The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-22
Charges Roosevelt and Higgins
 with Personal Motives
WOULD WRECK TIE PARTY
Trouble In New York Arises Over the Contest for Speakership of the ssembly-President Fa-
 vors WadsWorth.


 New York, December 21.-1nterest in the contest for the speakershp of the New York state assembly was tonight largely centered upon the interview given today by Ex-Governor Odel republican state chairman, in which he accused Pres ident Roosevelt and Governor Higgins of a deliberate attempt to wreck the re- publican party of this state in order to further personal ambitions.
 Assembyman Wadsworth said tonight:
 'I believe Governor Higgins statement that President Roosevelt did not dc- tate my candidacy, and I think Governor Higgins is abundantly able to take care of himself"
 MT. Wadsworth said he would not at tend the conference of republican semblymen called in this city tomorrow, although he had received an invitation tonight.
 MT. Wadsworth said that he recogniz- ed the conference originated with his opponents, and added:
 'I was never more confident than I am this minute that I will be elected 1t absolutely certain"
 Assemblyman E. A. Merritt, Jr, can didate for speakership, issued a statement tonight criticising the manner In which J. W. Wadsworth, Jr., was put forth for the speakership Mir Merritt says;
 Influence By Indirect Means.
 Governor Higgins Is quoted today as still of the opinion that the President will not interfere in the selection of speaker of the assembly At the same time he seeks to convey the impression that the election of his nominee MT. Wadsworth, will be especially pleasing to the President, seeking l suppose, to get the benefit of the Presidents great personality for his candidacy by indirect means
 Tn previous interview he admitted that he told me that he did not include me in the list of men whose election was for any reason improper or not for the best interests of the people of the state in our interview he reserved the right to oppose the nomination of such persons, discussing the question gen orally, but stated explicitly that this would not occur in my case, "Every experienced member of the as- sembly resents and has right to re- sent, the naming of Mir Wadsworth by Governor Higgins for the speakership.
 "The situation is unheard of in the history of the political parties of the state Mir Wadsworth. 1t is claimed, did not know that he was a candidate until Governor Higgins told him so. At that time he was under obligations to Assem- blyman Hooker to support him to the end of the canvass. At this opportune moment when the fact of his preference was announced to MT. Wadsworth, MT. Hooker, by a singular coincidence, was on the scene He thereupon conven- tiently withdrew"
 Odeli Makes Charges. Former Governor B. B. Odell, chair man of the republican state committee, today made statement in which he charged President Roosevelt and Governor Higgins with a deliberate attempt to wreck the republican party of this state for their own personal ambition. He de- clared that If disaster ensued, they, not he, will be responsible. MT. Odell's accusations were part or his comment upon the situation growing out of the contest in the republican party in this state for the speakership of the New York state assembly MT. | Odell declared himself in favor of E. A. l Merritt, Jr several days ago. On Monday last Governor Higgins came | out in favor of J. w. Wadsworth. Jr. | MT Odell said today:
 Remarkable Case of Duplicity. .I notice that Governor Higgins said he never was for Merritt Shortly after elec- | ton I went to Governor Higgins ana l asked him who he was for for speaker. | He eliminated all but Merritt and said | that neither New York nor Buffalo could | tt ee | ton against the cities. l asked him 1T | Merritt would be satisfactory to him and he asked me to see Merritt and ask him | some questions. I saw Merritt and report 1 ed to the Governor, and he said he was | satisfied I clearly understood he was for | Merritt and was never so surprised as | when he changed his trolley. This is the worst case of duplcity in politics l have | ever known. Merritt Is absolutely rlght I in saying that the Governor agreed to support him. He offered to the Governor | to stay out of the contest If the Governor wanted him to do so.
 Led by the collarless and coatless young man who took us all to defeat In | 1891 Apparently referring to J. Sloat Fas- setD, William Barnes. Jr., Col. George w. Dunn and others, with sore thumbs, visited Washington and stirred up this trouble. If 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 to confer with him for the sake of obtaining harmony in the party. If that had been done, all this trouble would have been avoided without war | fare.
 Trying to Wreck Party. .I charge President Roosevelt and Gov l ernor Higgins with deliberately trying l to wreck the party in this state for their won personal ambitions. If this means 1 party disaster, they and not l and my 1 friends are responsible. They, and not l. are to blame.
 So far as gratitude Is concerned, Gov l ernor Higgins certainly owed me some thing Instead of putting out the hand of friendship he chooses to throw stones at those who have been his friends. Hig- gins could have told me that he did not want me nor Merritt to be In this af- l, fair, but instead he throws stones. If | the President wanted reform was 1 friendly and he could have had 1t. ] charge him and the Governor with inject | ing their personality into this matter | Their harmony consists of knocking i 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.
 
 ! Econtinued on sseond Panel