New-York tribune., 1905-12-24
WADSWORTH FEELS SURE.
Expresses Confidence of Election as
iSpeaker-Merritfs Statement.

There was IuIl in the contest for the Speaker
ship of the State Assembly yesterday. James w
wadsworth. jr.. the candidate from Livingston
County left town for Washington to pass Christ
mas with his family in that city, Assemblyrnan T.
A. Merritt jr. of St. Lawrence. was still in town
and may stay here over Christmas as his forlily
is in California Mr.. Merritt sent out large
ber of letters to Assemblymen yesterday, IN which
he informed them that he still candidate for
the Speakershp and "shaH be until either myself
or some other candidate has been elected" He
also told them that he would be in Albany the
latter part Of next week and until the question
was decided and would be glad to meet the AS
semblyrnen there. When Mr.. Wadsworth returns
from Washington he expects to open headquarters
in Albany, so that during the week preceding the
opening OF the new session Of the legislature the
battle-ground of the Speakershp contest will be
at the State capital Before leaving the city he
said;
that viii not come back to NeW-York next week.
do not care to give out figures and names am % at
publican Assemblymen back of me. among them
attack on the President and Governor Higgins has
helped great deal.
Mr. Merritt made a statement last night in
which he said: I'm the face of repeated demands
for their resignation removal by people aud
parties OF all sorts, the Governor has continued
extend over Francis Hendricks, Superintendent of
Insurance; Frederick D. Kilburn Superintendent
of Banks and George ". Aldridge Railroad Com
missioner, the necessary protection of his official
power 1t is not to wondered at that they should
cleave to the Governor Dir. Merritt offered his
services for further investigation Of corporations
and state departments.
ATr Merritts statement continued:
All St Lawrence County and Northern New
ad Yofk ASKS snd q viii In not accept anyhn less mt Il u viii
not aequiesee in any other n,rp pfogramme no matter
of the state, whose condition Governor Higgins
thinks will be SO much improved by his appoint
of WadSWOrth
consists almost entirely of State and federal office
co@hy is Of a cEaraetr Which needs no defence
We always give 9a a6d HgSP nd
Roosevelt have had our loyal support We stand
Gi COUNTY Ohio, as one Of the impregnabie strong
holds of Repubsea9ismn m Fl For more thai than fifty years
representative men n. Not one of them at any
ever disgraced his party or the community from
which he came. Such county is entitled 10 a fair
deal, and decency and good Judgment demand such
Certain officials OF the Republican party seem dis
posed to wash as much Of its dirty linen in public
which exists is something for which | am in no
way out we are n al s e99nd 6y h9 fbig iGgs
which may come conclusions are things for
when neither l nor any of my friends can be held
The President said to be out for wadsworth
presidential interference in the politics of the
in disaster TO the Repubncan party OF the state.
The whole thing comes 70 this: The Governor of the
male the Assembly part pf the executive de-
ra-fTnent violating in spirit the constitution and
ttbo ne natb 10 which they have severaly subscribed
II is not done in response TO any demand the
narf NJ the Assembly itself the people generally,
but in my opinion to protect lot of people whose
only hope Is organization sufficiently unsatis-
facirlS fo make aggressive work the part of
Assembly practically impossible.
The conference held here yesterday, consisting of
Ali tbe leading members of the Assembly and about
half of the Republican melneers-seci ny tneir ex-
az the Governor is most distasteful TO every man
p-ho has had any real legislative experience. For
any disagreeahle consequences no one can be held
cabinet who have forced false and unnatural
situation do not believe, however that the mem
hers of the Assembly VIII submit 10 this proposed
Interference and dictation.
All that I or any of the older members OF the
a kssemblY ask is a fair deal and opportunity 10
orennize the House we think proper and as the
CONSTITUTION provides. This seems reasonable de-
mand and one which should be conceded BY all
bosses biz or little. A majority OF all Repub-
lican members have. in one way or another, prom
ised me their support. II remains TO be seen
whether they will be permitted 10 make effective
their deliberate choice or whether pressure ny the
Governor will force them TO act against their un-
preiudiced Judgment.