Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-13
Unique Position of the Man
Who Controls Situation.
ACTING WITH CAUTION
YOUTH AND OLD AGE PLAY FOR
VANTAGE AT SARATOGA.
Great Political Game of Checkers in
Progress-Result Means Much
to odell and Party.


SARATOGA, N. Y, September 13.-Gov-
ernor Odell has been a much perplexed
man for the past twenty-four hours. and
this morning his dark and somber visage
still bears the frown of anxiety and con-
cern. The governor knows what he wants,
knows that he can get it, but also is aware
that If he is not careful In the manner Of
working his will the result will be dis
astrous.
Here Is the spectacle of this absolute
boss of the republican party of New York.
holding the machinery of the party under
such perfect control that 1t will register
his command to the last extremity, vet
foiled temporarily of his purpose by the
fact that the ruthless exercise of his
leadership will defeat his own purpose
Across the narrow hallway that separ-
ates his cottage from Senator Platts sits
a feeble old man, his frame wasted with
age and the fatigue of many years of hard
work for his party. whose voice is trem-
ulous that his listeners must lean to him
to hear his words. yet whose word OF ac-
quiescence is all necessary to the virile.
ruthless young leader who has supplanted
him.
The point is this: If Senator Platt should
nod his head to the governors suggestion,
the governors choice. Frank w. Higgins.
could be nominated without a protest from
any quarter. The nomination would be
harmonious and the charge could not be
made that Higgins bore the tag OF Odell.
The senator has been Withholding that
nod, that word of acquiescence.
Could Force Nomination.
The governor could override the objection
of the senator and force the nomination
on the first ballot. He has more than a
majority of the delegates safely, tagged,
| ticketed and ready for delivery, but what
wOnd hp ha rha ho
| raised that the nominee was tagged with
Odellisn," Senator Platt's friends would
flush under another blow in the face. Inn
portant interests in the republican party
the state ticket
The question naturally comes up, why
should there be any more objection to the
| nominee bearing the odell tag than the
Platt tag?"
| Well the answer to that necessarily raises
| the lid from the seething cauldron Of New
York state politics, and the fumes are not
! fragrant.
| The fact that the governor refrains from
using his power and from putting on the
screws Is evidence enough that he realizes
that his tag would be blight upon the
prospects of the candidate whom he forced
upon the party. Whatever humiliation that
thought may bring to the governor. IL II
brings any. and whatever responsibility he
feels for such condition of affairs he
knows 1t is a fact that he must move eau
tiously. He has realized that fact more
and more as his lieutenants have come in
from their several districts bringing re-
ports OF the status of the Odell administra-
ton.
odell Moving With Caution.
So he has been moving with caution and
using diplomacy in an effort to accomplish
his purpose and at the same time divert 1t
of sinister import. He Is trying to induce
the senator to join him and place the cloak
of Platt's great prestige over his candi-
dates shoulders. The governor is outward
ly all attention and consideration to the
aged senator, whose leadership is but an
empty honor and fraught with no element
of accomplishment.
A dozen times day he goes into the SEN
ator's cottage and his bearing is that OF
one who sits at the feet of Gamaliel. But
he insists upon having his way. He coaxes
and reasons with the senator, taking to
him the Odell lieutenants to tell the sena-
tor of the wonderful adaptability of the
governors candidate.
/ am not prepared to say that these tao
tics will fail in the end. Indeed II %
rumored in the early hours of the day
that before the convention meets tomorrow
the senator will have withdrawn Mr. Wood
ruff and yielded to the governors impor-
tunities. All the negotiations for the selec-
ton of the candidate are being conducted
by these two men.
Biggest Men in the Party Present.
Saratoga is filled with the biggest men In
sentatives. federal Office holders, state off,
cials. lay workers and local leaders. But
they sit idly around the piazzas of the
United States Hotel talking mostly upon
subjects other than political and awaiting
the word from the boss They go to the
cottage on the opposite side of the great
court when they are sent for and only
then. They are here to execute the will
of the party machine and to give their
advice and counsel when 1t Is asked. The
discipline is perfect and II they haIbor
any thoughts of revolt they do not express
them.
There is the ponderous Serene Payne. the
mighty man in Congress, at whose frown
the new member of the House trembles and
whose word is weighty in legislative coun-
sci. But the lion at Washington is a lamb
at Saratoga, and Mr.. Payne sits with tho
others awaiting the signal from tie state
leader. Judges, commissioners, officials
high in federal Office in the big cities line
up with him in docile aspect
Love Feast or Shambles.
Some time during the day the governor
and the senator will meet and the ulti-
matum will be delivered. Then 1t will Be
decided whether tomorrow's convention
is to be a love feast or a shambles.
The governor gave the screws little turn
this morning when he sent for Mr.. Higgins
to come to Saratoga. The delegates imme-
diateiy construed that as an indication that
the governor was Tightening his hold bit,
preparatory to final squeeze of the Platt-
ties. But the governor continues his dipio-
matte efforts to have the senator como
down. without having to shoot at the
same time holding his man Higgins in
sight.
Ex-Governor Frank Black. as a non-bel-
ligerent and Colonel George w. Dunn.
Senator Platt's former state chairman,
whose place Oden took, were sent for and
| the trio engaged in a long conference.
Using Intermediates to Reach Platt.
The governor urged Colonel Dunn to ad-
wise the senator to withdraw Woodrufrs
name ''and be good" An animated discus
sion of the whole situation followed The
governor is using Intermediates to induce
the senator to come to the terms he has
thus far declined to accept at the COVER
nors hands.
Gov. Oden and Senator Platt went into
conference together about noon and talke4