The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-04
POLITICAL. NOTES AND GOSSIP.

! Ht ShrhtcEai 1Oday--The Republican
| State Convention will meet at Saratoga
today and do the work cut out for it by
Boss Flatt. Mr.. Platt's chief concern is
| for the nomination for Governor by &C
| clamation on the first ballot of Benjamin
B. Odell, who for several years has been
! the principal lobbyist at Albany for the
corporate interests that make the mainte
nance of the Plat political machine posi-
| Bile. The nomination cannot be made by
reclamation on the first ballot unless the
ION. Timothy l.. Woodruff relieves his
Kings County followers from the obliga-
ton to present his name and vote for him
in spite OF Plat. II is generally thought.
however, that Platt HIS effected an ar
rangement with Woodruff whereby all OPP
position TO Odeli will be Withdrawn before
the convention assemblies. II such an ar
rangement is made it will be mainly due
to Platt's withdrawal of opposition to
Woodruff for the third nomination for
Lieutenant Governor. 1t is not doubted
among knowing New Workers that Wood
ruff is anxious to be again nominated for
the office he has held under two adminis-
trations at Albany first under the luckless
Governor Black, whose offending consisted
principally in peryerse disposition on his
part not to turn over to the corporations
all Of the administrative, legislative. and
judicial machinery OF the State, and next
Under the bloodthirsty and Unsuitable war
rior who is now running for Vice President
on the ticket with Mckinley. II Woodruff
IL renominated his achievement will be
more notable than the ordinary perform
ance of this character, for Mr.. Platt does
not like his official course as well as he
might if Woodruff were more pliable on all
h. t.
be, and then, too. third-te nominations
are of rare occurrence in this country.
even though in many of the States-New
York among them-tlere is no statute
against the Governor or Lieutenant Gov
ernor succeeding himself as often as he
can convince the people that his services
are needed. 1t Is conceded on all sides
that Woodruff will add strength to the
ticket-and this is saying a great deal
less for the ticket than it is for Woodruff.
What other nominations Mr.. Piatt will
announce today is not Interesting the pub
lie to any noticeable extent.
May Re CoIer Yet.-With the exce.. ion
only of Chief sachem Cookers principal
lieutenants in Tammany Hall it can be
asserted as general proposition that no
New York Democrat can be found who
will honestly express doubts of the ad-
visibility OF nominating the Hon. Bird s
Coler as the Democratic candidate for
Governor Various persons who have
talked with Croker recently say that he
has acknowledged to them that his oppcsi-
tion to Coler is now based wholly upon
personal grounds When the Tammany
boss first started his fight on Coler it was
more for the purpose of showing the
country and the national managers OF the
party that Hill. who early espoused the
cause OF Golfer. was no longer the leader
of the upstate Democracy. Having estab-
lished that fact to the satisfaction of
most everybody concerned, it would
seem that Croker could not stubbornly
stand out against the undoubted wish of
the party for Coler's nomination. But
the Tammany chieftain is still against
Coler. The reason now assigned for his
hostility is that Coler has been too free
and public in his criticisms of Croker.
Only few weeks ago the Comptroller
wrote a magazine article that attracted
widespread :-ttention because of its Sc
we're arraignment of political bosses i'll
general. and of Croker in particular. IL
appears that Croker has reached that
age and financial condition when he can
indulge himself in ordinary human feel
ing or emotion. This, at any rate. was
what was said about him few days ago
by one of the biggest Democrats in the
country who has made 1t his business to
get as we'll acquainted with Croker as
possible, and who accounts for Cookers
present opposition to Coler on what this
Democrat describes as Just plain human
nature like that possessed by most other
OF the sons OF men" Still. it is known
that some powerful party influences are
being brought to bear upon Croker to
induce him TO yield to the popular demand
for Golfer and many people acquainted
with the situation in New York believe
that Croker yet will consent to the Domi
nation of the Comptroller. The State
convention will be held at Saratoga one
week from today, and in that time a
great many things can happen even in
Tammany Hall After Mr.. Plat formally
presents his man Odell to the people of
New York for their votes. 1t is confident
ly expected that the demand for Coler will
become much more clamorous than
it is now. Meantime. if the
Hon. Hugh Mclaughlin would but
say the word. it is believed
that CGler could be nominated over
Cookers protest If this should occur
there is no fear that Croker would not
give the ticket earnest and energetic sup
port.