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

roins To DO for the party7" On this basis. with
pleas Of benefit TO party or individuals. or dire
predictions Of disaster to State and legislature
alike were built the arguments Of the poll
ttcfsus who hung around the Assembly mem
hers.
There were TO be seen Ex-Governor Odel and
Assernblyunau Bedeu. Senator Malhy. Timothy
I. woodruff and Colonel Mike" Dady; Max
rhp1sen and ex-senator John Ford. leading the
independence League men; John F. OBrien
Secretary of State William Barnes, jr. and Will
fam L. Ward. of Westchester. Congressman
Parsons and Senator Page kept watchful eye
on New-York men, Senator Elsberg was there
and Senator Pat McCarren appeared IN the
afternoon.
MR. wADSwORTH FAVORITE
The sentiment all day was pronounced in Mr..
wa6sworth's favor. Next in popularity came
Mr.. Wainwright with Mr.. Merritt practically
coupled with him Discussion OF Mr.. VAIN
w-ight's or Of Mr.. Merritt's chances separately
was heard only from New York County members
Over them there was stiff fight. Assemolynan
wainwright was around the hotel early in the
morning to superintend the electioneering. As
semblyman Stanley busy all day trying to
keep in line the men pledged to Wainwright
Agnew Prentice and Wells the lonesome
wadswcrth men from New-York, were bonn
barded by arguments Of every description, from
Jokes to vehement kilograms from irate persons
IN their home districts who had definite ideas
on the Speakership situation
AssembIynan wadsworth spent most Of the
day In his rooms. He was cheerful and con-
fdent of his election. The situation, he said'
was better than ever
81 will have a minimum Of eighty-two votes In
the caucus tonight" he declared tonight. !
have personal pledges from sixty-six members
az, 1ade de n m friends,
but not to me personally, to bring me UP TO that
number. There was a loss. of course, IN the
list had counted on because of the pledge MADE
by the New-York men TO Wainwright, but that
loss has been made up by gains at other points.
have absolute confidence as to the result
Mr. Wainwright this afternoon Joined Nj
wadsworth in his condemnation of the attempt
10 have a secret ballot at the caucus
I strongly against it, said he Every
man should name his choice for Speaker public
w. so that the people he represents may know
how he voted. Long before Governor Higgins
declared for Mr.. Wadsworth in defining MS
platform he was insisting that Il was tne GUY NY
Of the Assembly to name It's own cholCe LoL
Speaker. ! took my stand then, declaring
against interference from anybody. even the
Executive. I stand on that declaration re-
gard It as no more justifable for the Governor
Of a State attempt TO force his choice on the
legislature than for any other political leader
This fight has degenerated into mere po-
rticaI contest between State and county bosses.
I am not a bosss candidate It has been said
that Odell was using me I don't regard my
candidacy in that light, by any means.
Governor Higgins to-day said q last word on
the situation:
1T is delightful he declared. with snlila
Maybe should change that and say am &C.
lighted
He would not comment on Mr.. Franchots
statement regarding attempted bribery further
than to say that 'he whom the coat fitted might
wear 1t Mr. Franchot to-day said that he
had nothing to retract forget.
oDELL FOR SECRET VOTE
Ex-Governor Odell spent the day in confer
ences with Senator Malby. Assemblyman Be
dell. of Orange. Mr.. Merritt and various Of his
political friends He said that he would not
reply to Nj. Franchot's statement, but he did
favor secret ballot
our party always has stood for the secret
ballot TO protect the ernPloye from his
ployer'' said he IF we had secret ballot
at the caucus there are men in the Assembly
who would feel free to cut away from those
who hold a club over them and cast their votes
rnterrfed and untrammeed, and what said
last night about Mr.. Merritt's chances be
1ieVe now
BY p. m. to-day large pronortion Of the
Acknowledgements were present or indivtdu-
ally accounted for.