The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-05
CLERKSHIP FIGHT GETS WARM
IF SMITH CAV BEAT BANTER, EET
HIM, Is THE TALk. !
GOVernor-Elect Hughes n Mrs. Hughes
"a TO Albany To-day. Mr.. Hughes TO
Washington OF Dec. I3-sA Assembly.
men ser woodruff and Talk Committees

men sec woodruff and Talk Committees
Governor-elect Hughes and Mrs. Hughes
will leave for Albany this morning on tho
Empire State Express TO be the guests OF
Governor and Mrs. Higgins to-day. Mrs.
Hughes will indicate to the State Superin-
tendent OF Public Buildings the changes
she wishes made in the Executive Mansion,
when she and her husband take possession
on January /. Mr.. Hughes said yesterday:
Il am going 10 Washington to see the
President next Wednesday, December II
Immediately after election the President
sent me his congratulations and invited
me 70 go and see him, and ] accepted his In
vitation."
Mr.. Hughes's attention Was called to a
despatch from Washington quoting Senator
Plat a. saying that he had received a
letter from the Governor-elect. Mr..
Hughes said:
Il think the Senator must have been mis-
quoted. l have not sent a letter 10 him"
Mr.. Hughes personally confirmed the
statement in The Sun yesterday as to his
attitude of non-interference In the organizs-
ton of the Senate aud the Assembly when
he said.
Il think my attitude in that matter il
pretty well understood. l realize my re-
sponsibility as Governor, and | think the
two branches Of the Legislature realize
their responsibility"
At Republican State headquarters, IL
East Thirtieth street. there was a drove Of
A~ssemblymen. Incidentally the old report
that Frederick ID. KilbuTn, Superintendent
of Banks, intends 70 resign on January l
was revived. IL was stated this time that
G~overnOr-eleot Hughes and state Chairman
Woodruff were 30 informed. Mr.. Hughes
didn't know anything about the matter,
and Mr.. Woodruff said
81 have heard reports hat KilbuTn had
an offer. a very 1attering offer, in a bank
to DO just the sort of work for which he is
hest suited. and ] ave heard he was to
resign. | have no official information,
however. az 10 the truth Of the report
Former United States senator Frank
Hiscook OF Syracuse joined the Onondaga
delegation at State he adquarters yes
rerday in urging the selection of Ray b..
Smith to be- Clerk Of the Assembly. Clerk
Archie T.. Ba xter will see Mr.. Woodruff and
Others to-day abo ut his candidacy for re-
election. This rivalry between Col. Baxter
and Mr.. Smith became even more trouble
some yesterday. Personally, Col. Baxter
has a host of Republican friends. But
il was mentioned TO Chairman Woodruff
that b. b. Odell. Jr., jumped into the arena
shortly after election day with Col. Baxter
as his candidate for Clerk. Mr.. Odell
had meetings of Assenblymen friendly
to himself az the Murray Hill Hotel. in
which Senator George r.. Malbv Joined.
and they took up the oudgels for Col. Baxter,
who said later on that MIR. Odell and the
others had no right TO make him a factional
candidate. Chairman Woodruff was re-
minded yesterday that Col Baxter for
several years has been very partial TO Mr..
Odell's side of the Republican camp, and
a hint was given that MIR. Woodruff and
all other Republicans in the State should
stop playing Higgins politics and throw
the weight Of their influence to Smith"
BY Higgins politics" the Republicans
who counselled Mr.. Woodruff said that
they meant tolerating Odell and they said
that the very last vestige Of Mr.. Odell should
be done away with, even il it retired TO
private life so good a man az Col. Baxter.
They also said that Col. Baxter could be
provided with another place where there
would not be n~inety-five appointments TO
make that might be a valuable machine
asset. II was easy to see yesterday that
there is very much feeling over this Assem-
bly, clerkship. The Republicans who oun
selled with Chairman Woodruff said that a
fight should not be avoided, but that the
issue between Odell and the anti-Odell
menin the party should be brought right up.
Fity-four Of the ninety-eight Republican
Assemblymen turned up at headquarters
TO talk with Chairman Woodruff and tell
their wants "a TO committees. Speaker
Wadsworth is TO be here to-day. There
ia no doubt whatever OF the Speakers re-
election. The Speaker, with Mr.. Woodruff
and others. il to make up a tentative list Of
chairmanships, and then everything IL TO
be left Ia the Assembly caucus which is 10
convene OF January ?.
Some Of the Assemblymen callei on
Go~vernor-elect Hughes at his Office. These
visits, however. were merely visits Of cour-
tesy. for the callers knew that Mr.. Hughes
would refuse to discuss with them any
matters relating to the organization Of the
Legislature.