The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-24
ODELL PUTS 1T ON CUNNEEN.
OFF" THERE WAS FRAUD, WHERE
WASTHE ATTORNEY-GENERAL?
He's q Democrat and Ought 10 Have
Been sleuthing After Nrongdoing
at Albany--The GovernOr-Chairman's
Friends Nrest This DEF ence From Him.

at Albany-The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Friends Wrest This Defen From Him.
Governor Chairman Odell shifted ground
yesterday from the stand he took on Ihurs-
day night regarding the charges made IN
the Democratic platform that his admins
tration had been corrupt and extravagant.
In the statement he wrote ON Thursday
and made public after spending three
hours in anxious revision OF its wording
the Governor Chairman dismissed the per-
sonal criticisms Of the platform with
the mere comment that they amounted
to nothing more than mud Singing
prompted by David B. Hill. The rest OF his
so-called reply was made up OF statistics
meant to show that the increase in the
population OF the State justified the ex-
travagance of his administrations.
Some Of the Governor-Cbairmans in
Inmates seem to have told him yesterday
that his statement Of Thursday night WASH
the kind OF document to satisfy the critical
III the early part of the day he had long
conference at the Fifth Avenue Hotel with
William Barnes, Jr,, Col. Michael D. Dan!'
Louis F. Payn, Francis Hendricks, George
W. Aldridge, Louis Stern, Charles W. Mur-
ray and Edward 1auterbach.
AT the close Of the meeting 1t was given
out that the conference had merely con-
sidered plans for opening the state cam.
paign in these parts, but it was learned
later that the advisers the Governor-Chair-
man called about him told him plainly
that it would better the interests OF the
State ticket If he would say something for
public consumption which would really
amount to a reply to the personal thrusts OF
the Democratic convention leaders at his
administration and his personal conduct
Governor Chairman Odell didn't take
the advice kindly. He thought and told
his friends So and when he said that all
that been charged against him was only
30 much mud singing that ended the
matter. But his friends thought diher-
emily, and as a result OF some plain speak
ing the Governor Chairman opened his
mouth much wider last night than he has
done at any time since he came here to run
the State campaign. The effect OF what
he said was that if there had been any
corruption or wrongdoing in his admins
tration it was up to Attorney-Genera
Cunneen to expose 1t.
.Tbe Democrats who are crtioising the
administration OF the affairs of the State
In the last two years" said the Governor
Chairman appear to have forgotten that
the Attorney General is Democrat, and
that it is one OF the chief duties Of his office
to INQUIRE into any wrongdoing on the
part of the men who are connected with the
State government. II there had been any
corruption, or IL there had been anything
IN the acts OF the administration which
would call for oensure or worse MT
| C,Inneen would assuredly have known OF
Il and 1t would have been his duty to have
disclosed It.
"Mr. Cunneen, by virtue OF his office, il
a member Of most OF the important boards
of the State. He is a member Of the Cana
Board, a trustee OF the various boards
which control the charitable institutions
and, moreover, almost every contract which
. has been entered into by the State govern
ment has been submitted to him. Nevel
since he has been exercising these function
has he ever irtimated that there was an.
semblance of fraud or irregularity in an!
, Of the transactions Of any one Of the Stat
, boards, of the greater number OF which
Z he is a member"
: Governor Chairman Odell will 60 to hi
| home at Newburg to-day for few day
rest. He says he ia suffering from over
' work and worry and wants two or thre
1 DAYS away from campaign turmoil to pu
| himself around. On Oct. he will 60 to =,
Louis to take part in the New York da
celebration at the exposition, which ha
been fixed for Oct. 4.
Frank W. Higgins. the Govern or Chair
, mans nominee for his place, came back
town last night. He had long talk wit
Mr.. Odell, but all that he would say abot
Il was that he had been preparing with n
t Governor- Chairman plans for starting tn
4 state campaign in the next few days.