New-York tribune., 1905-08-16
ODELL'S FRIENDS ANGRY.
JEROME THE CAUSE.
Should Erplain His Chautauqua
CHARGES. Then San.

Benjamin 3. Odell. jr chairman of the Re-
publican State Committee, personally is hostile
10 District Attorney Jerome. Whether his per-
sonal hostility will lead to turning down OF
Jerome when the time comes for the county
convention to name or indorsc a candidate for
District Attorney will for some time be one OF
the unanswered questions of the campaign. Mr
Jerome has not been good terms with ex-
Governor Odell since the time when the District
Attorney asked for the pardon of 800 per cent"
Miller who turned States evidence and enabled
the District Attorney to send Robert A. Ammon
to Sing Sing. and met with refusal. That in
cident might have been forgotten by Messrs
Odell and Jerome If the latter IN his Chautau-
qua speech had not said. by the plainest sort
OF Inference, that Ex-Governor OdelI had held
fast to dirty money" For this Mr.. Jerome
was taken to task by Democratic newspapers
1t is believed by the friends of Mr. Odell that
the Republican County Convention viii demand
that Jerome make good his Chautauq
speech charge. One of the Governors friends
said yesterday:
Jerome had warrant for saying what he
did about Governor Odell in his Chautauqua
speech. Mr.. Odell, while chairman of the State
Committee, never received or diSbursed 81 or
campaign funds either in the shape of currency
or checks. Whenever checks made payable to
his order sent TO him they We're returned
with the request that they be made payable TO
Mr. OdeI .,rst became chairman of the State
Committee he a Congressman. and the law
forbids a public official receiving campaign con-
tributions. The law bore with equal force upon
him when he Governor and chairman at
the time. The record is absolutely clear
IN that regard. If Jerome has proof of Mr..
OdeIls receiving dirty money" he alleges,
he ought be enough to indct him for
it. and if he hasn't any proof of it he had no
right to make the charge.
State Chairman Odell Will confer this fore
noon with President Halpin of the County Com
mittee. At Republican State headquarters yes
terday Mr.. Odell saw Tracy s. Rogers, of Bng
hamton, and John s. Kennedy. of Steuben Coun-
ty, who is slated to be secretary of the State
Railroad Commission. He went to the Repubh-
can Club at night and met several of the district
leaders there.
When asked about the prospect of fusion of
the anti-Tammany forces. Mr.. Odell said: Il
not voter in the city of New-York. and If
1 We're I couldn't say anything interesting about
the local situation at this time because nothing
has been done"
The conference between the State chairman
and the local leaders to-day is likely to be i'm
portant. but not conclusive. There is a strong
sentiment among Independent Republicans for
district leaders aware of this, and if Jerome
is not going to be indorsed they want to know
about it. The leaders in town. as a rule. would
prefer Republican a candidate for District
Attorney, but realize the hOpelessness of run
ming Republican candidate with Jerome and a
Tammany candidate against him. 1t is under
stood that conference of prominent Republi-
cans will be held at State headquarters soon
after September l. at which time a formal an
nouncement with reference to the Endorsement OF
Jerome may be expected.