New-York tribune., 1904-09-07
HIGGINS HAS THE LEAD.
Men Discussed for Smaller Places
on the Ticket
running low

Governor OdelI and the other Republican lead
ers from all parts of the State gathered at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday TO talk over the
situation. This meeting was widely heralded as
a gathering To choose State ticket and to pre-
pare the details of the Saratoga convention No
ticket was decided upon but the availability
of candidates was freely discussed Ia the first
place Governor Odel made his position known.
lie said to those who came to meet him in prac-
tically these words
II am not a candidate for the nomination for
Governor and viii not be candidate. Moth
ing could induce me to accept the nomination.
have no candidate | am for the strongest
man We can nominate. and l want every one
10 sneak right out in meeting. The consensus
OF opinion will govern. The best brain ana
tbopeht OF the organization must rule. Who
ever can get the Taost votes and stand the best
with the public Is the man l am for"
Republican leaders began to flock into the
Fifth Avenue Hotel at an early hour yesterday
and they kept coming and going all day Among
those who saw and talked with the GoyerESr
were Colonel George w. Dunn former chairman
of the Republican state Committee; William
Barnes. ir. chairman of the executive commit
tee. George w Aldridge. leader in Rochester;
Congressman James S. Sherman, ex-Congress-
man Emerson OF Plattsburg: Senator Edgar t.
Rrackett, of Saratoga; Senator Elon X. Brown
Of Watertown; Senator Elsberg. Louis +, Payn.
OF Chatham; william c. Warren, of Erie; Wilt
lam L, Ward member of the Republican Ma
,tonal Committee: Edward I.auterbach, William
HaIpin and Congressman Littauer
senator Brackett brought the Odei. boom 20
the city. He said; "Up in my section OF the
country the people realize that Governor Odell
has been the best executive we have had i'm a
dozen years He is sterling character. and We
,,o,,Id like 10 see him nominated. After talking
with Governor Odell Senator Bracket chung TO
his views about the desirability of nominating
Governor odei!, but said that he woud not sc-
cent the nomination
senator Malby. who is to he permanent CHAIR
man of the convention. had long talk With
Governor OdelI He went oTer his speech with
him and the finishing touches were put 20 it. u
was announced that as Timothy L. Woodruff
had declined To be temporary chairman Of the
convention Ex-Governor Frank ;. back NouiS
be named for that honor.
The situation so far as the Goverorship is
concerned is still open, Governor odell, Senator
Platt and the other leaders have urged that the
convention be an open one. and That the strong
est man be allowed win. Nothing has been
done TO injure the boorns that have started.
The movement in favor of Woodruff seems to
have made the greatest strides. but 1t was said
yesterday that the former Lieutenant Governor
would probably fall short OF the nomination.
II is thought that his attitude toward the canal
would nurt him up State. on the other hand.
Lieutenant Governor Higgins came in for many
kind words 1t was pointed out that Mr., Hig-
gins is a man of great personal popularity lie
has practically no enemies. He has never been
allied with factions He has clean record.
and IN his years of service at Albany he has
been i'm touch with all the details of the State
government Governor Ode denied that Hig-
GINS was his candidate but il Is understood that
he would not view his nomination with disssvor.
Senator Platt and Senator Depew visited
Continued on third page.