The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-24
BAXTER DISCLAIKS ODELL.
BUr HIS CLERKSHIP CHANCES ARE
GROWING LESS.
The Fight for h Place Is stirring All the
Republican Leaders-Baxter Sure He
Can Win and Declares He Doesn't
care for Another Inc Easy job.

Henubuc1n Learners -tuNteT sure nc
can win and Declares He Doesn't
Care for Another and Easy job.
Col. Archie Z. Baxter OF Elmira, for the
mast twelve years Clerk OF the Assembly
al Albany, arrived in town yesterday after
noon to attend the dinner to Governor
Hughes at the Republican Club. The
situation concerning his reelection as Clerk
of the Assembly, he said, agitated and irri-
lated him He went on to say that for the
first time since election day he learned thai
BENJAMIN B. 0dell, Jr., and several Repub-
lican A~ssemblymen supposed to be friendly
TO Mr.. Odell had announced that they we're
"for Baxter, whereas Tim Woodruff is for
Ray b.. smith.
Col. Baxter also learned that Mr.. Odell
and several of the Assemblymen had met
at the Murray Hill Hotel, New York city,
and elsewhere, to push him forward for re-
election az Clerk of the Assembly. In other
words, Col. Baxter said he learned for the
first time that Mr.. Odell had attempted to
make him a factional candidate for reelec-
ton.
THE SUN printed the story yesterday
morning OF how Mr.. Odell in getting in
behind Col. Baxter believed that he could
capture the n~inety-fve appointments in
the clerks Office and use them as a start
toward his rehabilitation as a factor in the
Republican organization Of the State.
Il never knew Of these meetings" said
Col. Baxter last night, 'and no man and
no set OF men had any right to at
tempt to max me a fractional candidate
for reelection. No mar and no set Of men
could control a single appointment in the
clerks Office at Albany for faotionsl pur-
poses. They never have and they never will
while | am clerk. Tn appointments have
been made pro rata among the counties.
If | am reelected clerk the same rule will
prevail. Each county gets its proportion
Of appointments. Already l have a ma
jority of the Assembly pledged to me for
reelection. / have not seen Mr.. 0dell in
four months. Neither he nor any man in
the party has any right to attempt to use
my name for factional political purposes"
Many Republicans were at State head
quarters. II East Thirtieth street. yesterday
afternoon to confer with Chairman Wood
ruff Of the state committee. Most Of them
had come TO town to attend the Hughes
dinner. Tn matter Of the Assembly clerk
ship was freely discussed by Mr.. Woodruff.
Senator Raines, Senator Aids. Represen-
tative ]. Sloat F~assett. William Barnes, Jr.,
llldi ~. "dIus ~ d. - WlbLklhf ibdy u
Smith and others.
The Assembly clerkship has assumed
Importance for the reason that Mr.. Odell
In attempting to make Col. Baxter his can
didate naturally drove Chairman Woodruff
and others to support Mr.. Smit h. who his
been assistant clerk Of the Assembly.
Republicans at headquarters said hat Mr..
Odall could not control the votes of more
than eleven Of the 100 Republican Assem-
hlymen. All spoke of Col. Baxter in the
highest terms. but those at headquarters
believed that the situation had become so
acute that IL would be necessary to teach
Mr.. tdall another lesson and this could
only be- done by the election of Mr.. ninth
RppIe~ntdJlve FasSett protested to Chair
man Woodruff against the reelection of
Col. Baxter, and Mr.. Fassett's opposition
was considered Of very great importance
when It was backed up by Mr.. Mongin,
the state Committeeman for the district.
Wh:n the fact that the Congressman and
the Sat" committeeman were gains Col.
Baxter was brought to the latter's atten-
ton he remarked that he had the %unquali-
led support of Owen Cassidy and Sherman
Moreland. the senator and Assemblynnan
TO- the d strict. The folks at he adquarters,
however. said that the Congressman and
state committeeman for the district car
red tho heavier artillery.
Ch1'rUan Woodruff told his friends hat
IN Nc" Ui all the circumstances the drift
was toward Mr.. Smith, and that another
ria - would have to be found for Col. lax
ter. IL was suggested hat Col. Baxter
could have the place 80 long held by Rich
ard Clowrey of Niagara, This appoint
ment is controlled by the Adjutant-Gcnera raj
of the State, IL worth 5000 a year, and the
duties consist of getting all Of the war claims
possible due the State from the Federal
Government. Sone of these war claims
20 bal: a. far Gs the Ne ican War. When
th.s Wa brought TO Col. Bakers attcn-
ton he aid
Il do not wTlt tina place. | have, l tell
Won, a majDrity of the Assembly pledged
10 me- for my reelection as clerk. Edward
H.. Butler of Buffalo is for me, and is he an
Odell man? George W. Aldridge and Will
liam l.. Ward are for me, and are they,
O6ell men?"
As-emblvInan James K. Apgar OF the
Third district Of McStchester, whom Mr..
Odell counted as che Of Col. Baxter's friends,
said Yesterday that il Chairman Woodruff
and the Republican State Organization
desired the election of Mr.. Smith he was
for Mr.. Smith. There was a stew all day
ant Ill last night about this clerkship
matter
Scat r Raines said that he believed he
would no reelected President pro tenn. Of
the Senate, for the reason that Senator
Tuilr, Senator Horace " hite and n majority
Of tao Republican Senators desired his Ie-
election. Concerning the appointment Of
Henry A. Van Alstyne by Gov. Hughes to
be State Sur e~rintendent Of Public Works,
Il was remarked that the Oswego Board OF
Traae had requested Gov. Hughes to APP
mint Mr. Van AIafypn