New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-15
CROP OF SPEAKER B00MS.
MERRTTTS IN FULL BLOOM
Many Other AssembIymen Suggested
as Ninon'S Successor.

half dozen candidates for Speaker OF the next
Assembly in the field. and that no httue I'M
portance had been attached 10 the evident
effort the part of the representatives OF Vari-
Gus northern counties with the apparent corole4
support Of Ex-Governor Odell. TO start DOOM
for Edwin A. Merritt 1r This is, Of course, one
OF the various tentative propositions obviously
made to test public sentiment but the fact re-
mains that Merritt's name was more often men
toned than that Of any other Assemblymen by
those who returned from the trip to Westfeld.
John F. O'Brien, Secretary Of State. Senator
George r. Malby and several other party leaders
were at all times ready to discuss the Merritt
boom, and it was generally reported that ex-
Governor Oden was not displeased with its
sound
Merritt is one of the ablest members Of the
lower house. AS member Of the Stevens gas
committee he supplied the general plan Out OF
which framed the present law creating
State commission. He is good party man. but
has demonstrated a number of occasions an
independence OF thought and lack OF any re-
luctance for fight which have made him fac
tor to be reckoned with In debate in the Assem-
bly, Moreover, his record is good. although ms
has manifested a certain Partially for various
measures generally classed as Niagara power
grabs" and once declared on the floor of the
Nigagara Falls would lead to the building up of
homes or the making Of business. would be
willing to see the last drop turned from the falls
or only turned on at certain intervals not In mill
hours"
Apart from this attitude on power legislation
Merritts record Is clean and his position in this
respect has always been frank and OPEN
Aside from Merritt who may be fairly classed
as the Oden candidate Of the moment, the AS
semblyman most prominently mentioned ID
James K. Apgar, Of Westchester, whose candi-
dacy is urged by strong a Plat leader as
William Barnes jr, OF Albany, and by William
L. Ward, Of Westminster. Apgar is the author
fty of the lower house on all points Of procedure
and parliamentary practice. He has been. under
Nixon, one OF the most influential members Of
the Assembly, and has long legislative expert
ence reaching back to the days when he was
clerk to ex-speaker Hustled. Back of Apgar,
rather than James T. Rogers. of Broome. the
Platt support is likely to be ranged, and
alition between Ward, Barnes and Black would
make Apgar exceedingly dangerous cand1-
dates Apgar voted to acqut Justice Hooker.
ELECTION OF ROGERS DOUBTFUL
The normal successor of the late Speaker
Nixon would be James T. Rogers chairman Of
the WAYS and Means Committee and majority
leader. but number of things combine to make
his election doubtful. First, although he comes
from strong Plat county, his attitude on sew
eral questions has aroused the ire of the friends
Of Senator Plat, to such extent, in fact, that
Rogers had a narrow escape from local fight
for denomination this fall and the antagonism
of tho Bfooms Senator, Harvey S. Human is
believed to endanger his political future. In ad-
dition to this Rogers's attitude in the Hooker
case aroused the protests of his friends and the
-
we'll as that of those who believed Hooker should
be removed.
Go and sin no more" the climax Of his speech
explaining his vote for acquittal. has been made
campaign slogan in several counties where the
Hooker case is still an issue. and this is believed
to have added to the embarrassment of Rogers's
position. On the other hand he is the natural
successor. so far as mere position counts, and,
apart from outside influences. would PROBABLY be
chosen.
A candidate who cannot be overlooked is Jean
L. Burnett, of Canandaigua, concededly the best
talker in the Assembly. Burnett is Senator
John Raines's "fair-haired boy" He is smooth
able and keen. He voted to convict Hooker, he
voted against the Niagara power grab and
his vote large number OF consplcuously pad
bills has left his record straight.
On the other hand. he has been responsible for
many acts which have been severely criticised
by New York City's representatives. Last year
he was overwhelmed while carrying railroad
sneak BILL alleged to apply to Westminster
County and repudated by WeStChester members
without exception. He was also accused OF
being a party to the Juggling which nearly de-
feated the Rapid Transit Commission bill pro-
viding for pipe galleries in future subways. He
is chairman of the Assembly Cities Committee
and his election as Speaker would be regarded
by representatives Of various civic organizations
Of New-York City who fight bad legislation at
Albany as fraught with great danger TO them
If there were not grave doubt as to the re-
election of Arthur c. Wade, of Chautauqua, he
cd
perhaps but still in the running. Wade's rela-
tion 20 the Hooker case, his participation in the
attack upon Erwin Wardman' bdltor OF Inc
Press" after he had been excused from taking
mart in the Hooker matter because he had been
Justice Hookers counsel, made possible the
fight being waged against him by the people IN
Chautauqua County VINO mace tue hshI against
Justice Hooker. ~
Of all the men mentioned as possibilities,
wade's election would probably be the most
serio,1s I'm its effect upon New-York City, if his
record is considered. Last year, when Bedell, of
railroad grab" fame, decided to keep under
cover for time, 1T was Wade who took up the
burden of fighting through the measure revtving
the old Amsterdam-ave. steal The year before
he was accused of taking part in an effort TO
nut through a voting machine bill that would
have cost New-York City $5,O0O,O0O through
Joker provision, and his candidacy would
doubtless be opposed by all New-York City Re
publican members
MANY DARK HORSES ENTERED.
In addition to the names mentioned there are
half dozen other Assemblymen who are nurs-
ing little booms some of whom may win
out In a hard fight if harmony candidate is
needed. Among these are Robert ]. Fish. of
Madison; s. Percy Hooker. OF Genesee, and
Sherman Moreland. of Chemung. Fish. as chair
man of the Judiciary Committee, directed the
legislative work in the Hooker case, and his
record is absolutely honorable. Moreand and
Hooker represent the best type of clean and
able Assemblymen. fearless and even non-parti-