The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-14
ODELL CLAIMS
THE PRESIDENT
DID MUCH HARM

few Yok, Nov. 14-B. Il. Odell. former
governor n ex-chairman of the state
Republican committee. said yesterday
that 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 elect
ed. The result looks like a Democratic
victory. and leaves the Republican party
in bad shape with a national campaign
coming on. The Republicans. he declared.
made no campaign at all. but put IL all on
Mr.. Hughes shoulders.
' 1T seems 10 me IL leaves our party in
bad shape" he said. with an important
national campaign coming on. I'm great
~ concerned over the future. The RepuD-
lican party Is not united as IL ought TO
be.
There was the most asinine policy in
the management Of the campaign j ever
knew. As "A result we have only elected
the head of our ticket. All the rest has
been beaten There was no reason Tor
this. We might just as well have elected
our entire ticket. AS things stand. II
looks very much like a Democratic VIC
at all. and no canvass. The bulk OF the
work was put on Mr.. Hughes shoulders.
j heard absolutely nothing about any
state campaign up my way. We d,d n
here. / wasn't notified of anything That
was going on. Ny advice was never
asked once. Many of my friends all over
the state had the same experience
Continuing. Mr.. Odell said:
The people OF this state have always
resented the interference of a president
of the United States in their local cleo
tions. They have done 80 since the days
OF De Witt Clinton. / think that the In
reference OF President Roosevelt dld
more harm than good.
81 realize now, said Mr.. odell. that 1
made a mistake when i accepted the
craftsmanship Of the state committee
Official and outside interference in their
local political affairs. That Is why say
that the interference of President Roose-
welt In the campaign did more harm IMAM
good.
II do not wish TO appear In the role OF
general critic of the conduct OF the cam
paign. but so far as / can make out TINS
was no campaign. No use was made OF
the record OF the Republican party. IL
was all a case OF personalities between
the candidates for governor. We should
have stood for many OF the things that
Mr.. Hearst advocated, like the eight
hour law and the three-platoon system
for the police and hremen."
Mr.. Oden went on TO say that he had
been informed that deputies In the Insur-
ance department and In the department
OF public works were 10 be promoted
by Gov.-E.lect Hughes as a reward "
i rancis Hendricks OF Syracuse and
George w. Aldridge OF Rochester. He
mentioned the name of Winslow w. Mead,
deputy superintendent OF DuDllA NOIhSs
lie said that he was informed that Mr..
Mead was TO be made superintendent as
a reward TO George w. Aldridge.
Mr.. Odeul said hat Mr.. Hearst was
greatly strengthened as a political factor
by his campaign and that, while he might
unt be elected president. he was now a
nan 70 be reckoned with i'm the future.
lie said that a combination OF Bryan and
Hearst would be a hard one for the
Republicans to beat.
IL believe" said Mr.. Odell. that with
Intelligent management the entire Re-
publican state ticket could have been
elected. ] am not knocking. but ! am
very much concerned for the future Of
the Republican party.
II believe that by the exercise OF
mutual forbearance and consideration
the Republican party can be put in
shape to make a successful campaign
In 1908"
Asked what he thought OF the efforts
to save the Republican state ticket by
having the voting ballots counted. Mr..
odell said:
III don't believe that any of the can
didates wants anything unfair done. No
attempt to count i'm tho Republican can
didates will be tolerated. Attempts 10
count i'm candidates always react on the
party that seeks TO profit by It,"
Asked whether he thought the state
service at Albany should be roorganized.
Mr.. Odell said:
N"I think that IL the people In charge
o. the state department would pay more
attention 10 their offices and less to
politics, they would be better OF"
Mr.. Odell said hat he was confident
that Mr.. Hughes would make an excel
lent governor. He will have oppor-
tunities 10 do great things, and | believe
he will rise to them the former gov
crnor said.