New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-20
SPEAKERsHIP PROBLEMS.

It is gratifying to note the ready response 10
the Governors initiative of the great body Of
Republicans who have been anxious for a reor-
ganization of the Republican party in the state
to make it more responsive to popular sentiment
and p more useful instrument Of government.
Governor Higgins acted at the psychological mo-
ment in indicating his choice for Speaker, and
from every quarter of the state come assurances
that fndependent men who have hitherto been seek
ing the same end along various divergent paths
are glad to abandon their Individual plans, unite
on new candidate for Speaker whom they had
not before opposed, to their own embarrassment
and work with the Governor TO make clean
record in the coming session 1t must be evil
dent to all thoughtful Republicans that there is
need to make such q record and thereby COM
mend the party to the voters, who in more than
one state and city have shown that the Ameri-
can people are tired Of bosses and disposed to
hold political organizations to q sTicter &C
countabiIity. The people are aroused after
period Of what Senator Armstrong has called
moral aphaEia," both business and political,
and it is time for parties well as insurance
companies to tighten up their loose screws and
do their work better than public opinion FOR a
long time seemed to demand
Several of the earlier candidates for Speaker
have withdrawn in favor of Mr.. Wadsworth, and
plausible calculations made that he is already
certain of majority in the Republican caucus.
Mr. Merritt although now declaring his inten-
ton to stick to the end, may withdraw, when he
sees how much of the best intelligence Of the party
is supporting Mr.. Wadsworth, but If he prefers to
remain in the that is his unquestoned pr1Vi-
lege; and while harmony is in general desirable
it is by no means certain that contest which
souareIy put to q test the ability Of the reform
elements which have rallied around Mr.. Wads-
worth to control the situation and make effective
their plans for party rehabilitation would not
clear the air and in the end do good. Mr.. Mer-
rift may not find himself out Of sympathy with
such plans when he faces the issue, and we do
not mean to assign him to campaign Of antag-
onism; but If he saw fit to make fight the
chances are that many of the selfish interests
from whose influence it is desirable to free the
party would, for their own purposes, be driven
to his support merely as an alternative TO MI
! WadswOrth.
Mr.. Wainwright is another candidate-one
seemingly not easily reconciled to new situ-
! alton Yet Mr. Wainwright knows as well as
/ ANYBODY else that, with practical conditions as
/ they were. free choice by Assembymen would
not have occurred, and that the very reforms
which he advocates would have been sacrificed
/ TO noint of etiquette. The Governor has
! brought order out of chaos which might easily
have resulted in making some Of the most unde-
sirable influences in the party dominant, and he
should have the thanks Of Mr.. Wainwright and
every other high minded man.
Nothing prevents Mr.. Wainwright or Mr. Mer-
rift or anybody else who does not feel that Mr..
Wadsworth offers the best solution OF the prob
lem from contesting the election to the end. II
! Mr. Wadsworth is chosen, 1T viii be not because
of any dictation or undue pressure, but simply
! because the Governors suggestion appeals TO the
reason Oh those who have the same desire that
he has to strengthen the party Should Mr..
Wadsworth be elected. nobody could claim it as
a fractional victory. Mr. Platt was not consulted
about him Mr.. Odell did not know that he was
being considered until Governor Higgins had an
nounced his views. His election would be the
| act of a party which had freed itself from Its
trammels and devoted itself, In harmony with its
proper leader. the state executive. to the true
business of government.