New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-03
THE NEW SPEAKER.

AS we had confidently expected, Mr.. Wads-
worth was nominated for Speaker last evening
In the caucus of Republican AssemoIymeh Dy
a very handsome majority. The selection Is an
expression of the determination OF the hepuO-
lican party to respond to the popular VIII SO
Enthusiastically manifested at the last electioh'
Not only the friends of Mr.. Merritt but some
persons in and out of the Republican parry
who pretend to distrust the forces which ME-.
Merritt represented, have professed indignation
over the Governors declarations IN faVor ol
Mr. Wadsworth, and in their anxiety 10 re-
buke an ounce OF boss rule" have gwen their
aid to the perpetuation Of a ton OF DosSlsh'
Governor Higgins was confronted by prac-
teal situation. His silence came to mean Lue
election Of Mr. Merritt and the ascendancy OF
the elements which had whitewashed Justice
Hooker and worked for the benefit of water
power and other corporate interests. Mr. Mer-
rift is an able man and we believe personally
honest man, but his election would have been
a defiance of the best public sentiment or the
state and would have started the session
under cloud Of popular dsapproval. To save
his party from that fate Governor Higgins, on
the invitation Of Ex-Governor Odell and OF
many Of the candidates for Speaker, including
Mr. Merritt made known his choice The talk
of his interference with the legislative preroga-
tive is nonsense. He did no more than many
other Governors have done without criticism
TO influence the selection OF Speaker the
Assemblymen were quite as free after he had
spoken they were when handful or poll
ticans were arranging schemes of their own
and intending to force his acquescence in their
plans to defy public sentiment.
Mr. Wadsworth will undoubtedly be among
the first to recognize that for the most part he
has his reputation to make BY an eXuaor-
binary combination of circumstances which
m baPanSa n place
residence, his lack of political entanglements
and his own agreeable personality, he is to be
placed at an extremely early age In an office
which calls for great frmness, ability, indie
pendence and tact. He may possibly have to
face factous annoyance, but we are inclined
to believe that the bitterness engendered by
the contest will soon pass away and that his
rivals will be found working Loyalty for the in
terests Of the Republican party. On Mr.. Wads-
worth is placed the burden of constituting the
Assembly committees and directing the course
Of legislation in harmony with the spirit of re
form. He will here meet a difficult task, for
some who ought TO support and encourage him
will set up unrea sonable demands and blame
him for not granting them. They will care
more for the appearance of reform than for
the substance. If they do not like some COM
mittee chairman they will say Mr.. Wadsworth
has surrendered TO the "grafters." even if he
honesty. 1t must not be forgotten that the
Speaker is not a law unto himself. He is
hedged about by convention. He must make
use OF the material at his command to secure
legislation. Nothing IS to be gained by organ
izing the House in such fashion that reform
measures can be blocked just TO make a show
of iconoclasm with committee lists
The test of reform, in spite of preliminary
criticism will come in the character of the ses-
sion's work. and if Mr. Wadsworth puts honest
men at strategic points, so that legislation in
harmony with Governor Higginss unquestion-
ably high purposes can be secured he will Jus
tify the part taken by the Governor, achieve
an enviable reputation for himself and enable
the Republican party to go before the people
next autumn with renewed strength and conf
dence.