New-York tribune., 1905-12-19
THE GOVERNOR AND THE spB4KERsHIP.

1
The advice of Governor Higgins with refer
ence to the Speakership will rightly have great
| weight II comes, without the slightest color of
| dictation in response TO a general demand from
! the members of the Assembly and the party at
! large for his leadership TO insure good record
! for the legislature at the coming session. Jne
several candidates for Speaker have been solicit
GUS of the Governors favor, and everybody has
been anxious that he should make his choice
known for it is all sides recognized that he is
entirely disnterested and honest and that his sole
aim is to give to the people clean and useful
administration of the state government. He has
no personal ambitions to serve; he is not trying
10 build up machine of his own; he has been
slow TO assert himself. for he is really modest
and lacks genius for publicity. But when the
occasion requires he takes the initiative for pub
lie and party welfare and he does it under con-
dtions and in fashion which command for
his course great respect and put his indepen-
dence and high mindedness beyond cavfl.
Mr.. Wadsworth. the Governors choice for
Speaker, has not until been publicly consid-
cred as a candidate. though for some days we
have heard his name privately discussed as that
of an able and honest man on whom all elements
of the party anxious that 1t should make a clean
record might concentrate their strength. He is
q man of fine traditions of public service son
of Representative and ex- Controller Wadsworth,
State and grandson of General James S Wads
worth the Republican candidate for Governor in
1862 who was killed in the battle Of the Wilder
ness and of whom Horace Greeley wrote in The
American Conflict: The countrys salvation
claimed no nobler sacrifice than that of James
IS Wadsworth No one surrendered
more for his country's sake or gave his life
more joyfully for her deiverance. Mr.. Wads-
worth served as n soldier in Porto Rico and the
.Nfo an&so oil
or business entanglements. and in his one session
at Albany commanded respect for his powers
and won considerable degree of personal popu-
larity. The chief objection that may be raised
to his candidacy is his comparative lack of ex-
perience Not unnaturally old leaders Of the
Assembly may feel somewhat reluctant to ad-
vance an almost member. Mr.. Wadsworth
treats their feelings with consideration and be-
coming modesty. avowing that he would not
have thought his candidacy even permissible
under ordinary circumstance and saying that he
refused TO permit the use of his name so long
as his friend. Mr.. Hooker, of his own Congress
district. TO whom he pledged. remained In
the field. He has not pushed himself forward,
but is brought forward by his availability in the
Judgment of some of the wisest and most unselfish
party leaders. Under such circumstances old
members can have no grievance against him. and
they are likely to conclude that the conflicting
the need of party housecleaning make wise the
selection of a new man unhampered by old preju
dices
Ii is not of course. to be expected that Mr..
Wadsworth if elected will FIJI the Speakers
chair with the mastery of Mr.. Nixon. His re-
markable personality and his long experience
enabled the late Speaker to dominate the house
His will was largely law. Nothing went through
without mis- consent and few measures failed
~,Op6t thn Ire
which accrued to the state from that particular
benevolent despOtism. which was as popular with
Democrats as'Republicans, the system is not a
healthful one. A larger freedom, more repre- |
government. is desirable The state and
the Republican party at the present time will get
the best service from a Speaker who will not |
try to impose his will on the Assembly at every
turn but who will impartially conduct business
stand in1exibly against questionable measures
and so constitute the committees that legislation
will be controlled by clean men in harmony with
Governor Higgins.