The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-23
OdeII Has Been Active Under Ad-
 vse of t H Hartman
HIGGINS NOT 4 STRONG MAN
Roots Candidacy for President Is Be- hind the Present Political Up- heavaI Among the Bosses
 In New York.

Washington, December 22.--(Special)- The situation in New York is exciting more attention here than any feature of politics in the union. There has been great deal of misunderstanding about 1t because of the popular belief that Sen ator Platt still has some of his old power. Platt is not a factor in the situation and Depew never has been.
 When the manifestation of party dis content with Boss odell first became strong enough to warrant expectation of an explosion. MT. Platt thought he saw a chance to get back into power, provided he could get the Presidents backing. He came here and saw the President, and for few days kept up feeble pre- tense that the President was with him. Then he was forced to go back to his political grave
 Platt Unhorsed Long Ago.
 Platt was unhorsed long ago, but at the Saratoga convention of 1904 he was trampled into the dust and the last vestige of influence taken from him. When De- pew was reelected senator some ill-in- formed editors called it Platt victory. The fact that Edward H. Hartman, who is Odells boss, just as Odell is the re- publican party's boss. ordered Odell to elect Depew. Platt had nothing to do with 1t.
 Odell succeeded Platt as boss, just as Charles F. Murphy succeeded the Lewis Nixon regency in Tammany after Crok- CTS departure. He has given utter dis satisfaction. His methods are too tyran- nical and too passionate The defeat of Wins for mayor by Mcclellan this year was not an Odell defeat, for Odell never expected or wanted Wins to be elected. He did want to increase his strength in the legislature, which he did by his alz liance with Hearst.
 Despite this semi-victory his unpopu- larity grew and it culminated in the dis closures made before the life insurance investigating committee. Platt tried to make use of this and failed. All the re- volting elements looked to the President for support. Governor Higgins. who had been nominated and elected by Odell, came to Washington to take the Pres ident's orders. The President ook the saddle ana lOudy, 1T Ouell IS uIlNel put ol power, Roosevelt and his confidential ad- visor, Elihu Root, will be the real bosses of the republican party in New York.
 Higgins Not Strong Man. Higgins is not a strong man and not cut out for a boss. He will be controlled by Roosevelt and Root, while nominally in command of the organization after the overthrow of Odell. The President is daily issuing bulletins to the effect that he has no interest in the situation except the desire that good men shall be placed in office, and yet daily he is bossing the situation through his agent, Higgins. Parsons election was victory Tor him as county chairman, and if Wadsworth, Higgins man, is elected speaker of the assembly, Roosevelt's triumph will be complete So far as the Roosevelt Root Higgins combination can keep control of the organization the delegates of New York in 1906 will undoubtedly be delivered for Root for President
 Odell is fighting desperately for life. The real question, concerning which not hint has come from New York, Is whether Hartman Is going to stand by Odell or to desert him.
 For the first time In many years a President of the United States is fighting for the place of boss of a state machine and the presidential bee of Elihu Root is behind 1t all.