The sun., 1903-12-31
PLATT IS STILL The LEADER.
EDITOR BUTLER or BUFF4LO on
ODELL'S ASSUMPTION.
lie Says Platt Is the Leader Now. viii BE
Next Year, and the Year AFTER That
--Odell Has the Misfortune. He says.
OF Having q Very Bad Set Of Advisers.

OF baNlnS very Duu SET OI ."NisrTS'
BUFFALO. Dec. 3O.--Edward II. Butler
to-day gave an interview which Gov. Odell
may appreciate without enjoying. He told
what he thought about Senat or Platt and
about Gov. Odell's attempts to manage
Republican politics in this State Mr..
Butler is he proprietor Of the Buffalo Eten-
ing Neps the paper most read by the Repub-
licans OF western New York. Nobody
would be foolish enough to say that Mr..
Butler has an axe to grind, for he never
asks anyt hing of the party. He has been
an elector at large once or twice. an honor
10 which he has passively submitted
an the words of Mr.. Worden,' said Mr..
Butler in answer to a question as to his
opinion Of the outcome OF the Platt confer
ences. Senator Platt Is the leader OF the
Republican party now, he controls lis
affairs now, and he will next year, and the
year after that. When the call was sent
out by MIR. Platt to men prominent in the
party organization to visit him in New
York, there was a great deal OF hesitation
in some sections, a sort OF anxiety existed
as to what Gov. Odell would do. We had
been told that Gov. Odell had usurped the
leadership and that Platt was tottering
wreck, that his mind was wandering, that
he had grown feeble and lifeless.
Federal officeholders we're told that
Senator Platt was down and out and that
Odell was now the real leader Of the party,
the high boss, or whatever you have mind
to call it. Since then, however, the Federal
officeholders have learned something
Platt is not out, and that fact is verv evil
dent now.
Under Senator Platt We cGn carry this
State in the next election with sweeping
majority, but under the direction OF those
who care not for the patty and are inter-
ested solely in their own greed for power
I'll say nothing stronger--the chances of
Republican victory will not be bright.
Those who endeavor to run things to suit
their personal plans, decide appointments
and all patronage without consultation as
to the best interests Of the party, may sue
coed in nominating candidates. but they
will be unable to get the people 70 vote for
them They cannct elect them. What
gain is there to those who labor honestly
for the party and find that their views as
to the candidates and party questio ms
are made up for them by some one else'
There is no spirit OF bitterness in whaf
| say. am not unfriendly to Gov Oiell.
but must say that he has the worst set of
advisers about him that it has been the
misfortune Of any man in public life. within
the range Of my knowledge. to have.
1T is difficult TO reconcile the st tatements
OF week ago made by these who assume
ment of those men to-day. They are hand
ing back 10 Platt now he power they never
took from him. They thought they took
it away when they thought he was dying
man, and now they are all lieutenants and
Platt is leader again, just rs he has been
- !Ifll th,. la il
life anew; he has just been married, and,
though advanced in years, he Is still capable
Of carrying the Republican party along to
Mr. platt has been very patient under tho
sel crest provocation. If he were less 20
and were not the most considerate Of mon
he might be far less Easy Boss than ne
ia. but the feature Of his leadership CON-
pared with that OF ieadera in other States
Is that he actually leads lIis party and docs
not drive it's not in any real sense Il boss at
all, but a genuine leader. That function
implies the possession OF some OF the high
est faculties of an executive character, and
among them, as l said. is patience. and to
.hi' add sclf-poise and political sagacity
and profound loyalty 10 friends and sup
porterti and uniainr devotion to the priI-
cpics Of his party and you begin to under
stand the making of a leader who Is such
by nature and not made to order.
The best Generi ls Of Napoleon thought
tney won lhe conc queiCT W tJles. 90 tliu
the able comma nders of CHs RS legions,
but when the mf ster mind WI absent they
fell into I'll sorts of dis sters There is n
lesson in this truth for ambitious men in our
st te politics. They are splendid fighters
in their place, but they M va not yet tt; ined
the heart Of the comma nder -in-chief' u
will you press your request for re-
oren niz4tion OF the party locally?" he was
asked.
"The facts speak for then selves. Gov.
Odell carried this county by 1874. Mr.. Muir
rea son why Mr. Murray should be more
populsr than Gov. Odell' Odel should
hav" received 5000 ms jority here. and he
didn't get it. Now the Governor is re-
org nizing things in New York. In regard
TO the locFl reorgf niz tion suggestions,
might add thi you q mt drive the people
to vote for g ndids tes just because they
happen to be the favorites of this boss Or
that boss.