The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-08
PASSING Of O'DELL
NEW YORK BOSS
Discredited and Beaten, Late
State Chairman and Ex-Gover-
nor Sulks at Home.
SAYS NOW OUT OF POLITICS
He Was the Most Thorough Die
tator That Republican Party
Had Ever Known.
SAYS NOW OUT OF POLITICS
tspeceIal to Tho rinc,-nspa.eh.,

Especial to Tho Times tspatch.)
ALBANY, N. Y, January 7.--Beaten
and dlscredited. In fair way to be soon
forgotten, State Boss Benjamin 3. Odell
has sadly betaken himself back to his
home and his grocery at Newburg, there
to nurse his wounds and to sulk in 81
lence. Politicians declare that he is down
all time. HIS political career was almost
meteoric; for time it was dazzllngly
brilliant. Then 1t was lost like meteor
that speeds beyond the horizon.
During the brief period OF Odel's
ascendancy he was the most thorough
boss that the Republican party in New
York has ever known; to-day there are
few SO low as to do him reverence. He
can muster but a handful OF supporters.
The list OF these speaks for Itself: Lou"
Payn and Bob Hunter names of sig
nificance in the past and present OF insur-
ance affairs: Tax Commissioner William
L.. Halpin. Edward Iauterbach. ex-Judge
,, Hasbrouck, Senator George r. Malby, Col
onel Michael j. Dady and the rag-tag and
bob-tail OF a Hearst alliance. this is ali
that is left Of the Odell machine. In
the dire extremity OF his situat ton, Odell
last Sunday went to Troy and appealed
to Ex-Governor Frank g. Black, the man
whom he sold out" for United States
senator less than year ago. What hap
pened at that interview, no one knows
but the Rensselaer, delegation voted for
Governor Higgins's candidate for Speaker
Odell's personal defeat has been more
absolute than even his enemies had
hoped for, and the wreck of his Ma
chino appears to be equally complete.
Mr.. Odell was Governor for four years.
During that time every atom of power
and patronage was employed by him
for only one ptrrpose-the upbuilding Of
personal political organization. Of
fees OF high and humble character, Of
fees to satisfy the vanity of certain poll
tictans and the purses Of others were
doled out with unsparng hand.
TWO PATHS: BOTH LEAD DOWN.
To-day there are but two paths open
to odel. Both lead to political oblivion
He can resign at once as chairman OF
the State Committee or hold on until
the next meeting of the committee, and
try to make fight for reelection, which
from present indications would DE worse
than hopeless. There is no party law
or rule by which the committee could be
man unless he sees fit to Issue the call.
OdelI came out OF the obscurity of the
Ice and grocery pi;s!cnss IN Ncwburg
sorne fourteen years ago as MEMBER
of the Republican State Committee.
His father had served several terms as
Mayor of Newburg and the family was
in charge of the local Republican ma
chine.
Youne Ben was then vigorous agrees
-t,.o ,,,d GOOD handshaker. he was
alwavs cordial and good In man
ner. He soon won the entire confidence
OF Easy Boss" Plat. He presented new
ideas and plans of campaigns ana mos.
OF them proving good. he was soon made
chairman of the Executive Committee
at the request of Platt. In that office
he was on the job every minute ana con
stantly extending his acquaintance
20 Congress, where he served two terms
without distinction. good or bad. except
that he was known as good feioW.
When the late Charles w. Hackett, who
had been chairman OF the STATE SornmiII
tee for number of years. died. Odell
succeeded to the Office without opposi-
ton He was the personal choice OF
Platt. AS State chairman he relieved
Platt. as far as possible. of all routine
work. and continued to grow in the good
graces of the Senator
LONG UNDER WING OF PLATT.
At the Republican State Convention in
1896 there were a number OF candidates
for the nomination for Governor. Odell
was the personal choice of Platt, DIT
Lou Fayn, Jacob Worth. Edward Lau-
terbach and other leaders secretly ar
ranged combination In favor of Frank
s. Black. When the facts We're made
known to Senator Platt he advised Odell
to step aside In the interest of harmony,
and Black was nominated.
In 1898 Colonel Roosevelt was the loei-
cal candidate and Plat and Odell sup
ported his nomination. In 1900 they sue
ceeded In slde-tracking Roosevelt to the
candidacy for Vice-President and Odell
was nominated for Governor. without OPP
position. When elected, he continued for
time to be good fellow" His first
message to the Legislature was approved
by nearly all the newspapers in the State
He continued for a time to consult Sem
ator Plat In all political matters.
But long before the end of his first
term Odell was burrowing in all direc-
tons. secretly undermining Senator Platt
and his friends, to build up political
machine of his own. He was renonli-
mated In, 1902, and after an exciting cam
epaign. In which came the first disclosures
of how he mixed politics and business
in his own interest, he was reelected
by n scant 5000 plurality
StORSOOK sPLATT AND BECAME DC
TATOR.
From the day that he was inaugurated
for his second term Benjamin Odell was
changed man. He became arrogant
and aggressive.
He. ceased to burrow like a mole In
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