Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-21
FOR PERSONAL AMBITIONS.
Accusation 0utgroWth Of Contest
Over Candidates for Speaker
OF Legislative Assembly.
Had Roosevelt Had Good of Party az
Heart Iie Would Have Sent for
Him, says, Ex-Governor.

iican state committee made a state
ment today in which he charged Presi-
dent Roosevelt and GOV. Higgins with
n deliberate attempt to wreck the Re-
publican party Of this state for their
own personal ambitions. He declared
that If disaster ensued they. not he.
will be responsible.
Mr. Odells accusations were a part
OF his comment on the situation grow
Ing out of the contest in the Republican
party I'm this state for the speakershlp
OF the New York assembly. Mr.. Odell
declared himself IN favor Of f. A. New
rtt, Jr, several days ago.
on Monday last Gov. Higgins came
out IN favor Of j. w. Wadsworth,
Jr.
Mr. Odeil said today:
Il notice that Gov. Higgins said lie
never was for Merritt. shortly after
the election | went to Gov. Higgins and
asked him whom he was for speaker
he eliminated all but Merritt and said
that neither New York nor Buffalo
could have It because IL would stir up
opposition against the cities. asked
MN II Merritt would be satisfactory
to him, and he asked me 10 see Merritt
ana ask him some questions. He saw
Merritt and reported he was satished,
1 clearly understood he was for Mer-
rltt, and was never so surprised as
when he switched his trolley This is
the worst case of duplioity In politics
! nave ever known. Merritt Is abso-
lutely right in saying that the COVER
nor agreed TO support him. He Of
Tered TO the governor to stay out OF
the contest II the governor wanted him
10 do so.
Led by the collarless and coatless
young man who took us all TO defeat
in 1891 apparently referring TO j. sloat
Fassett) William Barnes, Jr., Col.
George w. Dunno and others with sore
thumbs, visited Washington and stirred
up this trouble. II President Roosevelt
had the good OF the party at heart he
could have sent for me at any time
and l would have been glad 20 confer
with him for the sake OF obtaining
harmony In the party. II that had
been done all this trouble would have
been avoided without warfare. | charge
President Roosevelt and Gov. Higgins
with deliberately trying TO wreck the
party in this state for their own per-
sonal ambitions, II this means party
disaster. they, and not and my friends
are responsible, they and not |, are
TO blame
50 far as gratitude Is concerned.
Gov. Higgins certainly owed me some
thing. Instead Of putting out the hands
OF friendship he chose TO throw stones
at those who have been his friends.
Higgins could have told me that he
did not want me nor Merritt TO be In
this affair; but instead he throws
stones. II the president wanted reform
] was friendly and they could have
had It, charge him and Gov Higgins
with injecting 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. MIR, Halpn,
chairman Of the county Republican
committee was willing to go to Wash
ington and see the president. They have
done the damage and will have TO
take the consequences.
THE president sent for Olcott, (for-
merly candidate for chairman OK the
New York county Republican commit
teel and then threw him down"
Speaking OF the candidacy OF Con-
gresham Herbert Parsons for presi-
dent Of the New York county COM
mittee, Mr. Odeil said;
"Parrons idea Of party harmony ia
To throw bricks at my friends. There
was not 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 II We have TO fight
for It
Il make the prediction that Wads-
worth will not be elected as speaker.
We win put him out"
Mr. Odell says he does not know who
the Higgins following will support for
state chairman.
as II Fassett?" was asked.
81 hope so" said Mr.. Odell.
At dinner OF Republicans OF the
Thirty-hfth assembly district in tho
Bronx last night. Mr.. odell told those
present that he intends TO remain as
chairman Of the state committee untll
the party indicates that 1t wants n
change. Influence from no matter how
high a source. he said, will not affect
his attitude.
state Senator Naltby speaking OF
the speakership embrogllo, declarsd to-
day that Gov. Higgins action In nam
ing WRdsworth as his candidate for
sneaker. was an 'impeachable offense.'
\ never hltM VI SUM NNiANlbllH AbN-
tlnued the senator. "The governor an
nounces himself for Wadsworth AMI
then up steps his insurance commits
sloner who has retained his position un-
der considerable difficulties and declares
that his three men are for Wadsworth.
Then Railroad Commissioner AID
ridge, whom Gov Higgins appointed
Is,tely, also announces himself for
Wadsworth and the effect OF the gov
ernor's coercion IL evident, Is II n0t?'
"Can you say whether you intend
10 take steps TO impeach the GOVERNOR
THAT depends on what more is done
In the matter. ! shall hold that in re-
serve"
GOV. HIGGINS COMMENT.
Albany. n. Y, Dec. I.--Gov. Higgins
referred today TO the statement sent
out last night from Washington IN
in which Il was declared with authority
that President Roosevelt had not known
in advance OF the governors suggestion
OF James W. Wadsworth, Jr,. for speak,
er Of the state assembly,