Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-22
CHAIRMAN ODElL IS ANGRY
Former Governor Of New York Will Enter
Fight for tpssksrship.
ACCUSES PRESIDENT OF TAKING A HAND
Issues Statement in which He Says
Roosevelt and Higgins Are
Using influence and
He VIII fisht.

NEW YORK, Dec. 21.-Former Governor
B. B. Odell, chairman OF the state republic
can committee, made statement today in
which he charged President Roosevelt and
Governor Higgins with a deliberate at
tempt to wreck the republican party of
this state for their own personal ambi-
tons. He declared that IL disaster ensued
they, not he, will be responsible.
Mr.. Odells accusations we're a part Of
his comment on the situation growing out
OF the contest in the republican party in
this state for the speakership of the New
York state assembly. Mr.. odoll declared
himself in favor of K. A. Merritt IT,, sew
eral days ago.
On Monday last Governor Higgins came
out in favor of J. w. Wadsworth, ir. MIR.
odell said today:
Il notice that Governor Higgins said he
never was for Merritt. Shortly after
election ! went to Governor Higgins and
asked him whom he was for for speaker.
He eliminated all but Merritt and said
that neither New York nor buffalo could
have it, because it would stir UP OPPOSE
ton against the cities l asked him IL
Merritt would be satisfactory to him and
he asked me to see Merritt and ask him
some questions. saw Merritt and reported
fed. l clearly understood he was for Mer-
rift, and was never surprised as when
he switched his trolley. This is the worst
case of duplieity in Politics have ever
known. Merritt is absolutely right in say
ing that the governor agreed to support
him. He offered to the governor to stay out
Of the contest If the governor wanted him
to do SO.
As to President.
Led by the collarless and coatless young
man who took us all to defeat In 1891 Tap
parently referring to ]. sloat Fassett), VIII
liam Barnes, jr., Colonel George W. Dunn
and others with sore thumbs, visited Wash
ington and stirred up this trouble. If
President Roosevelt had the good of the
party at heart he could have sent for me
at any time and would have been glad
to confer with him for the sake of obtain
ing harmony in the party II that had been
done all this trouble would have been
avoided without warfare.
Il charge President Roosevelt and Gov
ernor Higgins with deliberately trying to
wreck the party in this state for their own
personal ambitions. If this means party
disaster, they. and not and my friends,
are responsible. They and not l are to
blame ,r ....
80 far as gratitude is concerned Gov
ernor Higgins certainly owed me some
thing. Instead of putting out the hands
Of friendship he chooses to throw stones
at those who have been his friends. HiS-
gins could have told me that he did not
want me nor Merritt to be i'm this affair,
but instead he throws stones. II the
president wanted reform was friendly
and they could have had it. l charge him
and Governor Higgins with injecting their
personality into this matter. Their har-
mony consists Of. knocking. They had
time to write letters In support OF District
Attorney Jerome In sthA last city election,
but never said a word for WINS. There
was no cause for friction, Mr. Halpin
Chairman OF the county republican COM
mitteeO was willing 10 go to Washington
and see the president They have done
| the ge and win have to take the con-
sequences, The president sent for Olcott
! formerly candidate for chairman of the
New York county committeeJ and then
| threw him down"
Speaking OF the candidacy OF Congress-
man Herbert Parsons for president OF the
! New York county committee Mr.. odell
| said:
| Parsons idea of party harmony is TO
throw bricks at my friends, There was
no talk OF Odeli or anti-Odell in the
! county committee. The trouble was all
due to Mr.. Fassett He changes oftener
than the tides We are In for harmony il
we have. to fight for It.
Il make the prediction that Wadsworth
will not be elected as speaker. We will
put him out"
! ... VIII Stay at Head.
! ba h,
the Higgins following will support for
abpIr