Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-14
Senator Platt Gradually Withdrawing
From Active Politics.
STILL ACTS As AN ADVISOR
His Mantle Of Leadership Falls On
Chairman OdeII.
WHAT TAMMANY IS DOING

|
NEW YORK, July r. 1900
| Passing events tend more and more to
prove the predictions made here early in
the year that Senator Thomas c. Platt has
ended his days of active political leadership.
1t can no longer be doubted that the sena-
| tor has turned over all details of organi-
zatlon and management to Chairman Ben
)amn b. Odell of the state committee re-
serving to himself the right of rest after
| mis- years of political leadership. This does
not mean, though. that Senator Platts
hand Will not be seen in party matters, for
| the senator will figure in all political plans
| of the republican organization in New York
state as long he remains alive But he
Is bothering with nothing save of the ut
| most Importance, and even in such matters
| his sole action is in advising Chairman
| Odeil. who carries out the plans. This state
| OF affairs has become more and more ap-
parent ever since the PHILADELPHIA conven-
| ton. Today Mr.. Odell is in absolute control
| at state headquarters. His word is law to
| the subleaders. and he issues his statements
| and his interviews in decided and pointed
manner that he never attempted to assume
| before. His air today is one of leadership
| and the republicans are adopting it as a
| matter of course. for it has long been ex-
pected and even announced by the senator
| himself. Mr.. Odelps succession to the full
| leadership on the demise of Patt is now
| matter settled, as is his succession to
Platts toga chances in the same event.
| This accounts for the emphatic statement
| from Odell that he is not candidate for
| governor this year. and will not permit the
| use of his name for that Office. Next week
Chairman Odell will issue the call for the
meeting Of the state committee here at
which meeting the call for a state conven-
| ton will be issued, to meet at Saratoga on
| September II or thereabouts.
Contest for the Governorshfp.
Democratic plans for the campaign are
| crystalizng. In the opinion of many Of the
democratic leaders the gubernatorial con-
test In their party has narrowed down to
| two men-Senator William F. Mackey and
| former Assemblyman John B. Stanchfield
The former Is favored by Richard Croker
and National Committeeman Norman z.
| Mack of Buffalo. whence comes Senator
| Mackey. Mr.. Stanchfeld is put forward by
| former Senator David B. HILL who, like
| Mr. Stanchtield, came from Elmira the
| two once being members of the same law
| frm. Both men meet the requirements of
| Croker and Ilil,-that is, they are both up
state men. These candidates give oppor-
| tunity for another Croker-Hill bout over
| the state convention. The first jar will be
over the place of holding the convention.
| BY itself considered, the selection of meet
ing place for state convention is Of
particular Importance in so far as ii bears
upon the availability and strength of any
candidate; but in this particular issue it is
to be made test of strength between the
leader of Tammany Hall and the statesman
| of Wolfert's Roost Croker has challenged
| Hills supremacy by declaring in favor of
Saratoga for the convention. Hill has no
| particular dislike for that place. 1t is not
because he loves Saratoga less but his own
prestige more, that he prefers any other
point between Montauk and Buffalo, and If
he can do it he is going to demonstrate to
his party that he has not yet gone to the
rear, and still retains enough influence to
| control the state committee
The harmony" of which Croker speaks
in such dulcet tones is likely to suffer a
| violent rupture when the state committee
meets The Tammany leader believes that
| he will have a majority of three, and per-
haps of five, when it comes to a vote
the selection Of the conventions meeting
| place Hill'S friends make the assertion
| that the majority" will present more
tangible substance than Cookers vice pres-
dental trap set in the Kansas City conven-
| ton, and that after he is defea ted he will
say he never had any interest in the COM
| mittee's choice and had taken part in
influencing it. There Is not the slight
est doubt however. that at this meeting
he is determined to prove his strength in
the state committee this issue the
supreme test of his power. Hill knows it
through his lieutenants in this city, and
is getting ready for the fight. Should Hill
win and carry the convention to a place
other than Saratoga he will be in a posi-
ton to name his old associate, Stanchfied.
who has been talked about for years with
applause of convention hall.
Saratoga n Tammany Mecca.
Saratoga is to be the summer capital of
the Tammany chiefs. Croker is to make
his headquarters there during August
when the racing season Is in progress. The
| big chief will be Joined by Mayor Van
Wyck. John F. Carroll, ex-Sherff Thomas
J. Dunn, Highway Commissioner Maggie.
Corporation Counsel Whalen, Lawrence
nal ,barl lin, Jal,,,
w. Keller. DR.. Crosby, Andrew Freedman,
ex-senator Murphy and many others. Dur
ing the month Of July Croker will spend
several days at his farm at Richfield
Springs, with possibly an occasional trip
to ex-senator Murphy's cottage at Elberon.
Croker will have personal charge Of the
campaign here but Tammany will not
warmth until after the nominations for
state officers are made in September. A
monster ratification meeting is being ar
ranged to be held in October, and another
with a torchlight parade will take place
a few days before the election. Tammany
intends to make a big showing numeri-
cally on that occasion. 1t is said to be
Croker's plan to have from 1900 to 1OO,-
600 men in line. Every officeholder, every
dependent on Tammany will be ordered out
to shout for Bryan, no matter how the
shouters will vote. Four years ago John
C. Sheehan was in charge and Croker was
in Europe. There were few shouts and
fewer votes for Bryan. This time Croker
announces tnat ne iiitehus 10 make rec
ord He predicts that he will carry the
CITY for Bryan. Mckinley carried 1t four
years ago, but Tammany was not in power
then locally.
In spite Of this buster 1t is known that
orders have already gone out from the Dem
ocratic Club to all the Tammany leaders
and politicians to ignore the 16 to 1 plank
of the Kansas City convention. They are
to talk about expansion and trusts and say
nothing about free silver. There is much
disgust in the organization. but 1t is not
openly expressed. The spellbinders dare
not talk much about trusts, and they fear
anti-expansion talk will not prove popu-
lar 1t is admitted by some of the older
Tammany politicians that the organization
never entered campaign with less enthu-
siaSm than has been manifested for the
present national ticket and platform. They
say that there was really more enthusiasm
for the national ticket in 1896 than there
is this year. and that the Chicago platform
at least united the regulars of the city and
This year the MARTY will enter tho