The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-09-24
new YORK POLITICS
CAREFULLY FORECAST

York City has felt the dissensions that
have effected the party In general and
there are evidences of greater factional
troubles inside the Wigwam than ever
| before in its history. Charles F. MUIR
| ply, the present leader of Tammany
Hall. and Mayor Mcclellan have gener-
ally been regarded as heading the OPP
| posing forces in the organization. Mr.
Murphy was said to favor the nomin-
alton of Hearst, but the latter
public statement declared he did not
want Mr.. Murphy's support.
The republican factional fight APP
pears to be as bitter as that among the
democrats, but the adherents of the
republican gath are not hampered
by an independent movement. al
though it is admitted the independence
League may poll some republican
votes. Its principal influence, if the
full state ticket goes on the official
ballot. will be felt. however, by the
democrats.
Popular opinion arrays State
Chairman Odell against Governor
Frank w. Higgins in the struggle for
of the republican party in this state.
W. YEATS dSO MI. Ouell dIlU MI.
gins We're quite intimate. 1t was not
long after Governor Higgins was in
augurated that there came rumors of
differences existing between the COVER
nor and the the state chairman. There
was no open breach. however, until
the fight last winter for the assembly
speakership. Chairman Odell let it
be known that his candidate for the
office was Assemblyman Merritt. of
St. Lawrence county. Governor Hig-
gins openly advocated the election of
Assemblyman James w. Wadsworth
Jr.. son of Congressman Wadsworth,
who as chairman of the house COM
mittee on agriculture came into
prominence this spring during the
meat investigation at Washington.
During the speakership fight num-
Der of the legislative leaders were
summoned to Washington and were in
conference with President Roosevelt
When they returned to Albany there
were immediate assurances that young
Mr.. Wadsworth would be chosen
speaker. He was SO chosen on the
first ballot. 1t then became generally
noised about that the president had
aligned himself morally if not openly
with Governor Higgins and his follow
ers in the state. Chairman Odell was
nettled at this and the further report
that every effort would be made to
overthrow his leadership of the state
committee He called upon his friends
for support and the fight which still
continues was begun.
In the only test vote of the state
committee taken this year, Chairman
Odell was accredited with victory by
margin of one vote. The friends of
Governor Higgins claim that the one
absent member of the committee was
aligned with the governor and had
sent his proxy to the committee. but
it arrived too late. This vote. they
claim. would have made the division
of the committee a tie. Governor
Higgins friends also declared that
too great Significance should not be
attached to the vote, for new state
committee is to be named this year.
Governor Higgins was recent visit
or to Oyster Bay where he was in
consultation with the president. Thus
once more at critical juncture the
president had implied his position
without openly stating it. He has
given accent to Governors visit by
inviting former Lieutenant Governor
Timothy L. Woodruff to luncheon at
Oyster Bay. Mr.. Woodruff is one of
Mr.. Higgins most outspoken adher-
ents.
Governor Higgins has not openly
stated whether or not he will be a
candidate for denomination. Chair
man Odell has publicly stated that he
is opposed to the denomination of
Governor Higgins on the ground that
the history of the state has shown
candidates for reelection to be poor
candidates. He thinks stronger man
could be found elsewhere Allied with
Chairman Odell are United States Sen
ators Thomas c. Plat and Lemuel
There is we'll founded belief that
President Roosevelt is lending his
implied influence to Governor Hig-
gins for the purpose of helping him
gain control of the state convention.
Then it is intimated that the gov
ernor will withdraw and himself nom
mate his successor, who will be
man believed to be capable of draw
ing the votes of both factions of the
party and will also be cordially ap-
proved by President Roosevelt.
The suggested candidates other than
Governor Higgins are quite numerous
and cover wide range of PERSONAL
tiles. The number has been multi
plying as the day Of the convention aD-
proaches. Among them is Charles F..
Hughes, the lawyer. who was nomin-
ated for mayor of New York City last
fall by the republicans but declined
the honor. Mr.. Hughes was the at
torney for the legislative committees
which investigated the gas situation in
New York City and the Life Insurance
Companies of the state. Ex-Governor
Odell has claimed Mr. Hughes as a
candidate and it has also been sug-
gested that he was favored by Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Mr.. Hughes says that
ne has made no promises to anyone
Chairman Odell is also credited with
suggesting the name of Secretary of
State Elihu Root. now on a tour of
South America.
One of the latest of the suggested
republican candidate is Paymaster-
General George B. Cortelyou, who is
also chairman of the republican ma
tional committee. Many of the names
have been suggested without CONSUL
tation with the principals, it is said,
but have been mentioned merely as
possibilities and as men whom the
party might call upon in it's hour of
need.
The republican fight is all the more
interesting from the fact that the
party Is at present in power in the
state and has been for several wears