New-York tribune., 1908-01-30
NAY FIGHT O'BRIEN.
Upstate Politicians Hold Confereno.
at 4Ibany.
"a reIegraph . The Trlbuns }

AIhany Jan 2a-If President Roosevelt appoints
John r O'Brien. formerly Secretary Of State. %
succeed Walter Witherbee as Collector OF Customi
at PIattsburg. as is supposed to De his intention
fight is threatened within that Congress distrtct
which may extend into the spring primaries and
into the distribution of patronage for more tina;
81 year This was virtually decided ar series o3
conferences held here tonight by many proHi'
nent politicians from Essex, Clinton and FTankhs
counties.
Walter and Frank Witherbee. Senator O'Nei, Of
Franklin; ex-senator Prime, Of Essex. and Dis
trict Attorney Patrick Finn. with many lesser po'
Itical lights are lined up behind Senator Waliscs
Knapp who was in the lead for successor 70 Mr.
yyitherbee until Mr.. OBrien. who had been sup.
porting Knapp, decided TO take the place himself
II is known to be their intention, II Mr. knapi
fails to get the place, to fight Mr. Brten Wnsrevel
possible in district affairs, ana contest MS oeie
gates in the primaries.
Meanwhile the formal appointment OF ez-SecTs
tary O'Brien is being held up az Washington D
Senator Platt. close friend of Walter WlIneroea
and Senator O'Neil. a friend OF President Rooss
veIt for many years. will go TO Washington soon
IL is understood TO lay the hhapp siu7 u lIi7 0'
before the President
Senators Platt and Depew, the men here say
will make a fight if the OBrien nomination Is sem
10 the Senate on the ground that II Is a poliucs.
appoiutment meant to influence the Presidenta
situation In this state Mr.. Knapp's friends beeyt
the New York men would get the support or ths
Senate as Senator Foraker did in holding Up tns
apuointrnent of Ohio postrnaster<-
Mr. O'Brien, Senator KNAPP. Walter W1rneroes
and his brother Frank District Attorney Finn Of
Essex Justice Chester 3. Mclaughlin, e1 Senator
Prime and Senator O'Neil had long series OF con-
ferences tonight in which te subject In al s reia
tons was thrashed out Mr.. o Brten declared nat
Iv that he was in the race 70 stay Inc eTnoI'
unents-fses-amount sometimes TO S5.otO year
Mr. Knapp said he also was going TO STICK to M
candidacy until the President announced tAs sp
pointment of some other man
Walter Vitherbee and his brother sun play
rather important part in the Congress distrist
They are not exceedingly fond OF Mr. Knapp
Clinton County man. but dislike his candidaSs
much less than they do that of Mr. O'Brien Ines
will swing Essex County TO his support VT
Knapp's friends say that the sentiment OF ms
rank and file of organization men IN the district
for Knapp rather than OBrisn-
The bitterness of feeling the affair IS shoW7
by an incident ar a political club IN Plattscurs
when ex-Secretary O'Brien and Mr. Knapp mel
for the first time after the formers candidacy nae
been announced. There was sharp session, Tits
plain words and ugly.
Justice McLaughlin's term viii expire reS' year
He wants reelection and the present state e'
unrest discomposeS him greatly District Atlot'
ney Finn hopes to be a candidats for County Judss
next fall. Thus they become 70 sonls extent Na''
tors in the situation Most politicians here eoH'
slider the whole affair part OF the general Fres'
dentiaI situation and declare that i Mr. u 5Elso
gets the appointment there viii be wholesaIs nsn'
ing against his delegates and perhaps against Con
gressmar Malby's delegates 10 the nauohaI c0'
vention and the spring state convention.