Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-22
| SET BACK FOR ODELl
PARSONS ELECTED CHAIRMAN
COUNTY COMMITTEE.
Faction Headed by New York Repre-
sentative Wrested Control From
the Former Governor.

NEW YORK, December 22-During a
contest which continued from o'clock last
night until o'clock this morning, marked
at times by bitter recriminations but con-
cluding with mutual pledges of support, the
control of the New York county republican
committee was wrested from the adherents
of former Gov. Benjamin B. Odell, chair
man of the republican state committee, by
the faction headed by Herbert Parsons. In
reorganizing for the coming year the COM
mittee elected Mr.. Parsons to the presi-
dency In succession to William Halpin and
chose other officers named by Parsons
friends In his fight Mr. Parsons was cred
tied with having the support of Gov. Hig-
gins influence and the sympathy Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
The officers elected are: Chairman, Her
bert Parsons; first vice president Senator
Alfred r. Page; second vice president. Ju-
Illus g. Kramer of the fourth assembly dis
trfct; secretary, Thomas H. Whittle of the
thirty-flfth district; treasurer, George Blag-
den; sergeant-at-arms, Emanuel Bodine.
The election of Mr.. Parsons was secured
at 2:35 o'clock this morning. 1t was made
by acclamation and was received with wild
enthusiasm. Mr. Halpin Immediately con-
graduated Mr.. Parsons and In a brief
speech promised him his hearty support.
Mr.. Parsons replied thanking the commit
tee for his election and lauding Gov. Hig-
gins and President Roosevelt. Mr.. Page
was chosen first vice president after lively
fight in which he defeated Samuel Stras-
bourger by vote of $50 to 24O. Mr. Stras--
bourger moved to make the election unani-
nous and this was done. The other Off
GERS were chosen unanimously by acclama-
ton.
Delay Tactics by odel1 Faction
Tactics of delay were adopted by the Odell
faction as soon as the committee met, and
these continued for several hours. 1t is said
that the motive for delay was to await the
result of the speakership fight Mr.. Par
sons and his friends did not propose to walt
and announced their intention of reorganiz-
ing the committee If it took all night.
The first test vote came just before mid
night on motion to adjourn the election OF
a president until January 4. The Parsons
men won by a vote of 800 to 22S. A motion
made by Mr.. Parsons to adjourn for thirty
minutes to hear the contested election case
in the thirteenth district was carried. The
contestant, Michael H. Blake, Is an Odell
man. and his friends in the committee
moved to postpone consideration of the con-
test. but they were defeated.
Shortly after o'clock the committee re-
convened and received majority and minor
ity reports of the committee on contested
seats. The Parsons men Immediately moved
that the report be tabled. Voting on the
motion lasted for an hour and resulted IN a
victory for the Parsons faction, the vote
standing 300 to 261 This matter disposed
of, the way was clear for nominations, which
promptly followed.
The fight for control of the committee
brought out the largest attendance IN years
Murray Hill Lyceum Hall being well filled.
From the start William Halpin led the Odell
faction. Col Abram Gruber and former
Representative Lemuel Quigg ranged them
selves on the side of MIR. Parsons.