Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-24
LAUNCH A BOON FOR ACNEW
New York City Asssmblymen Try to Place
New aniidste in Field.
OFFER IS TAKEN UNDER AMUSEMENT
Caucus Decides 20 support Wads-
worth for speaker in Case
ARnew VIII Not Make
Race.

NEW YORK. Dec 23-While formally
adopting a resolution in support of Assem-
blyman James W. Wadsworth, jr., for
speaker of the assembly. the assemblyman
elected on the republican and municipal
ownership tickets, tonight brought for
ward tentatively. candidate from New
York county in the person of Assembly
man George b. Agnew, of the twenty
seventh assembly district. Mr. Agnew was
nominated in the conference of the New
York county members tonight by Assembly
man Stanley who declared that Mr.. Agnew,
as New York county's candidate, would go
into the republican caucus at Albany with
forty votes pledged.
| Mr. Agnew would not consent tonight to
stand as a candidate. Withholding his de-
cision in the matter until he could con-
suit his friends and test the sentiment
among republicans of New York county.
Mr.. Agnew himself introduced the resolu-
| ton endorsing Assemblyman Wadsworth
| for the speakership. Several others who
voted for the resolution did so with the
reservation that II Mr.. Agnew would stand
| as a candidate their support would be
| thrown to him.
Three of those present declined to vote
at all on the resolution desiring not to ex-
| press any choice as between Assembly
man Wadsworth and Merritt and contend
! ing that New York county should have a
| candidate.
Text of Resolution Adopted.
Eleven of the sixteen republican and
| municipal ownership assemblymen were
present at tonights conference, which was
! an adjourned session of the conference
held last night. At the conclusion of the
| conference "a formal statement was given
| out which said
| In view of recent developments in the
| speakership contest, Ii is the sense OF
those present that every republican mem
Der of the assembly from the county Of
New York should vote at the coming caucus
for James w. Wadsworth. jr.
All the men elected to the assembly from
New York county and municipal ownership
tickets have been invited to meet and con-
fer. Some of them have failed to do so,
some have attended some meetings, and
some while agreeing to stand together,
! withheld on the republican and municipal
tickets, met separately and decided to act
separately. The republican members have
made every effort to unite with those
held on both republican and municipal
ownership tickets, but the municipal owner
ship men refuse to unite and now stand
alone
A resolution was introduced urging that
New York county should put candidate
forward, but was lost. II was the under
standing at the meeting that the vote of
the republican members endorsing Mr..
Wadsworth was not binding on them.
Despite the fact that the statement was
made that the municipal ownership MEM
bers will not unite with the republicans an
effort will be made to secure unity for Mr.
Agnew If he will consent to run.
Merritt Makes n Statement.
E. A. Merritt jr., candidate for the nom
ination for speaker of the New York state
assembly, made a public statement tonight
in which he said that IN the face of re.
peated demands for the resignation or re.
moval, by people and parties of all sorts
the governor has continued to extend ovei
Francis Hendricks, the superintendent OF
} insurance, Frederick d. kilburn, state su
perintendent of banks, and George w
/ Aldridge, state railroad commissioner, the
! necessary protection of his Office power
. 1t is not to be wondered that they SHOULD
cleave to the governor" said Mr.. Merritt
THE president is said to be out for wads
worth. If he is taking a part, 1t is no
the first case OF presidential interference,
in the politics of the state. Such interfer
ence has heretofore resulted in disaster t
the republican party of the state.
The conference held here yesterday
consisting of all the leading members o
o the assembly and about half of the repub
n lican members-elect, by their expression
: of opinion show clearly that the actor
8 of the governor is most dstastefui t,
= every man who has had any real legisla
d tive experience. For this no one can b.
, held responsible except the governor an,
n his kitchen cabinet, who have forced
: false and unnatural situation"
Wadsworth I'm Washington
e WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-James wads
d worth. jr., of New York, candidate TO
c speaker OF the assembly, arrived in Wash
u ington tonight to spend the holidays will
II Mrs. Wadsworth, who is visiting he
mother, Mrs. John Hay. Speaking of tn
campaign for the speakership, Mr.. wads
worth said that he expected to win, bu
Q could not add anything interesting to tn
n situation beyond what is already known
> Mr.. Merritt says he is in the race [
d stay, and perhaps he is" continued he %
n have no appointment to meet the presi
5 dent and do not know whether l shall Sc