The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-21
EFFORT TO COMPROMISE
WARRING FACTIONS TRYING TO
 GET TOGETHER.
Wadsworth, Higgins's Man, and Mer- ritt, OdeIi's Puppet, Both Con Adent of Being Chosen Speaker of New York
 Assembly.

New York, Dec. 20.--An important
 move. in the contest for the Speakership
 of the New York State Assembly was
 made today when after a conference
 which included some of those opposed
 to the candidacy of J. W, Wadsworth. Jr., a decision was reached to call a conference of all Republican members of the Assembly to be held in this city on Friday.
 Though MT Wadsworth was not con
 suited, friends of E. A. Merritt, Jr., also a candidate for the Speakership. said tonight that the call would in clude the adherents of both camps and that it was intended to get the mem bers together for an expression of their views on the action of Governor Hig- gins in supporting Mir Wadsworth and as to the other candidates.
 Another interesting feature today was a statement that Assemblyman James T. Rogers, the majority leader of the Assembly. is considering wheth- CT to announce himself for the Speaker. MT. Rogers withdrew from his candi- dacy for Speaker when Governor Hig- gins came out in favor of Mr. Wads- worth, MT. Merritt made public a statement tonight in which he criticised Governor Higginss action, declaring that the Governor had undertaken to dictate and make the choice of Speaker HOL dS dU dGL OI lu6 ltBlSldlIVe DOQYs but matter of appointment No dis claimer on his part of an intention to set himself up as political boss counts for anything against the positive course he has taken"
 With Assemblyman James Wads- worth, Jr.. and Assemblyman E. A. Mer- ritt, Jr.. in the contest for the Speak ership of the lower House of the State Legislature, was very keen today rfaNa te A. and Senator Maltby, one of those who spoke for MT. Merritt. said that Mir. Merritt would continue in the race, and added:
 We will not get shot in the back anyway. I have known Governor Hig- gins when he was in the Senate, and while do not intend to reflect on tho ability of the Executive. know of no reason why he does assume a divine right to dictate to anybody"
 Mir. Wadsworth. who is favored for the Speakership by Governor Higgins, said he knew of no reason why his candidacy could be said to have orig mated in Washington.
 Think 1t could be said to have originated in Washington
 'I think 1t originated with a man in this State." he added. 'I saw the President at a social affair in Wash InBlOH OH OdlATOdyb anu ne mentioned the Speakership, but I do not know whether or not he is in favor of my candidacy"
 Mir. Wadsworth was told that Mir. Merritt and Senator Maltby had de- clared that Governor Higgins's action was in Interference with the Assembly and dictations to its members.
 MT. Wadsworth declined to say he is opposed to the eontin- uance to Mir. OdelI as chairman of the State Committee. When he was told that G. w. Dunn of Bing- had said that President Roose- welt favors MT. wadsworth's candidacy he said:
 That is Mir. Dunn's statement. do not know about 1t. I expect to meet the New York assemblymen while I am here and to have the votes of half of them"
 Former Governor Odell who has been reported to favor Mir. Merritt said: "I am not managing Mir. Merritt's cam paign. The only thing I could do for nim would be to ask the assemblyman from my district to vote for him and [ have not even done that"
 Mir. odell was asked if. while he was governor he had attempted to