New-York tribune., 1905-12-30
I'll WIN, SAYS MERRITT
IN FIGHT TO THE FINISH.
Declares Com promise ON Floor Lead
erShip Not Worth Bother.

by Telegraph The Tribune.l
Albany, Dec 29-The arrival to-day of AS
senbyman Edwin A Merritt, jr.. fresh from
conferences with State Chairman Odell. trans
ferred the scene of the Speakershp contest from
New York 10 this city, but did not shed much
new light the situation. Assemblyman Wads-
worth retains all his confidence to his cleo
ton and Governor Higgins smiles and declines
TO comment on the contest while Mr. Merritt
smiles trife grimly and declares that he Is IN
the fight until the next Speaker is elected
The question which is being debated by all
politicians here and by the candidates theni-
selves is whether the contest will be ended Dy
the election The possibility of the adoption OF
obstructionist tactics by of the older 1nelh-
bers in case Mr.. Wadsworth is elected speaker
of the Assembly is admitted by friends OF ootn
candidates. The opportunities for blocking lhe
actual transaction of business and, more I'M
variant +he effective housecleaning which Gov
nrnor Higgins and his friends have in mind the
politicians here declare, would be multlpHeu
roanv times if a leader were given TO such nle-
bers by the continuance of the hght on INC
floor of the Assembly
cornromise is being talked about on all SIDES
compromise by the appointment OF MT Nneii
as chairman of the Ways and Means Coilii'ii'-
tee. making him the floor leader; comp proiiii'e
bx recognizing some of the older Assemblyrnen
bv their appointment TO important committees
Mr. wadsworth has considered such COM
nrontse It is still '"an open question, so Tar
as the appointnent of Mr.. Merritt or anyoooy
else is concerned
MFR Merritt has had this solution of the PROB
lem suggested by friends. not ofhclally. ne
thinks it would hardly be worth the bother
Afr Merritt whose rooms at the Tub nave
been waiting for him for several days. got mere
o1rae
New-York is expected here tomorrow
no INTENTION TO WITHDRAW
The ST Lawrence Assemblynan was cheerful
but emphatic as he reiterated his denial OF any
Intention of withdrawing from the contest
.'I am not q gutter he declared. am III
this fight as a candidate for Speaker, and don't
intend to stop until the next Speaker is elected.
T know some of the boys are talking about my
being made majority leader. don't mean any
of the Assemblymen, but some OF my IrlehuS
at the clubs have asked me about it, AS Gov
ernor Higgins has said. we will cross that orluse
when we come to it. That's GOOD saying
II looks to me now as if it would not be worth
all the work and trouble.
'evvfn your supporters go into the caucus?
he was asked.
81 don't intend to bolt, and don't think they
will It struck me as being III rather poor
CNA'c-
their friends not to go to the meeting called in
New-York on the ground that it could not do
any GOOD That meeting was called on the
written request of members of the Assembly
and it was presided over by the man who Will
preside over the Assembly caucus"
Mr. Merritt said that ne expected to win He
laughed when he was told that Mr.. Wadsworth
cherished the same expectation
THAT reminds me OF a little story, he
,-fy,1r tho 1lTT az
IN whether Dick Brown some other man was
the bapdsomest member. Finally one of the
bows stopped the talk by saying, Well, there's
not much use arguing about =. Brown himself
admits it -
Mr. wadsworth admitted" this evening that
he would have at least 81 votes out Of the lO'
Repnbcans scheduled, according to the clerks
manual
FAIR TREATMENT FOR NEw-YoRK.
On the subject of committee leaders or the
makeup of committees he was silent. He prom
ised that New-York County should receive fair
treatment. and New-York City should be recog-
nized properly in the organization of the Cities
Committee.
Il don't want to go into eny discussion OF the
past" he said, in answer to questions 1
haven't been considering whether there has been
proper recognition before. I promise now that
due recognition. I believe. from what / have
heard and read that many suggestions relative
to ballot reform will be brought before US this
session don't care to express my opinion on
any specific point. 1 should not care TO say
ANYTHING about the advisability of law per-
mifting the ballot boxes 10 be opened 10 decide
the recent election
Il have heard the talk about the appointment
of Mr. Merritt floor leader. don't care TO
discuss that All l can say is that the subject
is entirely open to the appointment of Mr..
Merritt or any other leader of any committee"
Senator Alfred r Page. of New York. visited
the Governor to-day. The Senator said that a
ma ioritv of the New-York County Assemblymen
would vote for Mr.. Wadsworth. He felt no
doubt as to Mr. Wadswoyths election.
Timothy /. Woodruff came to town tonight.
He said that his knowledge of the Spsakership
situation was superficial but he believed Mr..
Wadsworth would be elected. OF the twelve
Republican Assembiymen from Kings. eight
were pledged TO Wadsworth. he said. Two un-
pledeed he had been told, would vote for him.
and probably the other two and the Municipal
Ownership men also would.
Besides the suggestion Of Mr. Merritt ma
iority leader. there are other names mentioned
by politicians here. Arthur Wade of Chautau-
qua has been considered. Il was said to-day.
James T. Rogers the present leader. and Jean
L. Burnett OF Canandaigua, have been suggest
ed Mr.. Wadsworth declined 10 discuss any
names.