Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-02-04
A 'Real' Democrat Will Have a Good
Chance TO Defeat Roosevelt.
The Disharmony Existing in the Republican Party
Is Fully Dwell Upon BY New York Correspo nd-
ent of the Portland Oregonian. Republican
Disharmony, Democratic Opportunity.

Speaking from an inside political view,
the New York City Correspondent OF the
Portland Oregonian, on January 81, gave
some opinions on national politics that
will cause cold streaks in the pie biting
class OF republicans, and induce some
warmth in the cold footed democrat.
Read him:
"With the republican state convention
only Jew months away, leaders tn Trough
out the state are wondering where they
are at.
There is not the slightest difference Of
opinion between United States Senator
Thomas G. Plat and Governor Ben amin
B. Odell, Jr. Platt says so, and says it
publicly, Governor Odell has not the
least desire to GUST the venerable senator
from the position he has long occupied.
Odell says so, in the strongest possible
terms. But
1t is a condition, rot a theory that con-
fronts the unhappy county and assembly
district leaders. Patt and Odell are as
polite to each other as Alphomse and
CASTOR. but under the surface there is
the bitterest kind OF fight.
One straw which shows how the wind
blows is the attitude Of the New York
Sun, republican paper which is recog-
nized as Platt's official organ. Day at.
ter day it is filled with the bitterest per.
sonal attacks on the governor, and they
grow more bitter every day.
The Odell scheme in nutshell is to
leave Plat as leader emeritus, but strip
him Of every vestige Of power, Plat, on
the other hand, is straining every nerve
to kill off Odell, while ON the surface he
talks of him in the friendliest possible
manner.
Odell wants to retire Platt quietly,
Plat is anxious to assassinate Odell
politically.
Between the two Roosevelt has q most
unhappy time. He does not dare to an
tagonizc Plat, nor does he dare to an
tagonize OdeIl. Even if he should pick
the winner he is convinced that the other
faction would knife him at the polls. So
he and his friends are working night and
day to bring about harmony.
There is no doubt that the republican
organization in New York state is in the
most frightful condition. There are fights
all along the line from Montauk Point
(the extreme end OF Long Island) clear
up to the shores OF Lake Erie, and re-
publican leaders admit in private con.
versation that the chance of carrying the
state for the republican nominees next
fall are not as good as might be hoped.
For this state Of affairs the Odell men
unhesitatingly blame Plat. They de-
clare that his leadership has been such
an illustration of one-man power that the
indepen dent voters are thoroughly dis.
gusted and nothing but prompt reorgani-
zation and the infusion of new blood can
save the party.
The Plat men declare that Odell is to
blame because of his arbitrary actions as
governor, and that unless he, is relegat-
ed to a political back seat there is no
hope OF political success.
incidentally both sides agree that
Roosevelt has not been enough of party
man to please the rank and file, and
that, if defeat comes, the president will
be entitled to considerable share OF the
blame.
The district leaders throughout the
state, who in The main are anxious only
to be on the winning side, are hardly
able to sleep nights. They cannot pick
the winner. 1t they could the battle
would be decided in day. But as it is
the district leaders are sparrng for time
and content themselves by saying fol
publication that if there is one man in
the world who is as fine as Governor
Odell it is Senator Plat, while the only
statesman in the United States who sizes
up to Senator Plat is Governor Odell.
The recollection Of previous fights
which have been made against Plat
causes those who are inclined to be witt
Odell to 60 slow, while remembrance Of
Platt's venerable age, and Odell's youth
full vigor, makes Platt's friends think be-
fore they talk
The New York political graveyard il
full of dead ones who once were shining
lights. There is Warner Miller, who waI