Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-14
Says He is Concerned for
Republican Future.
CfltIcises Severely Management
Of the New York Campaign.
Entire Ticket Might Have Been
Elected, Former Governor Says.

New York. Nov. 13.-B. B. Odell. for
iler governor OF the state, said today
tfat the management of the Republican
state campaign was the most asinine"
he ever knew. The whole state ticket.
he said, might just as well have been
elected. The result looks like a Demo-
cratic victory and leaves the Republic
can party in bad shape with a national
campaign coming on. The Republic
cans. he declared made no campaign
at all, but put it all on Mr.. Hughes
shoulders.
What do you think of the result Of
the election " Mr. Odell was asked.
Il would hardly call it satisfactory
from Republican standpoint" he re-
piled. 1t seems to be that it leaves
our party in bad shape, with an i'm
portant national campaign coming on.
I'm greatly concerned over the future,
The Republican party is not united as
II should be-
What do you think of the MANAGE
ment of the campaign"
1T was most asinine There was tho
most asinine policy l ever knew. AS a
result we have only elected the head
of our ticket. All the rest have been
beaten. There was no reason for this.
We might just as we'll elected our en-
tire ticket. AS things stand. 1t looks
very much like Democratic victory"
In what particular was the cam
paign mismanaged?
why the Republicans made no CAM
paign at all, and no canvass. The bulk
of the work was put on Mr.. Hughes
shoulder. l heard absolutely Moth
ing about any state campaign up my
way. We did not know there was a
headquarters down here. l wasn't
notified of anything that was going on.
My advice was never asked once.
Many of my friends all over the state
had the same experience"
Continuing Mr.. Odell said:
1.-THE people of this state have ALWAYS
resented the interference of n President
of the United States in their local cleo
tons. They have done so since the day3
of Dewitt Clinton. I think that the in
reference of President Roosevelt did
more harm than good.
Il realize now" said Mr.. Odell, that
made a mistake when I accepted tho
craftsmanship of the state committee
while I was governor. The people resent
official and outside interference in their
local political affairs. That is why 1 say
that the interference Of President Roose-
Welt in the last campaign did more harm
than good. I do not wish to appear In
the role Of general critic OF the conduct
of the campaign. but, so far as l can
make out, there was no real campaign.
No use was made of the record of the
Republican party. 1t was all case OF
personal issues between the candidates
for office. We should have stood for
many of the things that Mr.. Hearst add
vocatcd. like the S-heur law. the three
platoon system for the police and fire.
men,
Mr.. Odell said that Mr.. Hearst was
greatly strengthened as a noiitical factor
by his campaign, and that while he
might not be elected President he was a
man to he reckoned with in tine future.
He said that a combination of Bryan and
Hearst would be one hard for the Re-
publicans to beat.
II believe" said Mr. Odell. "that with
intelligent management the entire Repub-
lican state ticket could have been elect-
ed. I am not knocking. but I am very
much concerned for the future of the Re-
publican party.
II believe that by the exercise of mu-
tual fOrbearance and consideration the
Republican party can be put in shape to
make successful campaign in 1903
Asked what he thought Of the efforts
to save the Republican ticket by having
the void ballots counted. Mr.. Odell said:
II don't believe that any of the candi-
dates want anything unfair done. No at
tempt to count in the Republican candi-
dates will be tolerated. Attempts to
count in candidates always reacts on the
party that seeks to profit by them
Asked whether he thought the state
services at Albany should be reorganized.
Mr.. Odell said:
II think that if the people in charge Of
he state department would pay more at
ention to their offices and less to pole
les they would be better Off"
Mr.. Odell said that he was confident
Continued on Page Two.)