The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-21
MR.. PLATPS SHREWD GAME.
said to BE Plotting for Mr.. McKin-
IaNfs Defeat

and place for the State Convention TO
nominate a candidate to succeed Governor
Roosevelt 1t is considered queer that
nearly all Of the State organization men
known to be close to Plat suddenly have
Joined in a demand for the nomination of
the Hon. B. B. OdeIl for Governor
Mr.. Odell repeatedly has declared in pos
tive and unmistakable terms that he does
not want the nomination. Mr.. Plat. it is
known, trained Mr. oden to succeed to the
management of the machine when he
(PlatD surrenders it, The Senator's
health has been on the down grade for
year or more. and his physicians have
warned him that IL he does no. relieve
himself speedily of the worries and har-
assments of the organization management
he cannot live long. This, then, presents
the strongest possible proof OF the sin
certify OF Mr.. Platt's professed desire for
successor at the head Of the party in New
York. Indeed, everybody is agreed that
the management of details already is in
the hands of Odell and that very soon
complete leadership will pass from Platt
to him.
Naturally, therefore, 1t cannot be I'M
derstood what is meant by this apparent
ly sudden uprising for OdelI on the part
Of that element of the State organization
which is supposed to enjoy Platt's conf
dence. II OdeH is made the nominee for
Governor The pressure Of public opinion
and the exigencies Of the campaign viii
force him to retire from the State chair
manship and 10 surrender his position rs
the chief representative OF Mr. Plat in
the powerful lobby at Albany
This position is worth TO the incumbent
tens Of thousands Of dollars q year Il is
stated upon authority that Mr. OdCIl has
made a big fortune as a lobbyist at Albany
since he retired from Congress a few years
ago. and that he has schemes maturing
which viii materially add 20 his wealth
at the next few sessions Of the General As
sembly. Aside from mis- pronounced dis
inclination 10 give UP this good thins"
is another consideration Of vast party
concern. which suggests itself as a rea-
son why the gubernatorial nOmina ion
should not be forced upon Mr. Odell.
That is. that his well established reputa-
ton as a lobbyist and the heir apparent
10 Platt's bosship would weaken the ticket
to such an extent as actually 10 eudangeT
Republican chances all down the line in
New York.
For this reason the Administration peo-
pie in Washington are watching with keel
interest the development OF Mr.. Patt's
scheme. Some OF them openly charge that
the willy old boss Is deliberately plotting
the undoing Of Mr.. Mckinley. 4 weak
Republican candidate for Governor-and
il is conceded that Odell is unpopular
with the masses-undoub,ed!y would great
" enhance Democratic prospects in New
York. With the Is 10 ] issue virtually re-
moved from the campaign, the margin be-
tween the parties IN the Empire state Is
made very narrOw-tOo narrow. declare
welI-informed New York Republicans in
Washington. 20 be trifled with.
People acquainted with Plates methods
and the strength OF his machine say that
neither his nor OdeU's Lnld on the organ
ization would be weakened by the defeat
OF the latter for Governor. This is cd
vanced as additional prccf Of the pIota-
bility that for reasons satisfactory 20 him
self Mr.. Platt viii Roosevelt Odell when
the State Convention meets. he has rid
himself Of the Rough Rider. sni il is
thought that his fixed purposes demand
complete overthrow OF Republican suprem-
acy in New York at present in order that
the Root and Bliss elements may be en-
tirely eliminated from party affairs
This is curious view 10 take Of the
situation but nevertheless it is held by
men who profess 90 understand the meth
DDS OF boss politics In support Of the con
tention il is argued that il Mr. Mckinley
is reelected Senator Plat and his ma
chine will BE entirely ignored al Washing
ton. and nat the Bliss element viii
control, not only the patronage Of New
York. but also viii be dominant in all the
schemes cf exploitation in the new insular
possessions, which il is manifest viii be
held under the exclusive executive control
TO the limit Of national endurance. With
this prospect ahead Of him and his inter
ests thus harassed il is pointed out that IL
hehOOves Mr. Plat to assist in bringing
about change Of Administration at Wash
ingtOn- II the present regime Is continued
in power he can expect no favors. but Will
have his feelings wrenched and his pur-
poses arrested by seeing Mr.. Hanna ana
Mr. Mckinley strengthen the Bliss Root
element While Of course. he could not
hope for any consideration from a Demo
cratic Administration either at Washing
ton or Albany. still the defeat Of Mr. Nc
Kinley would enable Mr. PIatt TO gain a
signal advantage in the long run by check
mating the schemes Of Messrs. Hanna and
Mckinley to throw all Of the good things
at home in the colonies to the special in
terests represented by gentlemen like
Messrs- Root and Bliss.
gentleman very close 20 the Admins
tration said today that Mr.. Hanna had Just
become aware of the danger threatening
in New York through the game here de-
scribed, and that the Presidents poIiti-
cal manager is doing everything In his
power to defeat Mr.. Platt's shrewd
scheme. 1t is even suggested that Mr
Hanna viii soon go to New York to
personally look into matters and stop the
Odell movement before the state con
ventiOn meets.
The report is that Mr. Hanna viii favor
the nomination of Lieutenant Governor
Woodruff, whom he refused TO accept for
Vice President. believing that Mr.. Wood
ruff is now the only man on whom the
factions could be united against OdeH,
and also that the Lieutenant Governor
would make 4 stronger race than any 9TH
er available candidate because of his ear
nest desire TO be elected Governor of New
York. whereas it is well known that OdeI.
for the reasons stated. does not want 10
be elevated to that office
The New York Democrats il is said. ale
aware OF Mr.. Platt's scheme and are gov
erning themselves accordingly. They viii
not hold their State convention until the
Republicans have nominated their ticket,
and then il seems probable that the Dem
ocrats viii name the Hon. William Elem
ing Mackey, of Buffalo, for Governor.
Mr.. Mackey is a member of the state SEN
ate for Erie, and his private and public
record is clean. 1t is stated that he is
equally acceptable to Croker and Hill,
and that consequently he will get every
Democratic vote in the State that is rot
frightened away from the party by the
free silver boyle.
MR.. STEVENSON'S HOME.