The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-03

The Governor ana the tutli Iro-
tectOratc.
Both in New York on Saturday and
In Albany on Sunday Governor HIGGINS
gave evidence of mental alertness and
accurate perception. In tins town he
was thus reported as sharing with the
public the fruits of his discernment:
" II is an undoubtcd fact that financial and other
powerful interests have made efforts 10 continue
Mr.. opELL as chairman OF the committed the Re.
publican State Committed because they think that
his removal at this time would not streng then tho
Republican parts In this state"
This was naturally interpreted as
meaning that the Governor credited the
financial and other powerful interests
with respectable motives, if
notions, concerning the retention Of Mr..
ODE1L at the head of the State commit
tee. The language first attributed to
Mr.. HIGGINS explained the efforts of
the powerful in behalf Of Mr.. ODELL on
the ground of a sincere though mis-
taken devotion to the welfare of the
Republican party. 1t was because these
financial and other powerful interests
regarded Mr.. ODELL's dismissal at this
time as not likely to strengthen the
Republican party that they considered
1t desirable to keep him where he was.
Even this view of the situation, if posi-
lively declared by the Governor, would
have been in some degree gratifying
and encouraging. 1t would have shown
him alive to the facts, Eel if he had not
yet succeeded in penetrating the motives
behind the facts; and a clear perception
of the facts themselves and recognition
of their immense significance to honest
Republicanism in the Empire State is
necessarily the first step toward that
vigorous, assertive and fearlessly prompt
action which the better part Of the Re-
publican party in New York has been
waiting for many weeks for the Gov
ernor to undertake.
incidentally the Governors state
ment, al originally reported, eliminated
Mr.. THOMAS F. RYAN from the powerful
financial and other interests said to be
standing behind Mr.. ODELL. Common
rumor, false or true, has been repre-
senting Mr.. RYAN as temporarily asso-
ciated with Mr.. HARTMAN in syndicate
operations to sustain Odell values. Now,
although a dauntless optimism might
perhaps credit Mr.. HARTMAN with
capacity for personally disinterested
solicitude for the wellbeing of the Re-
publican party, the utmost stretch Of
the most elastic Imagination cannot
conceive a similar purpose on the part
of Mr.. RYAN. He is VIGOROUSLY anxious
not to strengthen the Republican party
but to weaken it. Every corpuscle in
his arteries, veins and oapillaries ia
devoted to the downpulling Of Repub-
licanism and the upbuilding of conserv-
alive Democracy.
Upon reaching Albany the Governor
made a second statement, which corrects
the earlier version in an important par
ticular while reiterating the main point
as to the powerful financial and other
interests concerned in the Odell proteo-
torate. 1t also permits Mr., RYAN to stay
In, Mr.. HIGGINS said on Sunday:
II certainly did not intend to express the belief
that the continuance of Mr.. ODELL as chairman
OF the Republican State Committe would strengthen
the interests Of the party In this State. In New
York yesterday. replying to questions, I stated
that certain financial influences and some poll
ticians who make politics q business believed that
lhetr intcrests would be strengthened by Mr.. oDELL's
continuance as chairman for the present, hartno
In mind pending legislation Of importance TO htm,"
1t is needless to say that this is a vastly
different thing. The words we have
ventured to italicize in the foregoing
passage measure the immense advance
which the Governor has made in dis
'cernment and insight and courage or
ulingness to describe the situation in
Pin language. He not only perceives
thenain fact that financial and other
powaEul interests are endeavoring to
cohtine Mr.. ODELL as chairman, but he
detects nd exposes the selfish purposes
oil the DIRECTORATE. 1t is their interests,
not lhuS ests Of the Republican party,
that the va1eus persons composing the
protectorateAek to promote in backing
ODELL' 1t Sending legislation, not
the next electioApr any future election,
that is of importa,e to them.
Seeing as clearl. as he now does,
knowing as well as /, must know hat
he win have the supkrt Of the great
body of honest Republicans who look
to him as their representative. holding
the power and recognizinAthe duty
who can suppose that Goverhr H1eG1ys
willhesitate much betwen smash
ing the Odell p~rotectorate or letting
the ]protectorate smash the party.
The Limelight Machine Out of Oror.