The sun., 1905-11-13
WHO'S TO HAVE HALPIN'S JOB?
DISTRICT LEADERS PROBABLY
KNOW, BUT THEY WON'T TELL.


Of Political Ability as Wcli-FirSt Step
Toward Putting the State Committee
in Other Hands Than Those OF Odell.
The eminent Republicans who have
organized the movement to retire william
Halpin Odells president Of the New York
Republican county committee, at the De-
oember meeting announced yesterday salts
factory progress They said that they
had not taken a step while the city cam
paign was on by which Odell or Halpin
might be embarrassed, but since election
night they had gone about their work un-
accompanied by brass bands and bass
| drums.
From unexpected quarters, the notable
Republicans said, there had come proffers
of support and encouragement until now
| Halpins retirement was beyond all doubt.
The movement they added, had been in
spired by Republicans whose only motive
was the good of the party in the city and
eventually in the State and nation. They
went on to say that they did not care to
disguise their intentions, but that the re-
tirement of Halpin was merely the pre-
| liminary step to the retirement OF Odell
as State chairman and that Odell is to be
succeeded by Republican who can unite
all of the factional leaders below and above
the city line.
Hapin once out Of the way, Odell's
power, it was pointed out, would be prac-
tically gone in the State. Odell, it was
added, since the overwhelming defeat OF
his man William c. Warren in Erie county
on election day can no longer count upon
Fries help in the next Republican State
convention. The Erie county forces will
he controlled by Postmaster Fred Grener of
Buffalo. The ascendency Of eX-Gov. Frank
S. Black in Rensselaer, the Ex-Governor
having elected his candidate for Mayor in
Troy; the power of William Barnes, Jr. in
Albany county, the opposition Of Brooklyn
Republicans, the attitude of Republicans
in the southern tier and of Odcll's adver-
saries in other baiiwioks have, it was de-
clared, made the unseating Of Halpin,
Odell S representative in New York county,
a comparatively easy task.
Halpins retirement, it was added, means
that at least ten Republican State Com
mitteemen from Congress districts below
The Bronx are either to change their ale
glance from Odell to the new State chair
man to be selected or to be retired from
participation in the party's councils. 1t
in progress, only return Of Republican
organization men 10 the support of Re-
pubcans who believe first in their PARTY
and who have not ma gnifed their own
personal and pecuniary advantages to the
detriment Of the party. No hard words
were heard, but deep seated fear was
expressed by eminent Republicans that their
party under Odell was running on the rocks
and that change must be made, and made
at once here in New York county, if the
party is to be saved from smashing defeat
in the State fight next year.
As to the man who is to succeed Halpin
as head of the New York Republican county
committee, the great men of the party in
terested in its rehabilitation would say
never a word yesterday. 1t was surmised
that the thirty-siX Assembly district lead
ers in New York county, or most of them,
know who he is to be, but they refused to
| tell They only said that he would be a
| strong man in whom the leaders will have
| confidence, not only as to his political ability,
but as to his personal integrity. dozen
or more secret conferences were held on
Saturday. it was learned, but specific in
| formation was mighty scarce.
Further conferences are to be held to-day
and tomorrow, and the conferees have
| president of the New YORK county COM
mittee, to be elected in Halrin's place
will be a Republican in whom the Roose-
welt. higgins, Platt and Black men have
| confidence.