New-York tribune., 1906-08-15
0DELL AGAINST HIGGINS
SAYS GOVERNOR rs WEAK.
State Chairman Does Not BelieUe an
Second Term Nomination.


bers Of the State Committee. friends OF Governor
Higgins among the rest. came out sQuarely
| against the denomination of Governor Higgins.
| He said that he regarded Governor Higgins as
] a weak candidate that he would If nominated,
be the candidate OF a faction: and that his own
| experience four years ago In running second
time convinced him that tine odfashioned Re
publican precedent of refusing a Governor a
| second term in this state a wise one. He
would not predict that Governor Higgins wouio
be defeated If he again.
There was nothing acrimonious about MT
OdelPs manner words in discussing Governor
Higginss possible denomination. He took pains
to say that he had no personal feeling against
the Governor, but was giving expression to his
best Judgment OF the political situation from the
Republican point of view.
The state chairman reached town from New
burg in the forenoon. Some of his callers yes
terday were Senator Cassidy. of Schuyler Coun-
ty; Francis Hendricks of Syracuse. and ex-
Senator Siebert. of Buffalo Coming down on
the train he was with George w. Aldridge. Of
! Rochester and Mr. Hendricks. all the way from
Newburg south MI Odell saw the newspaper
men about o'clock.
Are you in favor OF the denomination of Gov
ernor Higgins?' he asked
Il am not" said Mr. Odel II don't think II
would be wise for the Republican party to re-
nominate him ! don't think the Republican
party can afford to waste any votes this year
II Governor Higgins Is renominated he will he
the candidate of a faction What We need is
candidate for the whole party"
You do not regard him strong man.
them"
II do not said Mr.. Odell.
Politically or otherwise?'
In neither sense" said the state chairman
Continuing. Mr.. Odell said:
''It is the custom of the Republican party 70
| refuse a denomination to it's Governors. There
has beer only exception, and that was in
my own case. My experience as candidate
four years ago proves the correctness of the rule
which denies denomination to Governor.
don't think Governor Higgins would poll the full
party vote When man has served term as
Governor complications follow which weaken
him as a vote getter. There ia nothing personal
in my opposition 10 the Governor. l am simply
giving expression to my conviction after careful
consideration of the circumstances"
Are you ready to suggest any one as a can
| didate?'
Il am not, and 7 shall not make any sugges-
tions along that line" said Mr. OdeU
rs there anything I'm the rumor that before
he went Europe you communicated with
Charles F. Hughes with reference to the Gov
ernorship, and got his consent to propose him as
| a caudidate?"
Nothing whatever" said the state chairman.
''T never have communicated with Mr. Hughes
| directly or indirectly concerning politics
EXPECTS TO REMAIN CHAIRMAN.
MIR. OdeT said he had not heard OF any move
ment 10 propose the name of new state chair
man at the meeting to-day. He said he ex-
pected to continue as state chairman until the
state convention meets. He said that the an
he lima @TlH
place of holding the state convention were cor
rect and that as he understood it the conven-
ton would meet at Saratoga on September %.
Mr. Odelrs expressed opposition to Governor
Higginss denomination caused more than f1ut-
ter of comment around the Fifth Avenue Hotel
last night When Colonel Dunn. who came in
from Binghamton. Informed of the Odeli
pronunciamento he looked surprised and disap-
pointed
Francis Hendricks. John T. Mott and George
w AIdridge. Of Rochester, all friends Of the
Governor conferred at the Hotel Gotham over
the Odeu statement. They would make
ment.
n V v Franchot Superintendent of Public
Works was at the Fifth Avenue Hotel when seen
by Tribune reporter. In answer to various
questions Mr. FranchCt said
am not able to say anything about Governor
Higginss plans. l do not know whether he is
going TO be a candidate for denomination state
Chairman Odei did not say anything to-day diff
feren1 from what he has been saying right
along An early convention will suit the friends
of the CSovernor-the earlier the better
ONEIDA COUNTY FOR Mr.. ROOT.
Representative Sherman. chairman of the Con-
gressional campaign committee. says that Gov
ernor Higgins will be renOminated and by
clamation Asked what he thought about Root.
Cortelyou or Hughes candidates. he said:
have not heard anything about them in my
county OF course, Oneida County is for Mr..
Root for anything He is an Oneida County
man But Mr.. Root is not candidate. and he
could not be induced to run for Governor. As
for Mr. Cortelyou never have heard his name
mentioned in connection with the GovernOrship.
When Mr. Hughess name is mentioned, the peO
pie ask. "WhO IL HughesT But all this
speculation is useless. Governor Higgins is go
ing to be -enominated by aCClamatiOn, and no
other name will be mentioned. It's all hxed up.
and Higgins has a lead-pipe cinch. 1 don't
know whether Higgins is q candidate or not.
but he will be renominated just the same.
j. B. H Mongin. of Waterloo. a member Of
the Republican state committee. says there Is
no general demand for the denomination OF Gov
ernor Higgins and that upstate Republicans
are talking of Root, COrtelyou and Hughes. Mr.
Mongin said that ne believed the state conven-
ton should be held as early as possible
There is a general feeling that we ought to
nominate the best vote getter that we have"
said MIR. MOngin. I'VE have plenty OF available
candidates. Either Root, Cortelyou or Hughes
would make a good candidate. Any OF them
would get the benefit of the good record made by
the Legislature and would not be hRmpereG by
the mistakes Of the Governor"
rs Hearst formidable up the state?'
u expect TO see Hearst nominated by the reg
ular Democratic convention. He is regarded by