New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-21
SILENT ON PAYN'S FATE.
SECRECY ABOUT BREAKFAST TABLE
CONFERENCE.
RUMoR THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD
NAME MAN CHOSEN BY PLATT IF
ASSURANCES OF CONFIRMATION
WE'RE FORTHCOMING.
WE'RE FORTHCOMING.

WE'RE FORTHCOMING.
Secrecy and mystery marked the conference
between Governor Roosevelt. Senator Platt and
Chairman Oden, of the Republican State Com
mittee, yesterday morning. They made SOL
emn agreement not to tell anybody anything
about the conference, and when their talk was
they would tell nothing except that they
had promised each other not to tell anything.
Politicians who were eager to know what de-
cislon had been reached regarding Republican
organization opposition to support for Louis
F. Payn, the State Superintendent of Insurance
were disappointed as badly the news
paper men who waited at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel yesterday morning.
Governor Roosevelt went to the hotel about
8 a. m. and sat down to breakfast with Sena-
tor Platt and Mr.. Oden The three talked
for about two hours. Mr.. Odell appeared In
the hotel lobby about IL a. m. and said there
had been an agreement at the conference not to
give out information.
Il cannot even promise that anything will be
told Monday" he said.
1t had been understood that the chief subject
for conference was the attitude to be taken by
the Republican organization leaders, and par
ticularly by Senator P1att toward successor
for Mr.. Payn to be named by the Governor.
MIR. Odell would not deny that the subject had
been discussed fully at the conference.
do you think that Payns case may be set
tied amicably?" ?" he asked
oDELL HOPES So"
'I hope So" he replied with shrug OF his
shoulders, by which he sometimes expresses
half doubt.
WAS there a disagreement at the confer
ence?" asked.
well, 1 haven't any black eye" was his
smiling reply.
Governor Roosevelt left the hotel with Senator
Platt few minutes later. The Governor was
looking pleasant but he said: Sorry, but can
say nothing about the conference. That was
our agreement"
did you have good breakfast" was asked
"Splendidr' he said laughing
Senator Platt declined to talk. He went down
TO his office at No 40 Broadway. while the Gov
ernor went to the home of his sister. Mrs.
Douglas Robinson in Madlson-ave. At lunch
con the Governor entertained General Francis
" Greene, General Avery D. Andrews. Captain
A T. Mahan Frank S. Wtherbee, ex-senator
Washburn of Minnesota, and F. Marion Craw-
ford the novelist.
Politicians about the Fifth Avenue Hotel in
the afternoon said they were still in the dark as
to the result of the conference in the morning,
but some of them said they thought there had
been decision by Senator Platt to keep out
of the fight between Governor Roosevelt and
ticiaus that the Governor was willing to nomi-
nate good Republican to be selected by Sena-
tor Platt if the Senator could give assurance
that the man was sure to be confirmed by the
Senate otherwise the Governor ready to
nominate Judge Charles T. Saxton, the former
Lieutenant Governor. whose appointment was
not desired by Senator Patt. The Senator, 1t
was said, would be placed in the position of
having to choose between accepting Mr.. Sax
nd
he was not inclined to take either choice.
1t was declared by several of the Republican
politicians that Senator Platt was too friendly
with Mr. Payn to help drive him out of office.
and he did not want to place himself In at
titude OF hostility TO the Governor. The natural
thing for him to do, 1t said, was TO declare
that he would keep his hands off and let Mr..
Payn make his fight alone.
PAYN AND METROPOLITAN.
The friends OF Governor Roosevelt said yes
terday that Mr.. Payn has been bitter against
the Governor since last winter, when Mr.. Payn
freely lent his aid to the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company In getting certain Senators
to give the traction company what the company
desired in the memorable Amsterdam-ave. fight.
1t will be remembered that the Third Avenue
Railroad expected certain concessions in Am
sterdam- ave. and when the fight was carried
to Albany Mr.. Payn at first the side OF
the Third Avenue Railroad Company. Later, II
Is alleged, Mr.. Payn threw his assistance to the
Metropolitan people, and that company, with
the aid of three Senators holding close relations
with Mr.. Payn, got the legislation it desired.
1t was then, according to the friends of Gov
ernor Roosevelt, that the Governor interposed
and brought about compromise satisfactory TO
Mr.. Lauterbach and the Third Avenue Railroad.
1t is asserted that this assistance on the part
of Mr. Payn made Mr.. Whitney his friend, and
it is suggested by Mr.. Payn's critics that
that was of the reasons why Mr.. Payn
found 1t easy to borrow from the Metropolitan
company 100000 which he added to his col
lateral TO secure his big loan OF S435,OOO from
the State Trust Company.
When Mr. Lauterbach was seen at his office
yesterday with reference to the report. he said:
I hardly think that there is anything
know anything about it. Mr. Payn's action at
that time was somethi ing OF surprise 70 me, but
potan people could be connected in any manner
with the loan he secured from the State Trust
Company.
PLATT SUGGESTS HUNTER.
A report was going about among the Republi-
can politicians last evening that Senator Platt
had said to Governor Roosevelt at the confer
ence that he would like to have the Governor
name Robert H. Hunter. the Deputy State Su-
perintendent of Insurance. to succeed Payn The
Governor, according to the report, had expressed
willingness to name another Republican instead
OF Mr. Saxton If Senator Platt could suggest
man worthy of the place who could be confirmed
bv the Senate When the name OF Mr.. Hunter
was suggested, however. the Governor was re
ported 10 have declared that he could not con-
slider the deputy. to appoint him would be
practically the thing as appointing Mr..
Pawn When the Governor made that announce
rrent II was said, Senator Platt declared that he
could not suggest any other name.