El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-02
THE MANTLEOF pLATT

| Jothtu d. OUclI, JI-OOOil . Ear
Iler Political Experiences.-Hls
Friendship With platt.-Hones1
| And a Good 6eneral.-Not A
Breath of Dlshonor Against film
"A Thoroughly Competent
Manager.
Special Correspondence of the HERALD
| NEW YORK, July 1t seems to be
settled beyond doubt that the mantle OF
Thomas G. Plats is to fall uDon the
shoulders of Ben amin B. Odell, Jr.
This is enough to make Mr.. Odell per-
from his coming boss ship. Mr. odell
is something of mystery in political
sense, and this adds to his Importance
| in the public eye.
Mr. Odell ts big man Of rather for
| bidding personality. That is to say,
he does not inspire the reporter to ask
frivolous questions. he is apt to greet
the newspaper man shortly with the
abrupt question, "Well, what is it?"
And if you have called on him With no
particular object In view. just to see
'whst is going on" you do not stay
very long. In short, Mr. Odell is not
good fellow" He never calls In
headquarters in election times and
"gives them jolly" as even the most
austere politicians are won't to do He
seems to be attending strictly to busi-
ness all the time.
And yet newspaper men like Mr..
Odell, because he always stands by
what he says. If you are fortunate
enough to get statement from him,
you will not have the uncomfor Ia BILE
feeling that be will repudiate it the
next day, however we'll denial would
serve his purpose. In this Mr.. Odell |
differs from good many New York |
that might be named.
Mr. Odell was born in Newburgh |
forsy-seven years ago: he and his father
before him have been rulil factors in
the politics OF the town for ffty years
He was educated there, Spending only
! short time at Bethany college in
West Virginia and at Colum bis. When
1e entered the New York university
he also entered politics, and perhaps
his is the reason his career as q stud
mt was neither long nor distinguished.
At this time he was but nineteen
ears of age. Nevertheless he was an
flee tive political lieutenant, and with
lis father carried a local election
gainst the republican machine then
ominant, and elected his candidate,
Did you then smash the machine, {
Tas asked of Mr.. Odell. "Well. no." l
e piled. You see [ became the !
,achine mys elt.'' =
Mr.. OdelPs friendship with Platt ?
ntedates the lstter's me too dsys r
)deil was firm friend OF the senator's ,
IL through the Garfeld-Conkling .
d friends. Together they worked for s
be senator's "vindication,' or "re- :
II you like the word t
ettsr, and it is perfectly natural, /
>r these reasons, that Mr.. Odell has r
stood close" to Pls,t since he reach l.
the undisputed Leadership of the t
arty. Mr.. Odell's rise to power in b
he organization has OILY kept pace i
ith the growth of the power of Plat. e
, 1886 Odell was selected az a member {
the state committee from his dis a
lot. he still holds this position. \
In 1894 be was elected to congress, |,
"for business reasons" after n
rU f,l11 0fo |
i'd term. If he did anything worth l,
thing in congress he did it very n
lietly, most OF his time being devot-
to politics here. Naturally enough,
wing demonstrated his capacity for
lisicsl management aud having the U
endship aud confidence of Mr.. Plat,
r. OdeIl WIS elected to the state
airmanship when Mr. Hackett died ID
1898. The next step will be leader -,
ip OF the party in this state. -
Mr. Odell is admired and respected
the rank and file of the party simp- ..
because he is honest and q good
neral. His is not at oil a popular A.
rsonality; his associates do DOT love -.
N, they respect him. A firm be- =.
YER in the necessity of close and
id organization in politics, Mr.
ell never hesitates to defend the -
yanization of his own party. He af- 81,
ns his belief in its honesty and his 49,
miration for it's leader at everv op- 'A
rtuntty. And that he Is perfectly
nest In this admiration and in his
ief in the probity OF his party 60 die