New-York tribune., 1905-04-10
BLACK ALLY FOR PLATT.
WOULD GUST MR.. ODELL.
Series of Conferences for Reorgani-
satiOn of State Machine Held.

Within the last fortnight series of confer
ences Of Republican leaders from various parts
OF the State has taken place. and further con-
Ietehces will be held from tina to time. with
1he declared object of doing away with friction
IN the State organization. and facilitating egis-
lation At Albany to strengthen the organization
IN every possible way for the fight it will have
next year to carry the State
4he workers in the present movement and
those who conceived the plan for general re-
organization are leaders who have been stanch
Irlenos and allies of Senator Platt The Sen
ator has taken deep interest in the move
ment' and in the last two weeks has talked
over the situation with many of his friends, and
they say that headway has been made in forg
uig together a strong. able and militant organt-
cation
The most important of these conferences took
place one day last week when Ex-Governor Black
called on Senator Platt. Neither Senator Platt
nor Mr. Black will talk about this conference,
but their friends say that in the future they will
De found to be allies in political work Mr..
Black. until this conference. had not seen Sen
ator Platt since the State convention at Sara
toga last summer. At that time Ex-Governor
Black was an ally of Governor Odell. and helped
to bring about the nomination of Governor Hig-
gins, while Senator Platt backed ex-Lieutenant
governor woodruff. Mr. Black was at that time
considered candidate for United States Senator
TO succeed Senator Depew, and was said to have
the support OF Governor Odell. Until the time
that Governor Odell declared in favor of Senator
Depew Ex-Governor Black and Mr. OdeI were on
the most intimate terms. Since that time how
ever, Mr.. Black has felt bitter against Mr. OdeI
While Senator Bracket. Cornelius V Collins and
ether friends Of Ex-Governor Black have spoken
publicly against Mr.. Odell and charged him with
treachery. it is known that they did so without
The consent and against the wishes of Mr.. Black.
Those who undertook the present movement it
is understood, had a hard time to induce Mr..
Black to take an active interest in politics again.
William Barnes. jr, chairman of the executive
committee of the State Committee: Colonel
George w. Dunn, ex-chairman of the State Com
mittee; John w. Dwight, Congressman from
Dryden, and other old line Platt men, however,
prevailed on Mr.. Black TO go into the plan for
recognizing the party, and it is said now that
MI Black ana his allies in Rensselaer, and Co
lumbia, and his friends up through the river
counties will follow his standard in the plan to
change the present party management.
William l. Ward. of Westchester, member of
the Republican National Committee and one Of
Mr.. Blacks closest friends it is understood, has
urged the Ex-Governor to take hand in the
movement, and Mr.. Ward himself will be
worker in IT,
Some of the old time legislative leaders and
friends Of Senator Platt think that there has
been too much confusion at Albany this winter
and that many bad bills were sent in bearing
the organlzation stamp To be sure they say,
none OF these bad bills have or will become
laws but this, they assert, is due TO the vigilance
or the older men and does not abSOlVe the or
ganization management from censure.
Some Of the more bitter enemies of eX-Gov-
ernor Odell are urging that his return from
Europe the State Committee. which is the real
party machine controlling the organization be
called together and new chairman be named
TO succeed Mr.. Odell. The assertion is made that
the State Committee is controlled by the
men who are behind the new movement Will
lam Barnes, jr., S. Fred Nixon. ". V. V. Franchot
and others are mentioned men who might
be considered for the craftsmanship should there
be a change.
It is understood that Collector Stranahan,
Hamilton Fish, Postmaster Merritt of Wash
ington; William L. Ward and representatives OF
Governor Higgins have called on Senator Platt
within the last two weeks and have also been
in conference with the leaders of the reorgani-
Zation movement.