New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-02
LEADERS PLAN BATTLE
W4DSWORTH FEELS SURE.
O1eYs and Parsons's ViesUs ON Zoe
of Spedkership Caucus.
nav Telegraph 20 The tribune ]

Arbs7v ian 1-Despite the pledging Of a ma
.or3tv Of the New York County members OF the
Assembly 10 support Mr.. Wainwright as cendl-
5o.a for Speaker and the straining OF every
,.rre by Assemblymen Merritt Senator Malby
90 Ex-Governor odeu TO effect sufficient di-
ss3on IN the caucus to cut the Wadsworth vote
ns,ow the safety margin, Mr.. Wadsworth ana
,e friends reiterate tonight their absolute con-
.s.,co of his election The situation on the eve
=. me caucus they declare is unchanged No
,o,,t,caI pressure. no work by Mr.. Merritt and
-. r-tends not even combination of both the
onnosing candidates, could bring about Mr..
Wadsworth's defeat they declare
Indignation reigned In the Odell-Merritt
,snn when. late tonight. Nicholas V. '. Fran
onot srneriutendent OF Public Works, CLOSE
e5snd Of Governor Higgins. made statement
c-staJIizina the runors of use OF money IN con
-,a,+ton with rhe Speakership fight which nave
,As, aAoa4 here to-day. Efforts to have tne vol
Eng 81 the caucus tomorrow night by secret
bsIIot. instead OF the usual personal vote nave
,,,rnsshed opportunities for pressure in unusual
form. The reports have said. MT. Franchot at
,rtnuted this 20 the Oden forces
.srhere is no change in the situation as to Mr-
wassworth." said Mr.. Franchot despite the
5,snerate Efforts made by Mr.. Oden and his
friends. Including ]. Calvin Mcknight, who re-
o.-,Jv 1ras Mr. Harrirnan's secretary. TO COM
mi, the members Of the Assembly 10 secret
baun. Friends Of Mr.. wadsworth are able 10
nut but one construction this scheme. ana
that is a desire on the part OF those associated
with him 70 use money with purpose OF en-
couraging Mr. Wadswortt's defeat Oven with
use of money his friends do not believe this
can be accomplished
Assembiyman Merritt greatly surprised, did
not treat the attack on his party seriously
1T is 10 laugh" he said. Why it's absurd.
It comes from an overheated state OF mind; MI
Franchot must be more scared than he'd like 70
admit People up in that section of the STATE
DO not do business that way
Senator Malby declared that the secret ballot
in Speakership elections was no new thing.
SECRET BALLOT USED BEFORE
The constitution gave the secret ballot fos
serving the purposes of honesty said he II
has been used many times. 1t was used when
was elected Speaker in 1893. 1t was not USED
in Nixon's time because his elections were unan-
irous II will be for the caucus TO decide
AS 10 this story of the Of money, 1t
ridiculous One would naturally assume that
as the candidate on the other side has several
million dollars any money would naturally come
from there"
J. Calvin Mcknight was furious when he
heard Of Mr.. Franchot's statement Any man
who charges me with bribery is a liar" he SAID.
He declared that he would have redress legally
or personally.
Governor Odell would not comment on the
statement
Although the pledging Of the New York men
70 Nj. Wainwright viii result in the loss OF some
votes for Mr.. Wadsworth, his own personally
pledged supporters will be numerous enough TO
elect him, 1t is declared tonight. The defec-
riOr NJ fba N-o,.
will take from his estimate perhaps ten, possibly
fifteen men 1t is estimated but still he will have
left sxty-sx votes at the least, his friends say
Much doubt is expressed, too, as to the hkeh-
hood Of the New York men holding to the pledge
70 Wainwright Mr. Wadsworth's friends here say
openly that the sudden injection of new blood into
the Wainwright candidacy IS a shrewd scheme OF
Mr. Odell's by which he hopes to throw confusion
into tlsa caucus and by shutting WadsWofIu
from victory on the first ballot create slIua-
uon whose only solution will be a compromise
candidate Any method by which Wadswortn IS
defeated would be considered Merritt-Odeh
victory. they say Whether Mr. Wainwright
realizes this or not they do not know. They pc
lieve he does not and when he realizes the situ-
a5!on All decline TO let himself be used in such
a fashion. hey say.
On the other hand. Governor Odeli, who came
here tonight 10 watch the fight, declares thaC
NJ Merritt is sure 20 be elected Votes enough
are assGreJ now. ne says. 10 elect MT Merritt
Iii. Merritt himself is making no statement pN'
he and his friends say they are absolutely con
hdant Of victory.
Victory however. for Mr.. Merritt has changed
its aspect now and does not coincide with ei''c-
ton to the Speakcrship. according to one Of ms
friends. ANYTHING which viii defeat Mr.. Wads-
worth win be considered victory for Mr. Mer-
nit this man said He declared that all the eff
forts wer4 being used now not to elect Merritt
ia.t % defeat Wadsworth and render possible
Continued on third poge.