New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-04
O'GRADY MAY BE DEFEATED
INDEPENDENTS FIGHTING PLATTS CAN
DIDATE FOR SPEAKER.
If THEY CAN GET MORE THAN TWO REPUBLICANS
TO STAY OUT or THE CAUCUS TONIGHT
O'GRADY WILL. LACK A MAJORITY
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBrNE.1

oGRADY WILL LACK A MAJORITY
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBrSEl
Albany. Jan. 3-James NJ. f. O'Grady tonight
is not certain that he will be reelected Speaker
OF the Assembly. lie does not make such
confession. Politicians never acknowledge that
they may be defeated for any office they are
seeking. But Mr.. O'Grady knows that he has
not enough pledges at the present moment to
elect him. Before the Republican Assemblymen
hold their caucus tomorrow night he hopes by
making promises Of committee places to obtain
sufficient number Of votes to insure his elec-
tion
Mr.. OGrady arrived here from New-York.
where he had been holding a conference with
Thomas c. Platt. late last night. but did not
attempt to execute any of his political plans
until to-day when he knew Charles w. Hackett,
chairman Of the Republican State Committee
and many Plat Senators and Assemblymen
would be in Albany. Early to-day Mr OGrady
also sought the assistance of Governor BlacK
visiting the Governor in the Executive Champer
at the Capitol. He said he was confident OF
being elected Speaker. and asserted that seven
weight Republican Asscmblymeu would sup
port him.
Even while he expressing TINS confluence
the railway trains were bringing to Albany four
ReDubllcan
tended to rely for support who have not yet
given him any pledge. These members are Ia
yid F. Davis and George Tiffany, Of Kings Coun-
ty; John A. Weekes, tr.. of New-York and Will
lam c. Cottle. OF Onondaga County. All Of them
Informed The Tribune correspondent tonight
that they had not given a pledge to Mr.. O'Grady
or. indeed 20 any one. and that none OF them had
yet promised to attend the Republican caucus.
| TALKS WITH WEEKES AND LAIMBEER
Mr. Weekes said Il do not intend to attend
the Republican caucus nor shall vote for Mr.
O'Gradv. even if he is made the caucus nominee.
7 oppose him because Of his former record as
Sneaker He IT was who jammed through the
Greater New-YOrk charter over the heads OF
the Mayors Of New York and Brooklyn.
Assemblyman Francis Lambeer, whose vote
has at no time been claimed by Mr.. OGrady' also
said he would not attend the Republican caucus.
"Nlr O'Grady." he added. has not been faithful
to the people. lie betrayed them when, at Platts
demand he forced through the Legislature the
Greater New-York charter and made up the
committees of the Assembly in Mr.. Platts IN
terest But while | am thus opposed TO Mr..
O'Grady am not opposed to some othe: KepuD-
licans who might be named for Speaker. For
instance / would gladly vote for Mr.. Marshall
Of Kings County If he should be the Republican
| candidate: for | do not believe he would sur
render the powers Of the State government to
Mr. Platt | think the other Independent Re
pubcans here would vote for Mr.. Marshall IL
he should be the Republican candidate
Asscnblymen Davis and Tiffany, OF Brooklyn.
vil hive great influence on the result Of the
contest over the Speakershp They have taken
house for the winter with Senator Brush. and
tonight were holding a conference with him
abou, Mr. OGrady. Senator Brush had chat
with Mr. O'Grady in the Executive Chamber to-
dav and the rumor was circulated that the
Senator was seeking 10 obtain good committee
places for Mr. Davis and Mr. Tiffany. Subse-
qucnty Mr. Davis and Mr. Tiffany said that
they had not yet given any pledge to Mr..
O'Grady but they did not say that they would
not attend the caucus, in which Mr.. O'Grady
will have majority. II Mr. Davis ana Mr..
Tiffany attend that caucus they must abide by
its decision BROOKLYN Republicans here say
that they will not believe that Senator Brush
will surrender to MIR. Plat ard support his
choice for Speaker until they witness the act
PLAN OF THE INDEPENDENTS
The scheme of the Independents TO work the
overthrow of Mr.. OGradv is TO keep Republi-
cans who are falterinl in afIiliation with the
recognized Republican leaders from going into
the Republican caucus. which will be held to-
morrow night. There is absolutely no doubt
about the caucus nominating Mr.. OGrady, for
it vii! only take majority vote Of those In at
publican organization. and when vote is taken
i'm the Assembly all who participated in the eau
Gus will vote for Mr.. O'Grady In order to sue
coed In their efforts to defeat the caucus candi-
date. II Will be necessary for the independents
20 keen three men from the caucus In addition
10 themselves. The clerks list recognizes TWO
Independent. Republicans-Cottle. Of Syracuse,
and Laimbeer. Of New-YOrk-and includes in
the sovcuty-eight Republicans Mr.. Weekes. of
New York. Alr Weckes is already acting with
the indruendents. and II Will only be necessary
to get TWO more Republicans to refrain from en-
tcrng the caucus 10 defeat Mr. OGrady. Sew
enty-siX votes will elect him. Mr.. OGrady says
he has enough votes pledged TO elect him. Mr..
Wcckes says he doesn't believe Mr.. OGrady has
sixty pledges.
Lowell II Jerome. Of NewYOrk arrived here
to-day and has been keeny watching the con-
test over the Speakership. Mr.. Jerome as IS
well known Is earnestly opposed to Mr.. Platts
management of the Gffalrs OF the Republican
party.
COUNTRYMEN DEMAND EVERYTHING.
The rural Republicans are demanding about
all the party patronage In the Legislature They
assert that NewYork City has no claim, be
cause f. is Democratic In It's representation and
likely to stay so for years to come. They argue
also that the party work will have to be done
outside the New York City boundaries next
fau and that patronage must be put where 1t
yviu do the most good. Mr.. OGrady refers per-
sisf.nt placc- seekers to Charles W. Hacket.
Assembyman Scgsberg Natlohdl DenIocIa'
,riu NOT attend the Democratic caucus lie also
vas a Citizens Union candidate for Assembly.
man The Democratic party thus VIII command
onIv sixtv-nine votes in the Assembly
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pTGILISM ~ INDIANAPOLIS.