New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-22
ODELL SLURS PRESIDENT.
IN FIGHT TO LAST DITCH.
Says Mr. Roosevelt asked HIM to
Work for Black against Depe1U.

publican County Committee for the next year
in a way dwarfed the Speakership fight interest
yesterday. but despite this fact the war went on
Edwin A Merritt. jr.. with his cam
paisn manager. Senator Malby. was at the Muir
ray Hill Hotel nearly all day. James W. Wads-
worth jr., with George w. Aldridse and other
friends was at the Hotel Manhattan
The bombsheIl of the day savage and
bitter attack made by Ex-Governor Odell, chair
man of the State Committee. on President
Roosevelt and Governor Higgins 81 am in this
fight to the last ditch" he said in this inter
view. 1T may be killed, but some people viii
know they have been to the wars We Will
have harmony IL we have to fight for 1t am
done with being lied to. trampled on and abused
Now will stand by my friends and we will see
what occurs.
ESQ far as President Roosevelt is concerned.
L will say now. that when the fight for the SEN
atorship between Black and Depew was on
it was at the Presidents earnest solicitation and
request that took up Black candidate. He
told he thought a younger and more vigor-
candidate than Depew should be elected
Then, what happened7 When had consulted
the leaders, and it looked as If Black would be
elected. Roosevelt -ddenly switched He packed
the Plat conference with federal of1ceholders
and pushed Higgins into the struggle and left
to hold the bag. Next. he put Olcott in the
field candidate for president of the county
committee, and got Plat lined up for him Then
he switched to Parsons, throwing Olcott and
leaving Platt to hold the bag
Ex-Governor OdelIs statement continued:
notice that Governor Higgins said he never
was for Merritt. Shortly after election went
to Governor Higgins and asked him whom he
for for Speaker. He eliminated all but
Merritt, and said that neither New-York nor
Buffalo could have 1T because 1t would stir up
opposition againEt the cities, l asked him II
Merritt would be satisfactory. TO him. and he
asked me to see Mr.. Merritt and ask him some
questions 1 saw Merritt and reported to the
Governor and he said he was satisfied clearly.
understood he was for Merritt, and was never so
surprised as when he switched his trolley. This
is the worst case of duplicity in politics nave
ever known Merritt is absolutely right in say
ing that the Governor agreed to support MIN.
He offered to the Governor TO stay out or the
contest if the Governor wanted him to do So
Led by the collarless and coatless young man
who took all to defeat In 1891 Wlilam
Barnes tr, Colonel George w Dunn and others
with sore thumbs visited washington and stT ld
up all this trouble If President Roosevelt nad
the good of the party at heart he would have
sent for me at any time and 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 WITH
out warfare
with deliberately trying 60 wreck the party IN
this State for their own personal amDltlonS. II
this means party disaster they, and not anu
my friends are responsible. They, and not l.
are to blame.
gratitude IS concerned OONSi4LO.
Higgins certainly owed me something Instead
of putting ont the hand of friendship ne chooses
to throw stones at those who have oeen ms
friends. Higgins could have told me thdL ne
did not want me nor Merritt to be IN tnls analr,
but instead he throws stones. If the Pres1oen5s
wanted reform 1 was friendly. and they couId
have had it. / charge him and Governor H1g-
gins with injecting their personalities INTO thlS
matter Their harmony consists OF knoc hLt os
They had time to write letters in support OF
District Attorney Jerome in the last city eec-
ton. but never said a word for WINS. I nere
ing to go to Washington and see the PRESIDENT
They have done the damage and VIII nave 10
take the consequences
Speaking of the candidacy of Congressman
Herbert Parsons for president Of the New-1ork
County Committee. Mr.. Odell said:
Parsons's idea of party harmony is to throw
bricks at my friends. There was no tax oI
Odell or anti Odell in the county committee l
make the prediction that Wadsworth VIII not
be elected as Speaker. We will put MIN out
Speaking of the conference Of Republican
members of the Assembly, called to meet at the
Cadillac Hotel to-day. Mr.. Oden said:
Fifteen or twenty members of the Assembly
oct topetber and decided to have the meeting.
7 suggested to them not to bother me about it
There was d great deal of resentment among among
the Older members of the Assembly at the cand1-
dacv of MI Wadsworth, and they agreed among
themselves to- call this conference.
Mr.. Odell said he did not know who the H1g-
gins following will support for State chairman
rs it Fassett?" was asked
'T hope So" said Mr. Odell-
The greatest interest IS being manifested IN
the meeting of Republican Assemblymen at the
Cadillac to-day This conference was caIleo Dy
AssenbIvman Phillips chairman of the caucus
committee of the Assembly, to discuss the sub
iect of the Speakership Assemblyman Wads-
worth. when asked about this conference last
night, said:
7 L,,a raoei,,ed many Inquiries from Assem-
blymen requesting information as to my attl-
tude toward the conference called by Assembly
man Phillips for tomorrow morning
I have said and believe, that there is no rea-
son for any conference at this time. and that no
good purpose will be served by IL me issues e
Of this contest are clearly defined l know OF
no alternative proposition that can be consid-
cred and there will be no compromise so far
as my friends and 1 are concerned
4ssEMBLYMAN MERRITT's STATEMENT.
Assemblyrnan Merritt issued another state
ment last night criticising the manner in which
Mr. Wadsworth put forward for the speak
ership Mr. Merritt's statement was:
Governor. Higgins is quoted to-day still Of
+be oninions that the President will interfere
i'm the selection of a Speaker of the Assembly
At the same time he seeks to convey the I'M
preston that the election of his nominee MI.
Wadsworth. will be especially pleas!ng 70 tIae
President, seeking. suppose. TO get the penent
of the Presidents great personality Tor ms can
didate by indirect means.
In previous interview he has admitted that
he told me that he die not include me IN the
1is+ If men whose election for any rea-
son improper or not for the best interests of the
people of the State" In our interview ne re.
served the right to oppose the nomination or
such persons discussing the question, generally,
hut stated explicitly that this would not occur
~ nv case I am the same person that was
when we had the interview and so Is he NY
record has not changed, and any ground Tor OBJ
lection that exists now, existed then nave
SSe,,ar discussed the matter with him since, as
Mad a right TO assume that his promise OF nom
interference would last through the canvass.
Ii aid rnt commit himself TO my support, but