The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-14
SLATE MADE UP LAST WINTER
WHILE ODELL FED PARTY WITH
OPEN CONVENTION TALK.
Higgins Was the Sure Thing Play All the
Time, but Promise Of Senat0rship to
Black Was Only an Intimation Before
SaratOga-Platt Not in the Game.

saratoga-PIatt Not in the Game.
Republicans from up the State were at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday after
noon and got to talking about the announce
ment that Governor Chairman Odell prom
ised at Saratoga the United States Sena-
torship next January to Frank s. Black.
we all know" said one OF these
up State Republicans, that the announce
ment was correct in every line and detail.
The trouble, though, is that THE SUN has
not gone far enough in this matter. The
present condition of affairs, so far as the
Odell State ticket ia concerned, began away
back last winter at Albany. The Governor
took Mr.. Black, Mr.. Bracket, Mr.. Lttauer,
Mr.. Warren. Mr.. Payn and Justice
Nathan l.. Miller into his confidence at that
time. It was then agreed that the play
should be made for an open convention,
and Frank W. Higgins was to be the candi-
date. He was not to be showed to the front
very much, because at that time and later
on there was a good deal of talk about
Elihu Root, and all the Republicans in the
State wanted Root. But Gov. Odell's
newspaper in Newburgh began a series OF
attacks on Elihu Root, and kept them UP
until late in July.
These attacks on Root greatly disturbed
the Republicans all through the State, and,
of course, we could not attribute them to
ANYBODY except the Governor. We had
a right also to assume that they were part
of the game which Gov. Odell last winter at
Albany began to play with ex-Gov Black,
Senator Bracket, Representative Lit
tauer, Louis F. Payn, William c. Warren
and Justice Miller. Some Of these people
got to talking about this matter last winter,
and Senator John Raines was let into the
scheme. but nobody said a word to Speaker
Nixon, and Nixon's feathers had to be
smoothed down at Saratoga.
But the fact that Gov. Odel decided on
Frank W. Higgins as his candidate for Gov
ernor last winter at Albany has been known
to some Of us for six months. AT first the
game was kept very quiet. Then others
began to talk about it, but the great secret
was kept from Speaker Nixon, and IL was
funny to see the Speaker at Saratoga
He was all in the dark until the game was
made known to him. The SUNS account
OF how Gov. Odell promised Mr.. black the
United States Senatorship. should have
gone back to last winter, when Gov. Odel
arranged for the nomination OF Mr.. Hig-
gins and only then intimated to MIR. Bla ok
what he positively promised at Saratoga
Some OF us, the Republicans continued
shave told MIR. Depew about this matter,
but he doesn't want to believe it. or course
II Gov Odell can shtnt Mr.. Black to the
rear at the proper time and take the United
States Senatorship himself he will, and We
all know that ard we have also told Mr..
Depew that this was the programme, but
Mr.. Depew does not wish to believe it. Mr..
Platt knew nothing of the game that was
arranged last winter between Mr.. 0dell
and the Republicans named. We doubt
II he know il now We doubt also IL he
would believe it " the evidence were thrust
before him, and yet we all know that Senator
Plat greatly desires the reelection Of
Senator Depew."