The sun., 1905-12-25
MERRITT WAITS TO SEE ODELL
MEANWHILE rs BEGINNING TO
HEAR FROM ST. LAWRENCE.
They Don't Seem to Think Up There That
Odell's the Man to Tie To Just Now
-POtsdam Municipal Ownership Sem
timent Is Also Rolled at Merritt.

-POtSuRm Muuclpal u"heishp S'"-
timent Is Also Rolled at Merritt.
Assemblyman Merritt, Odel's candi-
date for Speaker, decided not to go nome
for Christmas yesterday Mr. Merritt
remained at the Murray Hill Hotel he
is to be there until Wednesday, when he
will go to Albany and open headquarters
at -The Tub
Mr.. Merritt still seemed to think he was
In the race yesterday He had talks with
Senator Malby and Louis Bedell, Assembly
man Of Orange. Senator Malby left for his
horne last night. Mr. Merritt omitted his
daily pronunciamento, but he announced
that he would have long Christmas
statement to give out to-day. Assembly
man Bedell said that he would also have
something to say to-day.
One reason why Merritt is remaining
here over Christmas is because he wants
to have a talk with Odell. Mr.. Odell will
be here on Tuesday. Whether Merritt Will
decide to withdraw formally will depend,
it is said largely on his talk with Odell
Assemblyman George B. Agnew an
nounced last night that he had no idea OF
becoming a candidate, in spite of the action
of some of his friends in pushing his name
forward at the caucus of Republican As
semblymen Of this county on Saturday
night. 1t was Mr.. Agnew who offered the
resolution indorsing Wadsworth, which
was adopte ed by vote Of y to2. Mr.. AgneW
said last night that Wadswoth would have
not only the votes of the seven Assembly
men who voted for this resolution on Satur-
day night but would also have the votes
of at least two or three more Assemblymen
from this county in the Republican caucus.
That was said Mr.. Agnew, providing that
the situation did not undergo radical
change.
AT the present time" Mr.. Agnew said,
al believe Mr.. Wadsworth will win. We
did not decide to stand for New York
county man because we recognized that
the combination behind Mr.. Wadsworth is
too strong to oppose with any other can
didate."
PorsDAM, N. Y, Dec. 24.-The Herald
Recorder, which has been very friendly to
Assemblyman Merritt, says editorially
Local pride in town and county makes us
wish that we could consuientiously and heart
ily support the candidate from Potsdam ana
st. lawrcnce county for the honor OF Speaker
Of the New York Assembly. Had Mr. Mer-
he come forward uTon his own individual
strength and not as the candidate OF ex-
Gov Odell and senator George X. MHlhy he
would have had that support. Mr.. Merritt y
attitude however, on the legislation, es-
peCialIv OF the last session. cannot, in our
opinion, be III held
This is the home village of Mr.. Merritt,
and this county has been friendly to Mr.
Odell all the officeholders and active
party workers being Odell men. The
events of the last few days have brought
out innumerable vigorous expressions OF
condemnation of Mr. Odell, and Mr.. Mer-
ritt's personal friends and political sup
porters are urging him to give uphis alliance
with Mr.. Odell declaring that unless he
does he will be vigorously opposed for
the Assembly nomination next spring, in
which case it is quite likely that he would
be badly defeated. Mr.. Merritt's con-
sttuents have all along felt that his course
in defending Justice Hooker was mex
cusable, and now his open alliance with
Odell, whose recent utterances about Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Gov. Higgins have
aroused intense feeling, has created an
avowed anti-Merritt sentiment.
Another matter has aroused feeling
valuable water power on the Racquette
River, having bought it some years ago from
w. Il. Weed, then Fish, Forest and Game
Commissioner At the time Of the pur-
chase it was urged that the village could
utilize the power for Lighting purposes
Last March the village at special election
voted to build a municipal lighting plant,
utilizing its water power. Soon after the
State Gas and Electric Light Commission
bill was passed at Albany the Potsdam
Electric Light and Power Company, in
which Mr.. Merritt is interested began
proceedings and procured temporary
injunction restraining the village from
constructing its plant.
Supreme Court Justice Henry I. Kellogg
OF Plattsburg granted a permanent injunc-
ton against the village on the ground that
the village had not procured the consent
of the State Lighting Commission. The
poles for the municipal lighting plant had
already been set and much of the machinery
was here before the injunction was granted.
There is an ugly feeling here against Mr.
Merritt for this reason alone.
Justice Kellogg's decision Was the first
judicial Interpretation Of the State Lighting
Commission act and held that the act
takes away from all municipalities the
right to build and operate lighting plants
at will 1t is believed here that when the
cities and villages Of the State realize what
they are "up against" in this law there will
be a pract ically unanimous demand for its
repeal.
I r, m