New-York tribune., 1905-04-11
BLACK AND BARNES MEET
Nesc Control and Policy of Manage
n1eRt Some Believe LikeLy.
IBr TELEGRAPH 10 THE rRrBUNr.I

Albany, April 1O-Wnliam Barnes. ir. and ex
Governor Frank s. Black met to-day at a local
hotel and their brief conference was regarded
as the eliminating point in a long series of
negotiations and political rearrangements. The
Interpretation placed the matter by some Re-
publicans here is a new control and new policy
OF management. we'll as incidentally a new
chairman of the State Committee in place Of
Ex-Governor Odeu, and that back Of this new
controlling force are to be the forces that are
POLITICALLY Joined under the leadership Of Senator
Fiatt and OF Ex-Governor Black In this former
group one may mention that section OF the Re
publican party which bears the name Of the
old guard" and in general belongs geographi-
ealy In the Southern Tier; in the latter is the
group coming from the northern well the
Hudson River counties from Columbia Rens-
selaer. Saratoga Essex and Clinton. The basis
OF this compact has already been made. and the
conferences have taken shape that is definite
enough to make them regarded by those politi-
caliy close TO the situation as accomplished
facts
but the new arrangement. reaching it's
elimination. is growth of few days; It
goes back at least far as the fight for United
states Senator. won by Senator Depew. In the
hour OF defeat the friends Of Ex-Governor Black
urged on the friends Of Senator Platt immediate
action by the calling together of the State Com
mittee and the ousting of Ex-Governor OdeIl as
state chairman This failed because Of a num-
Der OF reasons: the friends Of Senator Platt. a
Wen as the more conservative Of the Black fac
tion. discouraged it. Then also, Ex-Governor
Black formally announced his retirement from
political life. and the Rensselaer, organization
was turned over TO a holding committee. This
destroyed the coherency of that section Of the
Republican party personally loyal TO Mr. Black.
The next stage was marked by negotiations,
haE haay, av-vfal 7
tenant Governor Woodruff, looking to a closer
ana more amicable adjustment of relations be-
tween Senator Platt and Ex-Governor OdeI
These failed. owing to the unanimous protest
or the friends of Senator Platt who had
mained loyal TO him during the long struggle
for Senator Depew. Thus it happened that
while the legislature was meeting. the whole
State organization was in a somewhat uncertain
condition, and the situation was still further
complicated by Ex-Governor Odelrs departure
for Europe.
1t was out of this chaos that within the last
six weeks the present development began to
emerge. William L. Ward of Ex-Governor
Blacks friends; Congressman Dwight. of Senator
Platts, and dozen other men of equal impor
tance, went quietly to work. First of all. press
ure brought on Ex-Governor Black to re-
scind his decision and come back into political
activity. This accomplished. one by one many
lIuOeTIlaI Republicans OF the state met quietly
and talked over the plans for a reorganization.
Ex-Governor Black saw Senator Platt, and their
followers became the nucleus of the movement.
Certain strong leaders, notably George w.
Aldrich. Of Rochester. and Francis Hendricks.
Of Syracuse, remained more or less In the back
ground Their position was outlined one of
absolute insistence on loyal support for Gov
ernOr Higgins but their association with the
new arrangement at the proper time is pre-
dicted. The same is true Of William I. Warren,
OF Buffalo. while ex-Lieutenant Governor Wood
ruf1s position viii hardly be more doubtful
Naturally the first problem was the securing
Of a leader, and there have been times when
Speaker S. Fred Nixon has seemed not unlikely
10 MI the position: but his friends have steadily
urged that his health not adequate, and in
the end the feeling here is fairly unanimous
that II the plans now forming should succeed,
William Barnes, jr-. the present head of the
Albany County organization and the chairman
Of the executive committee OF the State Com
mittee. would be the next State chairman It
is even asserted that Ex-Governor Odeu Will not
oppose the reorganization but will retire Of his
own volition choosing his time.
Neither Ex-Governor Back nor William Barnes.
jr would discuss the purpose Of their meeting
nor the nature OF their conversation. They
talked in the grfllroom of a local hotel; there
was other private talk, and there seems little
portance attached to II than the mere en-
on