The sun., 1903-12-14
COY, ODELL'S PETTY REVENGE.
sICRIFICES AN OLD SOLDIER TO
CRAFTY 1T.

uis Right as Citizen to Run on an
independent Ticket for Mayor, IL Left
m the List OF NOtaries OF Orange.
EEwBuRdH, Dec. ia notary public
(, Newburgh doesn't as rule make any
Great amount Of money out OF his job, but
col. Joseph M. Leeper, an old civil war
v.teran and friend of Gov. Odelps father
and mother and an acquaintance OF the
Governor himself, managed for several
raars to make a comfortable living in serving
q. notary in connection with a small
Law practice which he had here. He had
many friends who went out of their way,
n necessary, to turn business over to him
that required the services Of notary.
Col. Leepcr isn't notary any longer.
He hasn't been a notary since he ran for
MAYOR of Newburgh on an independent
citizens Union ticket two years ago. Gov.
0dell refused to reappoint him. To students
NJ recent political events in the State and
n those who are familiar with Newburgh-
A,hanv politcal methods in general this
,bro,down of n sixty eight year-old civil
,var veteran and an oldtime friend of the
Odel family ought to present features
OF interest.
/, his poitics He was, if anything, more
independent than usual two years ago at
the opening Of the municipal campaign
here when the Democrats nominated for
Mayor David A. Morrison, and the Repub-
licans the present Mayor, Mr.. Wilson.
Col. Leeper did not believe in running
municipal government in Newburgh along
the lines of party politics, and he said 80
ont loud He gave it as his opinion that
there was too much Republicanism being
fused into Newburgh's private affairs.
Many other voters thought 30 also, and
they urged Col. Leeper to accept the nomi-
nation for Mayor on an independent ticket.
Col. Leeper promised that he would. A
nominating petition with more than 500
names to it was prepared and Col Leeper,
as notary, administered the oath to the
signers thereof
Up to that time nobody outside Of New
burgh seemed to care hang about Col.
Leeper's Independent notions on politics
and municipal affairs. All of a sudden,
though, Jimmy Graham, private secretary
to Gov Odell, developed, according to Col.
Ieeper's friends, highly concentrated in
terest in the Colonels politica ideas. That
was Just before election day, and New
burgh Republicans, it was said at the
time, weren't going to have walkover
by a long shot. Graham met Col Ieeper
In the street.
"What's this hear?' he asked. whats
going on2 What are you doing, anyway?
Don't you know that / have the making OF
the list of notaries, and can kill your ap-
pointment in a jify?"
Yes, suppose that Is so,' Col; Leeper
that way and if you've, got your axe out.
why, l suppose my head is on the block"
col. Ieeper polled about 700 votes in
the election. The Republican ticket was
elected. 1t was scratched some as a result
Of Leepers entry into rhe reia oIt not
A few weeks later the list of notary ap-
pointments for the city was received from
Albany. Col. Leeper's name was not on II
He had been notary in Newburgh con
pended upon the income from It largely
for his support. He had also served as
notary for several years in ne arby town
before he moved to Newburgh dc had
sent his la abany ana as earS he had
In any Of the other years; He wrote TO
Secretary Graham in regard to the matter.
Secretary Graham replied tartly that many
Of Senator Goodselrs 8 constituents had pro-
tested against the nhiscped N1as %as
% senator Goodsell also wrote to Col.
Lepeer that Re was sorry, but that MS con
etituents wouldn't stand for Col. Leeper's
sssnsad ssaE the to Goy dRa he co
It possible. he wondered, If the. Colonel
hadn't sent his application in too late. IL
might have got in he suggested, after the
list was made out He felt sure tnat IL hinh thGJ1
prevented lis reappointment, but he wasn't
positive about the matter as it hadn,I come
under his personal notice at all; turned
down by the Governor, the Old veteran
applied to the Common Council OF the city
for the appointment as Commissionef OF
Deeds, and It was given to him
about his turn-down by the Governor.
His friends, though, and many stanch
Republicans in the city even, have been
occurred and designate it unqualiheSdly
as deplorable bit of petty politics. Coz.
Leeper'B friends deny that any OF Senator
Goodsells constituents protested against
the Colonels reappointment, unless 1t vas
Jimmy Graham and the Governor C,noa hi1ge fSisnds
say, is not the only one on record IN that
section in which Gov. Odell has resorted
to prettysmall political methods. A lawyer
Of the name Of lamp, at Highland FANS
they say, had an almost slHhldI SAPonh'ohSe'
being deprived of his notaryship after ne
expressed some independent opinions about
local politics that the Governor didn't
like. ou,-
Col, Leeper, the victim Of Gov. Odell,s
persecution, is an aged officer OF the civil
war, who was at the front and rendered
signal service to the Union cause Tor 1our
years and six months.
The list of notaries public for Orange
county was published in March. 1902, and
from this list the name of Joseph NJ. Leeper
was omitted for the first time in many years
Col. Leeper thereupon wrote to Gov. Odell's
private secretary, Graham. asking why ne
was not named as before. He received
this reply:
STATE OF NEW YORK.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
ALBANY, March y. 1902
NJ Joseph ". Leeper. Neubur6h, ~. r.; A..
DEAR SlR-Replying TO your lavor OF AM snT
18th inst. would say that senator i0onsGitt ntnsnt
al the request Of some constituents OF ms,
and for that reason it was not made. very
truly voiIrs JAMES q. GRAHAM,
Secretary to the Governor.
COL. IEEPER TO sE Major GoopsEL"
NEwBuRGH. y. y. March ls, ieo.;
Louis r. GoodseH. Esq.. Senate chdmo"
Albanp, ". y: 49,,
DlAH SIR-I have been informed by the
secretary TO the Governor. in response 10 my
letter of inquiry as to the reason iop my nrias a
being omitted from the list Of the notar,ts
for Orange county, confirmed by the senate
at us present session. that II was 80 omittea
at Your request at the suggestion OF some
OF your constituents. . .,
viii you kindly inform me bY return niGnad n,add