New-York tribune., 1904-09-12
HARMONIOUS CONVENTION
Contest OUfr Nomination To Be
Settled Beforehand.
IBT TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE ]

GBT TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE
Saratoga. y. Y Sept. 1.-THE day at Sara
toga has been marked by an absence Of political
developments which has astonisked all observ-
ers. OF course. the al absorbing question of
the nominee for Governor has monopolized the
conversation of the ever increasing Republican
hoses Moreover. the drift toward Lieutenant
Governor Higgins has perceptibly Increased, but
the situation Is fully summarized by the follow
ing words Of Governor Ode. spoken after a talk
with Senator Platt. The Governor said:
The situation seems to have narrowed down
to more than four meu. and of these the
support for Woodruff and Higgins seems to have
the most strength. / talked the whole matter
over with the Senator and that Is the way we
both look AT IT, The final arrangements OF the
convention and various organization details will
be settled at conference tomorrow AS for
the platform. its distinctive characteristic will
be its brevlty."
Further than this Governor oden would not
comment
Senator Pstt said
Il am for the nomination Of Mr.. Woodruff for
Governor, and as Governor ods'fselis me ho has
no candidate should thins here wss-a GOOD
chance OF Mr woodrun's nomination by the
convention"
The consensus OF opinion tonight seems to be
fairly summarized thus;
First-There will be no contest in the conven-
tion
second-Tho possibility OF the proverbial dark
horse ia eliminated.
Third-Lieutenant Governor Higgins will be
the nominee.
There is no question that ex- Lieutenant Gov
ernor Timothy L. Woodruff. who spent busy
day talking with leaders and couferring with
his friends has a substantial following. but on
the other hand. the tide seems plainly 90 be
r1oyfun In NJ he
ant Governor. and. in the opinion OF many Inn
partial observers this tide is becoming we'll
nigh irresistible. The Governors own remark
indicating the manner in which the field has
narrowed down adequately disposes OF the ques-
tion of a dark horse. As for the possibility of
the rival booms being carried to the floor Of the
convention the temper Of the delegates and
leaders here seems to preclude this
The tide OF party unity and the general enthu-
siasm for the national ticket are unmistakable.
To-day, when the friends OF both candidates for
the noraination We're earnestly at work. there
was an absence Of any element that might cause
tense situation, and both sides equally dis
played solictude for party success unusual in
such q situation. Those il the best position TO
express an opinion agreed that the matter
still unsettled Conferences. conferences. con-
ferences-ths will be the order Of the day to-
morrow ami when the situation MAS been thor
oughly canvassed then there seems to be every
Indication that the man who develops the most
strength viii have clear field.
ODELL AND PLATT CONFER.
in the face of so many different accounts o.
tangled situation the events of the day were In.
dcative of an absolutely opposite situation. In
the frs; place. there we're no significant confer
ences or striking groupings of the various lead
ers. In the morning the Governor and the SEN
ator had their usual ante-convention talk. which
amounted to preliminary canvass. After that
tho Governor spent the rest of the morning talk
ing with State leaders. frequently holding little
informal chats the hotel piazza and frankly
inquirlng OF all with whom he talked what the
situation i'm thei- districts was. A. luncheon lie
paused for ten minutes TO talk with William
Berri. of Brooklyn. who is in charge of the
Brooklyn boomers for ex-Leutenant Governor
Woodruff This was only one OF several chats
these two leaders had After luncheon he went
driving with Senator and Mrs Platt and Mrs
Platts daughter Miss Snow. On his return the
Governor chatted on the piazza for several hours.
and Their went to the Lake for dinner. In this
dinner party were Senator and Mrs. Platt Sen
ator and Mrs Depew Miss Snow and Mr and
Mrs Robert c. Morris.
Ex-I.ieuteuant Governor Woodruff spent an
equally quiet day. He spent much time with
Mr. Ber-i, driving with him in the afternoon. and
dined with senator ana MRS Horace White, OF
Syracuse For the rest, he. too chatted on the
piazza.
TALKS ON STATE POLITICS
Thus IT was that, While the discussion OF the
nominee was general. there lacking any in
dication of contest that would survive until
the convention. Even the discussion of the nom
nation anguished sufficiently to permit many
earnest talks about the State situation ard from
every side the same note of confidence was to be
heard In the matter Of dark horses. there were
stIl a few who talked of Hamilton Fish and
Mayor Erastus C. knight of Buffalo. The ques
lion of the head Of the ticket makes that Of the
Lieutenant Governorshp more less OF geo
graphical matter. which will only arise after the
final decision on first place has been made.
There was little inclination on the part Of the
leaders TO discuss the situation for publication.
Continued ON fifth Page.