Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-21
CONTEST IN NEW YORK
Remarkable Fight Over the
Assembly Speakership
IN REPUBLICAN RANKS
FORMER GOV ODELL AND GOV.
HIGGINS OPPOSED.
Exciting Times Ahead for the G. o. P.
Exciting Times Ahead for the G. o. P.
in the Empire State-Cam-
paign Now On.

NEW YORK. December 21.-Former Gov
ernor b. B. Odell, jr.. chairman of the re-
publican state committee made statement
today in which he charged President Roose-
welt and Gov. Higgins with a deliberate at
tempt to wreck the republican party of
this state for their own personal ambi-
ticns He declared that If disaster ensued
they, not he, will be responsible.
Mr.. Odelrs accusations were part of his
comment on the situa ton growing out of
the contest in the republican party in this
state for the speakership of the New York
state assembly. Mr.. Odell declared him
self in favor of E. A. Merritt, jr, several
days ago.
On Monday last Gov Higgins came out In
favor of ]. w. Wadsworth, jr Mr. odeIl
said today:
Il notice that Gov. Higgins said he never
was for MIR. Merritt. Shortly after election
went to Governor Higgins and asked him
whom he was for for speaker He elmi-
mated all but Merritt and said that neither
New York nor Buffalo could have it be-
cause 1t would stir up opposition against
the cities. 1 asked him If Merritt would be
satisfactory to him and he asked me to see
Mr.. Merritt and ask him some questions. /
saw Merritt and reported to the governor,
and he said he was satisfied 1 clearly un-
derstood he was for Merritt and was never
SO surprised as when he Switched his
trolley"
Worst Case of Duplicity.
This Is the worst case of duplicity in
politics have ever known Merritt Is ab-
solutely right in saying that the governor
agreed to support him. He offered to the
governor to stay out of the contest If the
governor wanted him to do so.
Led by the collarless and ceatless yo1,r1e
man who took us all to defeat In 1891 (ap-
parently referring to J. Sloat Fassetb. VIII
liam Barnes, jr., Col. George w. Dunn and
others with sore thumbs visited Washing
ton and stirred ~ all this trouble.
II President Roosevelt had the good of
the party at heart he could have sent for
me at any time and / would have been
glad to confer with him for the sake of OBJ
tanning harmony In the party. If that had
been done all this trouble would have been
avoided without warfare
1 charge Mr.. Roosevelt and Gov Hig-
gins with deliberately trying to wreck the
party in this state for their own personal
ambitions. If this means party disaster
they, and not / and my friends are re-
sponsible. They, and not l. are to blame
so far gratitude is concerned Gov
Higgins certainly owed me something. IN
stead OF putting out the hand of friend
ship. he chooses to throw stones at thnsa
who have been his friends Higgins couId
nave told me that he did not want me nor
Merritt to be in this affair, but instead he
throws stones.
Harmony Consists of Knocking.
IF the President wanted reform was
friendly and they could have had ii.
charge him and Gov. Higgins with inject
ing their personality into this matter.
Their harmony consists OF Knocking
They had time to write letters in support
of District Attorney Jerome in the last
city election, but never said word for
WINS. There was no cause for friction
Mr.. Halpin chairman of the county re-
publican committee1 was willing to go to
Washington and see the President. They
have done the damage and will have to
take the consequences.
The President sent for oleott formerly
candidate for chairman of the New York
county republican committee) and then
threw him down"
Speaking OF the candidacy of Congress
0nan Herbert Parsons for president of the
New York county committee, Mr.. Odell
<aid:
Parsons idea of party harmony Is to
throw bricks at my friends. There was no
talk of Odell or anti-Odell in the county
committee. The trouble was all due to
Mr. Fassett. He changes oftener than the
tides We are in for harmony if we have
to fight for It,
Wadsworth Will Not Be Elected.
IT make the prediction that wadsworth
wdll not be elected as speaker We will
put him out"
Speaking of the conference of republican
members of the assembly, called to meet at
the Cadillac Hotel tomorrow, Mr.. Odell
said:
Fifteen or twenty members of the assem-
bly, got together and decided to have the
meeting. l suggested 70 them not to bother
me about it. There was great deal of re-
sentiment among the older members of the
assembly"
Mr. Odel said he does not know who the
Higgins following will support for state
us it Fassett?" was asked
81 hope so.' said Mr.. Odell.
To Remain as Chairman.
At dinner OF republicans of the thirty
NTH assembly district in the Bronx, last
night. Mr.. odell told those present that he
intends to remain as chairman of the state
committee until the party indicates that 1t
wants change. Influence, from no matter
bow high a source, he said. will not affect
his attitude.
Assemblyrpan ]. w. Wadsworth jr. the
Livingston county candidate for speaker
was at the Manhattan Hotel today He was
aaked how he regarded Senator Malbv,s
htnt at impeachment proceedings against
Gov. Higgins.
81 do not regard 1t seriously" he said.
Greatest Contest in Years.
The contest for the speakership of the
lower house OF the New York general as.