Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-22
ODELL ATTACKS
THE PRESIDENT
SAYS HE AND HIGGINS TRY TO
WRECK PARTY
Declares Their Action Is Due to Their
Own Personal Ambitions-speak-
ership Fight Cause
of Row
BY AssocIated Press.

NEW YORK, Dec. 21.-Former Gov
ernor B. b. Odell, chairman of the Re
publican state committee, made a
statement today in which he charged
President Roosevelt and Governor Hig-
gins with a deliberate attempt TO
wreck the Republican party of this
state for their own personal ambi-
tions. He declared that IL disaster en-
sued they, not he, will be responsible.
Mr.. OdelPs accusations were a part of
his comment on the situation growing
cut OF the contest i'm the Republican
party in this state for speakership of
the New York state assembly, Mr..
Odell declared himself in favor of E.
a. Merritt, Jr., several days ago.
On Monday last Governor Higgins
came out in favor Of j. w. Wadsworth
jr.
Mr.. Odell said today:
II notice that Governor Higgins said
he never was for Merritt. Shortly after
the election | went to Governor Hig-
gins ana asked him whom he was for
for speaker. He eliminated all but
Merritt, and said that neither New
York nor Buffalo could have It because
1t would stir up opposition against
the cities. L asked him If Merritt
would be satisfactory to him and he
asked me TO see Merritt and ask him
some questions. 1 saw Merritt and re-
ported to the governor and he said
ne was satisfied. / clearly understood
he was for Merritt and was never SO
surprised as when he switched his troll
ley. This is the worst case of du-
plicity in politics I have ever known.
Mr. Merritt is absolutely right in say
ing that the governor agreed to sup
port him. He told the governor he
would stay out of the contest if the
governor wanted him to do so.
BIames Roosevelt
Led by the collarless and coatless
young man wha took us all to defeat in
1891 apparently referring to j. Sloat
FassetD. William Barnes, jr., Col.
George w. Dunno and others with sore
thumbs visited Washington and stirred
up this trouble. If President Roose-
welt had the good of the party at heart
he could have sent for me at any time
end l would have been glad to confer
with him for the sake of obtaining har-
rnony in the party. If that had been
done, all this trouble would have been
avoided without warfare
II charge President Roosevelt and
Governor Higgins with deliberately
trying to wreck the Republican party
in this state for their own personal
ambitions If this means party dis
aster, they and not 1 and my friends
are responsible. They and not l are
to blame.
80 far as gratitude is concerned.
Governor Higgins certainly owed me
something. Instead of putting out the
hand 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. If the president wanted
reform l was friendly and they could
nave had it. L charge him and Gov
ernor Higgins with injecting their per.
sonalities into this matter. Their har-
mony consisted of knocking They
had time to write letters in support
of District Attorney Jerome in the
last city election, but never said a
word for WINS. There was no cause
for friction. Mr.. Halpin chairman of
the county Republican committee) was
willing to go to Washington and see
the president. They have done the
damage and will have to take the con-
sequences.
THE president sent for Olcott (for-
merly candidate for chairman of the
New York County Republican COM
mittee) and then threw him down."
Speaking of the candidacy of Con-
gresham Herbert Parsons for chair
man of the New York county commit
tee, Mr.. Odell said:
Trouble Due to Fassett
Parsons idea of party harmony is
n .id1ye