The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-12-29
Roosevelt. Higgins and Par.
sons Denounced.
FIGHT FOR SPEAkeRSnIp
Secretary Taft Say, President i
Not interfering In State
Politics.

NHt"N -" - 80 NfMNfH.sst Nfts"I "ssss
after . oonfcrincr with Assembly,
Merritt. his candidate far speaker, be
iet loose another TRADE of abuse ana
Pronunciation ~ President Roosevelt.
Governor iilesins. Congressman Far.
sons and al Others tina, have opposed
bic candidate for the spcakrrship Mr.,
oisll said.
The man up AZ Albany who Il doing
20 mnch talking has evidently had
some starch Injected into bis spine by
ono Theodore Roosevelt Bnt II the
sicadfaslness OF Governor Higgins
could b. llsiei "n tic stock exchange
twhlie know nothing about that
place. should advise all my friends
TO scli ihe STOCK short IL Il well
known that Higgins never had any
backbone In ihc past whrn be talks
u Is the vote OF Jacob Higgins. but
the hand ~ rsau Roosevelt"
When n, sci about the spcakcr.hlp
hght Mr. cicll said:
1T l. a figit 10 n nnl.h In the eau.
Gus. Mr.. Merritt will not retire. and
40 far NJ know there will h. no third
candidate. Merritt Il In the race to
fgii u out In the caucus"
az the locai situation he said:
Young Mr.. Parsons has n whole lot
10 learn IN the game Of politics"
The ex-governor said that President
Roosevelt was not fooling amy one by
his d-nlals that he was interfering In
state and local politics IN this state,
Ohio and Pennsylvania. lie said that
old politicians could not bc caught with
such salt.
Asscmblyman Merritt was still
hoarse and could not talk at length
III repeated his statement that no WIS
Ia the fight for the speakership TO stay
60 the end.
Politicians are already discussing
successor 90 Mr.. Odeli as chairman Of
the Republican state committee. IL 10
not thought that he will resign. but II
IN believed 10 be certain that a new
man will be elected TO the post.
Some OF the men mentioned for the
place are John ii. O'Bricn. secretary Of
state: William Barnes, Jr., the chair.
man Of the executive committee OF the
state committee; Railroad Commission
er George w. Aldrldge OF Rochester.
Congressman ]. Sloat Fassett OF Elmi-
IA and Nicholas V. Franchot. state
superintendent OF public works. Among
the leaders who discussed the matter
Mr.. Aldridge seemed TO have the most
friends.
Governor Higgins and Mr.. Odell were
In town, but did not meet
Governor Higgins reiterated his an
nouncement that the election OF As
semblyman James w. Wadsworth 10
the speakership was certain. The gov
ernor said that he would have good
majority In the caucus at Albany on
Tuesday night. The governor was ask
cd about the threats of reprisals in the
legislature made by 0dell and Merritt.
"Yes, have read that there were TO
be attacks" he said "The whole sit
uatIon is one which must be left to the
people"
Secretary Taft had long talk with
Governor Higgins. Both were here to
attend the prison ship martyrs com
mission. 1t was reported that Score
tary Taft bore message from the
president to the governor. but this was
denied by Mr. Taft. The secretary
said that the only message he had for
Mr.. Higgins was that he hoped If the
governor was impeached he would es-
cape the fate Of Charles l. When ask
ed about the charge made in some
quarters that President Roosevelt is
interfering in state politics Mr.. Taft
said:
II can speak only for Ohio. | know
that the president has not interfered
in Ohio. He consults the senators
about all Ohio appointments, and
whatever he does is the result of an
amicable agreement with the sena-
tors"