Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-01
NEITHER PLATT NOR .oDELL.
President Against Both in New York
Party Reorganization.

Friends of State Chairman Odell and
Senator Platt reached the conclusion yes
terday chat it is the purpose of the Presf-
dent and of the New York members of his
cabinet, Secretary of State Root and Post
master General Cortelyou, to eliminate both
Mr.. Oden and Senator Platt as factors in
the organize ton of the county and the
state.
This opinion they base upon the formal
statement issued by Representative Par
sons setting forth the platform upon which
he seeks election as president of the repub-
lcan county committee and upon letters
which President Roosevelt has written to
different political leaders in New York
county with respect to the reorganiZa ton
of the county committee.
From the manner in which the President
has expressed himself to those whom he
has taken into his confidence on the sub
ject there would seem to be no doubt of his
determination to bring about complete
reorganization of the republican party in
the city and state, regardless of conse-
quences. He has made 1t clear to those
with whom he has talked that he regards
both State Chairman Odel and Senator
Plat as having been dscredited by the
revelations of the insurance investigation
and their political usefulness as at an end
Senator Platt's formal statement given
out fortnight or SO ago, in which he said
that he was too old to assume the activities
Of leadership, is regarded in Washington as
his abdication
II State Chairman Odell will issue a
statement declaring his intention not to
seek reelection as state chairman it will
De still possible to maintain a show of har-
mony in the republican organization but If
Mr.. Odell refuses to make such an an
nouncement, war on him is thought certain
to be declared The statement issued by
Representa- tive Parsons, inspired as IL is
known to have been, from Washington, is
the warning gun to Mr.. OdeIl
Mr.. Parsons had the alternative of max
ing that statement or of having another
candidate enter the field for the presidency
of the county committee with the Presi-
dents backing. He chose to issue the
statement. The statement was satisfactory
to the President to Mr.. Root and to Mr..
Cortelyou, and Mr.. Parsons is now the
choice of the President and his New York
advisers to take charge of the New York
county organization.
The great question with the politicians
now is What will Mr. Odeli do in view of
the understood intention of President
Roosevelt to declare war against him? Mr.
Odell refused to discuss his plans yester-
day. When called up on the telephone at
his home in Newburg. he said that he was
more interested in his Thanksgiving dinner
than in the political situation.
1t can be stated with certainty that Mr..
Odell is now fully aware of the disposition
of the President toward him, and that he
has declared his intention to fight to the
last ditch to maintain his political prestige
But he realizes the gravity of the cam
paign which he is now called upon to face
and he wants time to mature his plans
In the minds of some of Mr.. OdeII's
closest advisers there is little doubt as to
the lines of his preliminary campaign The
infOrma ton which has come to him from
Washington that Mr.. Roosevelt considers
him discredited by the revelations of the
Insurance investigation has cut Mr.. Odeii
to the quick, his friends say
State Chairman (ldpiS friends fha4
the interference OF the President In New
York county politics and his intention to
interfere In state politics as well will result
IN just such another fight as was provoked
between the stalwarts and the half-breeds
when Presidents Garfield and Arthur under
took to dominate state politics in New
York. The result of the row precipitated
by President Arthur was that the state
was lost to the republicans Cor twelve
years. The following paragraph in Par
sons statement Is regarded as notice to
State Chairman Odell that his reelection
as state chairman is to be contested with
all the influence the President can COM
mand:
Il shall consider myself beholden to no
man, and in casting whatever influence l
the question of the leadership in the state
comes up. I will be guided solely by my
views as to the best interests of the party"
Since Gov. Higgins Is expected to side
with Mr.. Roosevelt 1t is expected that the
President will give the governor what as
ton of speaker who will be in every way
acceptable to the governor. The governor
Is understood to be opposed to the election
of any man who voted to sustain Justice
Hooker. Both James T. Rogers of Bfng-
hamton and Edwin =. Merritt of 81. Law