The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-15
ODELL OFFERING TO RETIRE
IN SEPTEMBER, nut TOLD THAT
THAT TINE IS roo REMOTE.
Aldridgo Agreed to Convey the Oner to
Gov. Higgins, but Not With Any Idea
that II Would he Accepted-New
Chairman About the Middle OF May.

Gov. Higgins, but Not with Any Idea
hat II Would he .Ac~cepted-New
Chairman About the Middle OF May.
For several days the reason for tho meet
ing between Chairman Odell Of the Repub-
lican State committee and Railroad Com
missioner George w. Aldridge at the Law
yers' Club has been n mystery. All sorts
OF reports have been circulated as to what
actually occurred between MIR. Odell and
Mr.. Aldridge. Last night it was learned
by friends of the two men that Mr.. Odell
sought the interview with Mr.. Aldridge
and named the Lawyers Club as the place
of meeting, on the ground that a meeting in
that club would not attract the attention
that It might in another spot,
At the meeting between Nj. Odell and Mr..
Aldridge, SO the friends of the two nen say,
". Odell sought to impress Mr.. Aldridge
with the political unwisdom of naming a
new chairman Of the Republican state COM
mittee before September, when the conven-
ton delegates In the natural order would
elect a successor to Mr.. 0dell. Should
Mr.. Odell be allowed to keep his place until
that time, 30 it was stated last night, Mr..
Odell would voluntarily resign OF Septem-
Der ! and take a protracted tour through
Europe. Mr.. Odell, it was furthermore
announced, desired his statement to be con-
veyed by Mr.. Aldridge to Gov. Higgins.
Mr.. Aldridge, it was ascertained. in.
formed Mr.. Oden that over twenty mem
bers of the Republican State committee
desired an immediate change in the chair
manship, and that while Mr.. Aldridge
agreed to report to Gov. Higgins he in
formed Mr.. Odell that the temper of the
committeeman was to name a new chairman
within the next three weeks. The meeting
between Mr.. Odell and Mr. Aldridge was
friendly enough, but Mr.. Odell's desire
to hang On until September was not agreed
to, and all the information yesterday from
the best sources was to the effect that by
May is, certainly, a new chairman will be
elected in Mr.. Odell's place.
Chairman Odell a short time ago paid a
visit to ex-Gov. Frank s. Black at Troy
and asked Mr.. Blacks cooperation in
preventing his retirement as chairman Of
the Republican State committee before
convention time. Mr.. Black declined to
interfere with the natural course OF events,
1t was stated yesterday.
Late yesterday afternoon James S.
"nlpple vi p~diduLducd, d Peleonai lichu
of Gov. Higgins, had a long talk with Mr..
Odell on the same ines as Mr., Odell's con-
versation with Mr.. Aldridge earlier in the
week.
The Republicans who are o%onversant
with the situation said that they had
twenty-six Of the thirty-five Republican
State committeeman, who were ready to
make a move on Mr.. Odell at the proper
time, and this proper time 1t was an
nounced, will be either in the last week Of
the legislative session or immediately after
adjournment, which will probably be May
10. Mr.. Odell has known since February
1, it was stated last night, that he had
twenty-six State committeeman against
him ready to depose him when the COM
mitteemen decided that the psychological
moment had come.