The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-25
HIGGINS WON'T OBEY ODELL.
EXPLANATION OF THE ONCE
LITTLE FELLOW" SLUR.
Gas, water, Railroads and Insurance
Attended To without Consultation
with State Chairmsn-Also, Eisberg
Doesn't Seem to Got Durnetts Place.

Doesn't Seem to Got Dufnett's Place.
Chairman Odell Of the Republican State
committee was at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
yesterday and conferred most OF the after
noon with Bouquet Billy Halpin, Mr.
Odell's president Of the New York county
committee. The report was again current
that County Clerk Thomas L. Hamilton Is
Mr.. Odell's selection as candidate for Mayor
and that Mr.. Odell's alliance with William
II. Hearst will at the proper time bring
about the nomination OF Martin w. Little
ton, President OF Brooklyn borough, for
Comptroller.
Chairman Odell endeavored to explain
his remark concerning Gov. Higgins in
the authorized interview printed for him
on Sunday wherein he spoke Of Gov. Hig-
gins as "a nice little fellow Chairman
0dell said Il made the remark that the
Governor was a good little fellow, but did
not mean 1t In q sense that would cast any
reflection on him. did not intend at all
to refer to his intellect"
Chairman Odell has had numerous In
stances Of his unfortunate desire to talk
brought home. Several years ago at Lake
Mohonk he made a sighting remark con-
corning the late Frederick s. Gibbs at the
time Republican national committeeman
for the State and the most powerful Re-
publican in New York city politics. Mr..
Gibbs understood the remark, and later,
when Mr.. Odell, Governor at the time,
attempted to make an explanation to Mr..
Gibbs he found Mr.. Gibbs still very cool.
Chairman Odell has been described,
when he attempts vitticism, as rhinoc-
eros attempting the waltz. There were
Republicans hereabout yesterday who
said that Mr.. Odell's remark about Gov.
Higgins being mice little fellow was on a
par with his remark in February to the
effect that Gov. Higgins was such chump
that he could not raise any revenue.
Gov. Higgins at the time was perplexed
by problems OF State revenue, precipitated
by the deficiencies incident to Gov. Odell' g
last administration. These Republicans
say that Chairman Odell has not felt very
amiable toward Gov. Higgins since Gov.
Higgins refused to heed his cables from
Europe not to make any appointments OF
importance until he returned from his
foreign sojourn.
Gov. Higgins went ahead and named the
Gas Commission and the Water Commission,
and appointed George w. Aldridge Railroad
Commissioner, and now has appointed
Frederick 4. Gunnison a Railroad Com
missioner without consultation with Mr.
Odell; and to cap the climax, a special
committee of Senators and Assemblymen
to investigate the insurance problems has
been appointed without conference with Mr.
Odell. Chairman Odell is described as
',,uoh ,ba rrioa1 booanco ho did NOT and
cannot control the gas water and railroad
commissionerships and the insurance spe-
cial committee, and is also somewhat nettlec
at Gov. Higgins because 1t was Supt. Francis
Hendricks and Gov. Higgins who brought
about the legislation which has resulted
in the appointment Of the special insurance
legislative committee.
Gov. Higgins has no quarrel with Mr.
Odell, but his friends made it very plain
yesterday that the time has gone by wher
Gov. Odell can issue commands and have
them obeyed. Gov. Higgins. it was as.
serted, is ready and willing to accept sug.
gestions from all Republicans who regard
the welfare Of the party in the State, bu,
will not be swayed by those actuated by
personal motives OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, either
political or financial.
All this recalls that Chairman Odel
before he sailed for Europe in February
in another unfortunate figure Of speech
sent a command to President Roosevelt al
Washington that he, the President SHOULD
forthwith and at once, without consulta
ton with Senior Plat or with any othel
Republican, appoint Senator Nathanie
A. Elsberg to be United States Distric
Attorney to succeed Gen. Henry l.. Burnett
Gen. Burnett is still in bis place, and Senate
Elsberg, notwithstanding his recent visi
to Senator Plat, will not. it was said yester
dav hscorne Cen Burnett's successor