Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-26
MERRITT HITS HARD
Resents Presidents Interfer-
enCe in State Matters.
IN FIGHT TO THE FINISH
CANDIDATE FOR NEW YORK
SPEAKERSHIP ACTIVE.
Says Sentiment in State is Growin>,
Against the Action of Roosevelt
and Higgins.

NEW YORK. December 26.-Assemblvmar
E. A. Merritt, jr.. candidate for speakersh,p
or the state assembly, said today that he
expects to go to Albany tomorrow and VIII
open his headquarters there. Il shall be In
this hight until the finsh.' said Mr. Mer-
f1tt. Il do not know of any compromise.
They cannot compromise with me-"
Speaking of the Endorsement by President
Roosevelt and Gov Higgins of the candi-
dacy of ]. w. Wadsworth. jr. for the
speakership. Mr. Merritt said:
Il am receiving letters from up the state,
some of which say that Charles the Firsts
head was cut off for less The sentiment
up there against interference by the gov-
ernor and President is pronounced and
growing. They have lost sight of Odell ana
Higgins in this matter and are giving their
attention to the right of the assembly to
elect its speaker
This interference is 4 part of President
Roosevelts plan to secure control of the
party organization in other states as Well
as New York. They want to get control
of New York first. but the President is try
ing it also in Connecticut and Ohio. They
are trying TO get the two senators out in
Connecticut. but | think they will have q
fight before they get through with Frank
Brandesee. | don't know whether the
Presidents action comes from his natural
desire to run things or to advance his rate
L
Visit to Washington Started Higgins.
Il do not think Gov. Higgins would have
got into this fight if he had not been push
ed into it after William Barnes, jr. and
others went to Washington. In the oegin-
ming Higgins was friendly with me and
talked over confidential matters which l do
not beIleve he would have discussed IL he
had not expected that | would be the speak,
er. | no more an Odell man than a
Higgins man. Odell could not have taken
me out of the race, but Higgins could.
promised to get out for him. Odell simply
told some of the assemblymen who asked
him whom he favored that he was for me.
But they want to make 1t appear that
every one who is not with them is an Oden
man, and If they keep pounding me long
enough shall become pretty good Odell
man.
when they got ready to select a caadi-
date for speaker they simply eliminated the
name of every man who had done anything
for Odel He had been either governor
or chairman of the state republican COM
mfttee for years, and they seemed to think
any one who had done a thing for the
party organization had done 1t for him.
do not believe that AsSemblman Bedell OF
Orange put in a railroad bill during his
service except at the order of the party or.
ganization.
Cannot Organize Legislature.
''They did not want anybody who had
eoiIe any tiiiiS 4Oi VIC b"i ~ 81 'ii'S AZ
jected everybody who had done anything
at all.
They cannot organize the legislature
upon any such basis as that. The members
whom they ask to support their measures
will refuse to vote for them until they
find out the attitude of the state chairman
(O6elD toward the bills.
There would never have been any in
surance investigation if it had not been p
for Odell. Gov. Higgins was opposed to
taking ii up In the special session of the
legislature because he vas fearful OF the
shock to public confidence, and that policy
holders would lapse; which they have done.
He foresaw that, and 1 can see his Objec-
ton. But Odeil stood for the investigation
and It went through"