Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-21
Notable Gathering of New
York Politicians Today
IN INTEREST OF DEPEW
CONFERENCE CALLED BY SENA-
TOR PLATT TO ORGANIZE.
Action Many Leaders Have Desired to
Avoid-Those Present and
Deliberations.

At the conclusion of the conference called
by Senator Platt at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
today it was said by several of those pres
ent that the sentiment of the meeting was
unanimously in favor of Senator Depew' s
reelection.
1t was added that all favored harmonious
methods to bring about this result. and the
hope was expressed that a contest could be
avoided. The meeting appointed a commit
tee to confer with Governor Odell on the
subject.
NEW YORK, December 21-Politicians
gathered early today at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel for the conference called by Senator
Platt in the interest of Chauncey NJ De-
pew's candidacy for reelection to the Unit
ed States Senate. Of the hundred men in
vted it was said that seventy five had In
dicated their intention to be present
Keen interest was felt in today's meet
ing because of the belief that it would show
just who of the state leaders will stand
with Platt in his fight for Depew. 1t was
felt that Mr. Platt's statement last night
to the effect that 1T is now a fight to a
finish and that Every one must line up
ed themselves friendly to both the sena-
This kind of lineup is what many of
the prominent republicans of the state have
desired to avoid for more than year past.
Many men who are on good terms with the
governor, and who had pleasant relations
with Mr.. Platt throughout his long term as
state leader, hesitate to do anything that
might offend either. The contest, if 1t
comes to that, it is feared. may involve the
Organization throughout the entire state.
The Preliminary Talk
About fifty or seventy-fve of the repub-
licans of various sections of the state,
notably political friends of Senators Platt
and Depew, were gathered in the corridors
of the hotel just before the conference was
begun.
Included in the number were former Lieut..
Gov. Timothy Woodruff Congressman Sc
reno l.. Payne of Auburn, John f. Merritt
formerly of Rockport, n. Y, now postmas-
ter at Washington d. c.; Congressman
John w. Dwight of TompNins county, James
S. Clarkson, surveyor of the port, and Ham
lton Fish, assistant United States treas
urer.
The meeting was called to order by Sena-
tor Platt. Col George w. Dunn of Broome
county presided, and Senator Plat ex-
planned the situation with regard to the
United States senatorship and his purpose
in calling the conference.
Purpose of the Conference Stated.
After Senator Platt had stated the pur-
pose of the gathering the different leaders
present in turn made speeches setting forth
their preferences in the senatorship mat
ter. The conference was still in session at
/ o'clock.
1t was given out by men who came out at
that hour that the speeches which had
been made up to that time were all in
favor Of a harmonious solution of the sem
atorial problem; that none of the speakers
had criticised Governor OdelPs attitude
that all had advised against a contest that
would affect the party harmfully.
A number of leading republican state
senators were present at the meeting.
To Communicate With Odell.
A committee left the conference room
shortly after 1 o'clock instructed to try to
get into communication with Gov. Odell and
express the sentiments of the meeting to
him. The committee was composed of
former Lieut.. Gov. Woodruff, chairman;
State Senators Raines and CoggeshalI, Sec
retary Aldridge of the state railroad COM
mission, Collector of the Port Stranahan.
Hamilton Fish and Representative Vree-
land.
An effort was made to reach Gov. Odell
by telephone at Newburg. The governors 8
secretary said that MIR. Odell was not at
home and he did not know whether the
governor would be in New York until even
ing. Without securing any further informa-
tion the committee returned to the con-
ference.