Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-22

state. l think he must have forgotten our
last conference in New York last Friday.
PREVIOUS to my going to New York | he'd
learned, through several members OF the
assembly that called upon me, that Gov
ernor odell was using my name for the
purpose of securing pledges for Mr.. Mer-
RI for speaker. asked him by what au.
thority he was using my name. He told
MT. Merritt was he proper man to sup
port for the place. l at that time Oast
Friday asked him IL he would agree upon
any other candidate-any man in the legis-
lature He told me he would not; that he
was pledged TO Mr.. Merritt and Mr.. Mer-
rift would not withdraw. | do not care to
discuss with Governor Odcl through the
press questions Of honesty or dishonesty.
SO far as the future Of the republican
he trusted with the press and the people as
to whether my action is wise or unwise.
That Is all care to say on the subject.
Governor Higgins referred today TO tho
statement sent out last night from WASH
ington in which II was declared with su-
thority that President Roosevelt had not
known IN advance of the governors sugEes-
ton OF James w Wadsworth ir., for
speaker Of the state assembly.
Il believe the statement is true" said
the governor: 81 know 1t to be true. I
wish to say further that I have had no
communication with the president, verbal
ership In my recent visit to Washington
had an extended conversation with him,
but the speakership was not among the
subjects discussed. While 1t is true that
the president is not interfering, and I be-
lieve would not interfere in the election Of
a speaker OF the assembly OF this state, I
have every reason 10 believe that he would
be very much pleased TO hear that the
sembly had chosen Mr.. Wadsworth as
speaker"
The governor was asked about an al
fusion by Senator Maltby to possible i'm
parchment proceedings against him a
consequence of his action in the speaker
ship matter. He would not discuss 1t. Il
am not easily frightened was all he
would say.
wsdswOrth's Qualifications Good.
OLD WESTBURY, l.. l., Dec. Gloon
gresham Cocks, of the presidents own
congressional district on his return from
Washington, stated here today that he had
called at the White House to consult with
the president as to the attitude of the as
semblyman from Nassau county about the
speakership contest. The president said
that as citizen OF Nassau and con-
stituent of the assemblyman. II his advice
was asked he would state that in his opir-
ion Mr.. wadsworth was an ideal candidate
for speaker that 1t would be the best pos
sible thing both for the party and the state
If he were elected; that he possesses the
very qualities most needed in the speaker
ship at this particular juncture; that not
only was he a man of ability. of unfiinch-
ing courage and ruggedly aggressive hon
esty, but his election would mean that the
republicans would have a speaker abso-
lutely free from dictation by any individual
or by any ring; a man who would be en-
tirely his own master and incapable OF
being coerced by any interest, political or
financial, and that it would indeed by for
tunate thing if Mr.. Wadsworth were
elected, for he is a man of the Herbert
Parsons type-that is, the type of man that
the PLAIN people. who compose the bulk OF
the republican party wish to see high in
the party management.