trade and cling to 1t
/ for the sake of money. Odeli IS one OF
these rare BIRDS
OdeITs rise to the highest place with
in the gift of the voters of the state
and to absolute control Of the RepuD-
lican machine has been rapid
a few years ago he was "OdeH OF
NeWb1Tg.' d provincial politician of
purely local influence. He had entan-
Eled himself in the ice business, and
in the electric business of his own
town. and had prospered through the
enlargement.
Plat picked him up as a member of
the state committee. and twice sent
him to she house of representatives. As
a member of congress he was never
heard Of He remained n the ruck
and his head never appeared above the
heads of the mob.
In 1856 he went to Saratoga as a
candidate for the nomination for gov
ernor Aldridge. of canal infamy. was
2 rival candidate. Plat put them both
aside, for ne feared that the naming
of such men a Odell Or Aldridge would
bring defeat to the party.
Again in 1898 Odell sought TO get the
nomination. but he withdrew when it
was made clear to him that he could
not win. His weakness as d candidate
was recognized by all.
Republican certainty that state. is
sues and candidates would be lost
sight of in the national fight this year
resulted in Odel's nomination. His
apparent reluctance to accept the
nomination was a farce. Every ma
chine politician in the state wanted
him nominated, for they had grown
weary of governors who baked at
practical political schemes, or who
were always yelling reform and talking
about civic honesty. So OdeH was
nominated, and on New Years day he
Will become the governor.
Plat has watched the course of OC eli
with many signs of admiration. He
sees in his successor qualities which he
himself lacked.
Odell is bold where Platt is timid.
Gdejl cares nothing about public opin-
ion while Plat is sensitive about it.
OdelI IS smooth and quiet under all
circumstances, while Plat is liable to
grow crusty and savage under adverse
pressure. 4 little while ago Plat said
of Odell.
He has been one of my faithful
leaders Tor many years. He has had
my confidence. he has kept faith with
me. he has disclosed great ability as
an organizer. he has helped bring to
gether conflicting interests, and he
has achieved results.
1T is not surprising, therefore, that
he has my unbounded cUnfdenta and
esteem"
Plat is still watching Odel with IN
abated interest, and Plat chuckles
every time ne thinks of the enthusiasm
that fills the old-Uime Republican ma
chinists when they think of the things
OdetI may do.
The old, practical politicians see
near ~ hand the dawn of day when
"reformers" viii be east out of public
Office and when the casting out will
benefit the Faithful
That OdeH intends to do away with
the methods practiced by Roosevelt in
distributing patronage is believed to
be certain.
As a politician OF the most practical
type. OdeIt. it is said, VIII not tolerate
the holding Of a lucrative Office by any
man who cannot pay the party well
for it in cash or votes or influence
Already a list OF those who profited
by Roosevelt's friendship has been
prepared and the cheerful Intelligence
has been cleaned that Odell viii be
able to drive nearly all of them out Of
the public service before the eXpira-
tiO- of his term as governor.
Old Republican machinists ike Louis
+. Payne IF Columbia, George w. Aid
ridge OF Monroe, Thomas Wheeler of