The sun., 1904-12-20
PLAT, TOO,CALLS CONFERENCE
AMBAssADORsHIP LUGGED INTO
SENATORSHIP FIGHT.

And IT'S the Embassy to England, Not
France, That Is Likely 10 Figure n
Any Does-The Senior senator Says
Odeli Hasn't the Votes That He Claims.
Senator Platt made 1t known yesterday
afternoon that while he is in this neighbor-
hood during the holiday season and before
he returns to Washington on Jan. he will
discuss the United States Senatorship
with some Of his friends In the Republican
organization Of the State who have just
been elected to the Senate and the As
semhly.
These gentlemen may have some views
and opinions to express, continued Senator
Platt-, and they were not represented at
the recent conference at the Republican
Club
Are you still confident that Senator
pepew will be reelected3'
Absolutely so,' replied Senator Plhtt.
Il expect to ascertain the real sentiment Of
the Republicans of the State while l am
here
DO you expect to see Mr.. odell while
you are here?'
If he comes to see me- replied Mr..
Plat, Il shall see him. but l am not going
to him.
When asked if he know the preference
of fGovernor-elect Higgins for United States
Senator. Mr.. Platt said: mo, do not; that
is one of the important questions OF the
situation. hear that he has preference,
md suppose he will express himself at the
proper time In the late campaign had
a preference for Governor. and made 1t
known through the medium Of IS 900 letters
10 my friends, urging them to vote for Mr..
Higgins
Senator Plat said that he did not be-
lieve that Oden would turn up as third
or compromise candidate, and he added
that Timothy l.. Woodruff would not appear
on the field as a candidate.
-Odell," continued Mr.. Plat, has told
me repeatedly that he was not and would
not be a candidate, and would not, under
any circumstances, accept the office.
have heard OF no so called compromise
candidate
When Senator Plat got back to the Fifth
Avenue Hotel last night he was in splendid
humor and he had something to add.
Asked il. supposing it should be made ap-
parent to himself and the friends Of Mr..
Depew that there would not be enough
votes in the Republican caucus 10 defeat
the turning down of Mr.. Depew, the Depew
men would stay out of the caucus, the Sena-
Tor said
We will go into the caucus even if we
had only two votes
will you go to Albany yourself at the
dme Of the caucus?'
Il have not yet made up my mind, but
II ! don't 60 there will be many of my rep
resentatives there" the Senator replied
Senator Plat said that he had been
around the Wall Street district and did
not find a single Black man down there
AL of them ara for Depew, just as all the
Senators in Washington want to see Depew
returned
u will lie frank enough to say that
have come to New York TO take part in
this fight he went On, +and it is a fight
because there can be no doubt that Black
IL candidate and there is no doubt that
Odel is for him. l have heard that Odell
is claiming that he will have a majority
in the caucus, but can tell you now that
Odeil has not prospect now Of a majority,
that he In making claims that are not well
founded and that statement Of my opinion
cannot Lo made too emphatic
Asked If he knew what attitude Governor
elect Higgins would be likely to take, Senator
Pta,t sad: Il don't know just yet where
he r'ardf, hut j think the time has come
for some of US to smoke him out. i can
quite understand why he takes the non
oommitta position that he does. OF course
he sees that there is a fight on, and with
this happening at the beginning OF his ad-
nuni. trstion it is on'y natural that he wants
20 keep out Of It.
II was learned last night that Senator
Platt had sent out about fifty letters to his
friends in the State who can lie depended
on TO work for the reelection OF Senator
Dcyew to meet him in conference at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel at Ii OF clock on Wednes-
day morning. Speaking last night Of this
arrangement senator Platt said: u think
when that conference is over we will be
able TO show Mr. Odell that there is some
public sentiment in this State outside OF
that made up at the Republican Club con-
ference last Thunday.
The attention OF Senator P!att was drawn
TO tho local situation. He was reminded
that Goveruor-C Chairman Odell seemed to
have carried out plans for the strengthen
Ing of ris grip on the local organization by
having his man William Halpin succeed
Charles ii. Murray as chairman OF the Re
publican county committee. Yes, l read
all about that sfid the Senator. 1T
seemed 10 De II case VI III
and forcing Murray out. So far as Mr..
Murray was concerned the forcing process
seems 10 have been helped by giving him a
judicial position
Govern or Chairman Odell is expected
10 be in New York this evening, and it was
said last night that tomorrow. according
10 a promise made to Senator Depew last
Friday night, he is to talk over the Seuator-
thip matter with Senator Platt. Senator
patt knows no compromise in the situation
He is for Depew first, last and all the time
because he believes that Depew has earned
o reelection and that the precedent OF the
party gives to such man second term
n the United States Senate.
A great deal has been said about Senator
Platts interviews Of the last few weeks.
Some of them have been pretty peppery,
and all have expressed an ardent, desire for
Senator Depew's reelection. There have
been several interpretations put upon
them. Some Republicans have said that
Governor Chairman Odell was quite tickled
because Senator Platt had talked 80 much,