Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-04-13
CONTEST FOR LEADERSHIP.

The announcement of a conference be-
tween United States Senator Thomas c.
Plat and former Governor Frank $.
Elack of New York. which was printed
in cur news columns yesterday is but one
Of various indications tending 10 show
that the former intends to make Wig
crous effort to regain his prestige as
leader of the republican organization 1t
is not improbable that the Plat and
Odell factions would have waged IA Wig
cious struggle for supremacy even
though there had been no contest over
the scat in the United States Senate held
by Chauncey NJ. Depew, hut the entry OF
Black into the field as an opponent OF
Odell must afford distinct encouragement
to the Plat men, particularly in wow of
the manner in which Black was thrown
down by the present chairman of the
state committee.
1t transpires that Black was not Il cam
didate for Depews scat OF his own Volt
ton. and he consented tn the use of his
name in that connection only after Gov
ernor Odell has stated over and over
again that Black must so to the Senate,
BLACK was finally constrained to allow
the use of his name as a candidate and it
vas with the distinct Understanding that
he was the organization candidate that
this step was taken. This is what makes
the action of Odell in dropping Black at
the last moment for Depew at the behest
of +. II. Hartman so bitter a pill for the
Black supporters. and under the circum-
stances the Plat men could not well look
for more effective allies in their warfare
upon the Odell regime than are to be
found in the thick and thin supporters
of Black.
Black has been credited with a desire to
remain out Of politics. and it was in ac-
cordance with this determination that
he was reluctant to allow his name to be
connected with the race for the senator
ship. Conditions arising from the man
ner in which he was thrown down have
combined. however. at least until oppor-
tunity is afforded them to even up mat
ters; and there are indications that nc
will do this.
The situation is apparently favorable
for an assault upon the Odell wing all
along the line. In addition to the defec-
III o. OH ,1,nn hrr ., lac,
growing out of the situation in the Leg
islature. When Odel went abroad he
left Senators Raines and Malby in charge
of the organization, and they were to
pilot favored measures through the Leg
islature. Frequent revots have disturbed
the rule of these licutenants, however,
and their influence has manifcstly been
weakened to a marked degree. AS
result various county leaders are cross
ing back and forth the factional lines
so that it is a difficult matter to know
just where they stand and Odel's follow
ing does not know exactly its own
strength.
at hand. the situation would be different
from what it is at the present time, but
that gathering will not be held until
September. 1906 and many things are
liable to happen in the meantime Plat
evidently believes that he can regain the
ability to rule with as strong a hand as
he exercised previous to the election Of
Odell as governor. Odell has always
referred to Plat as leader by common
consent although as matter of fact
Platt has not welded the full power of
leader, but Odell cannot complain if he
now assumes the complete prerogatve of
leadership.
President Roosevelt Is credited with the
determination to allow Senator Platt
IN have his way with the federal Offices,
which will manifestly afford the latter a
material advantage in any contest over
the leadership with Chairman Odel
President Roosevelt will not openly in
terfere in the contest, and Governor Hig-
gins prefers hot 10 ne lucntlHeu with
either side in the struggle for the leader
ship.
1t is evident that a pretty fight j. on
in the Empire State. but it would not do
to jump to the conclusion that hard
and fast alliance between Plat ard Black
Will hold for any length of time. 1t was
Platt who prevented Blacks rcnom-
nation for the govcrnorship, and when
senator Depcw came up for reelection
this year, it was Plat who made pos
sible the defeat of Black through his in
sisiancc that his colleagues be retained
in the upper branch of Congress. Under
these circumstances il is manifest that
there can be no strong bond Of sympathy
between Plat and Black. and that they
are bound together simply by their COM
n,on ritvcd Of Odcll. How far this feel
ing viii sorvc to make the TWO men al
lies remains to be demonstrated.
Nndrcw Carnegie has offered to give So
.ao t. tho Western college pf Toledo, Ia