The sun., 1904-12-17

Said Then: Hell Stick Knife In You
Some Day"-Higgins Still says He Has
Preference in the senatorship Fight,
but Won't Indicate II Yet-Root Has .
! Personal Talk With the Go, ernor.E Elect
Whatever Happens, Depew Won't Quit.
Echoes from the Odell conference at tho
Republican Club on Thursday were heard
! all over town yesterday. 1t was conceded
| by nearly all Republicans who discussed the
matter that the three notable events Of the
conference were the effort Of Louis F. Payn
to turn the gathering into a caucus so that
it's action might be accepted throughout
the State as an expression from the
Republican organization Of the State
in favor of eX-Gov. Black for
United States Senator to succeed
Mr.. Depew. the denunciation Of Senator
Depew by William l.. Ward, the Republican
leader Of Westchester, and the announce
ment on the part Of Speaker s. Frederick
Nixon that the gathering was by no means
representative in its character and that
therefore no vote, strictly speaking, should
be taken as to the preference of those
present for United States Senator.
No Republican from the southern tier
had been invited to attend Governor-Chair-
man Odel's conference. No Republican
from below the Bronx was invited to par
ticipate in the conference except Cornelius
n. Bliss. treasurer of the Republican ma
tional committee, and it should not be
overlooked that Mr. Bliss spoke up in plain
terms for Senator Depew.
When Mr.. Ward announced in the con-
ference that any Of the Republican legis-
lators from Westchester county who voted
for Senator Depew would be buried out
Of sight" many Republicans recalled that
it was largely to Senator Depews efforts
at Chicago that Mr.. Ward was made Repub-
lican national committeeman for the State
and that Senator Platt said to Mr.. Depew
at the time:
well do as you say, Chauncey. about
this matter. but Ward will stick a knife
into you some day"
Governor-elect Higgins left the Allie.
marie Hotel last night for his home in
Olean. Mr.. Higgins said that he would
remain at home until he went to Albany to.
be inaugurated on Jan. /, and that any
announcements Of appointments that he
had ~ make would be made from Oean.
The news last night was to the effect that
N. V. V. Franchot, the new Governors
personal friend and neighbor, will accept
the place OF State Superintendent OF Public
works il it is rendered to him, and it 10
known that Mr.. Higgins's friends have
importuned Mr.. Franchot to endeavor to
see his way clear to accept the place.
Elihu Root, the close personal friend Of
President Roosevelt, called on Mr.. Higgins
at the Albemarle yesterday and had a
long talk with him, Soms surmised that
the conversation had to do with the United
States Sena torship matter,
Not So, said Mr.. Higgins, when Mr.
Roots visit was called To his attention.
THE visit of Mr.. Root was personal one.
I have not seen him since the campaign.
/ stand where l have always stood on the
United States Senatorship | have
preference, but do not care to state what
that preference is at this time"
The great question among the Republl.
cans yesterday who discussed the OdeIl
conference was 'Who will control the Legis.
lature- odell or Higgins? Or will the Legis-
lature be permitted to vote as it pleases
on the United States Senatorship?' The
situation, it was said, is fraught with mo.
mentous advantages and disa dvantages,
both for the present and the future Of tho
party in the State. Governor Chairman
Odell reiterated that the United States
Senatorship matter had not been settled;
that it was still open, and all that sort Of
thing.
The bunch Of Republicans who sur.
round Mr. odell, forcing Black to the front,
is made up Of Senator Bracket. Mr.. Payn.
William c. Warren, Mr.. Ward, Representa-
tive Littatier and Abe Gruber. There has
been no sentiment aroused in favor OF Mr..
Black on the part Of the rank and file OF the
Republican party in the State. while on
every hand there are evidences OF genuine
affection for Senator Depew. not only
because Of his personality, but because Of
his uptiring labors for the party all over
the country for the last forty years.
Besides. Mr.. Depew is ranked as one Of
the strongest organiza tior men. quite a.
good an organization man as Mr.. Black;
and so 1t was Republican testimony that
the efforts to displace Mr. Depew for Mr..
Black are largely the result Of personal
motives which cannot, II was added be
conducive to harmony in the party.
II Senator Depew, it was continued. had
been unfriendly to Odell c any Of Odell's
friends, or had been derelict in his duty az
Republican, there might be some excuse
for turning him out. But it is Just tho
other way. Depew has been utterly friendly
and utterly loyal to all classes Of Repubh.
cans, but then Mr.. Blacks friends are
clamering for his advancement and so the
great question now is: Who Is to control
the Legislature, Odell or Higgins?
Governor-I narman UdeI, II was said,
believes that he can take any radical step
he thinks necessary, for the reason that
there is no State election next fall and
that by the time 1906 comes around any
hard feelings that may be engendered by
swapping Depew for Black viii have been
heated.
Any thought that Senator Depew would
retire from the race, it was ascertained last
night, il without the slightest foundation.
Senator Depew. it was said does not know
Of any sufficient reason why he should
retire at the behest Of the few Republicans
who surround Mr.. Black, though the rela-
tions between Mr.. Depew and Mr.. Black
are most friendly. Indeed, Senator Depew 4
has had nothing ungentle to say either of<
Mr., Ward or OF other Republicans who N