New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-01
MERRITT RAPS HIGGINS,
Says Gouernor's Atttude Is VioIa-
ton of State Constitution.
~ Telegrapn 70 The Triture.I ]


clares that the attitude taken by Governor Hig-
gins in suggesting Assemblvman Wadsworth for
Speaker is violation of the State constitution
ard complete overstepping Of the powers of
the Executive. He retiterates his declaration
that on the Governor and his advisers must rest
the responsibility for whatever occurs in the
Assembly in the coming session. His remarks
are accompanied by some rather dismal fore
bodings.
The effect of the present situation and its
development in the Assembly says Mr. Merritt.
will be gravely felt next autumn in the state
campaign. Success then is important to main
tain the supremacy of the Republican party.
Would the Governor and his advisers accept
the responsibility for what might spell defeat
then?'' he asks.
The statement IS as follows:
The contest for the Speakership in which
have for some time been engaged is about draw
ing to close. In the beginning ii seemed to
be a question only as TO whether myself or an
other judged upon the principle of fitness and
experience and service should be selected
Since that time, however, by reason OF an edtCt
issued by the Governor of the State, my per-
sonality has been eliminated and the only ques-
ton which remains as a matter of contest is
one of principle.
1t must be allowed by all fair minded and
thoughtful people that it is one Of supreme i'm
portance to all of the people Of the State ire
spective of party for 1t establishes a precedent
which. if hereafter followed. as 1t may be. viii
of our government which cost our Lore-
fathers so much to establish and which has been
regarded by all Of our people as the very bull
Wark of our liberties.
The legislative branch Of our Commonwealth
in common with that of every other state IN
the Union has by the constitution of the State
been given extraordinary powers the members
of which elected annually, and IL these
members be found incompetent or II they do
not represent the will of the people they may
be speedily removed. IL has the power almost
extraordinary over the other two branches OF
peach or remove any member of the judicial OF
executive department OF government
INTERFERENCE NOT PROVIDED FOR
The constitution places the powers Of govern
ment generally under three man a qIVIslIl's IsIa-
that majority of each house shall choose us
own officers 1t does not in any way author1zs
one department to meddle interfere with an
other. Among the specified powers and duties
of the governor it does not mention directly or
otherwise the appointment OF q opsdAgt i+t VI so
Assembly of any other otflcer or elther As
sembly or Senate. In violation OF this prlnclple
Governor Higgins seeks TO appoint Assembly,
man WadSworth Speaker. Win an drrOSdlCo
Inprecedented he seeks to impose his own Will
and preference upon coordinate prancn OF
government In his own person he proposes
70 unite both the legislative and executive
branches of government. If he succeeds N tnlS
what guarantee have we that he Will not try oy
appontment and pressure to acquire the power
and authority of the courts2 Must judges here
after swear allegiance to Governor Higgins ana
'FOQmltCee
will be the effect of this plan as applied TO the
politics of the State. and how will his course
affect the fate of the Republican party next No-
vember?
e,,nnose for instance that IN the last cam
pafgn Governor Higgins had been asked If he
would attempt to do the thing now undertaSeh.
and had answered in the affirmative. by what
majority do you think he would have been
beaten and what majority would the Repunhcah
party probably have nowadays5 961, SuPPISe ft ma
been asked whether they favored giving tno
Governor such extra constitutional powers as In9
naming of Speaker and whether they INTENDED
to give Governor Higgins their proxy IN the
organization of the Assembly, and they mad an
swered in the affirmative. how many do you
think would have been elected? Suppose. now.
that Governor Higgins succeeds IN ms uncon-
demands of the Republican candidate for Gov
ernor and the members Of the Assembly who
have been Coerced in this matter. and perhaps
renominated why they dld M; ana =! ~Ilas @ tI.sy @
think about it. and how they Ike 1t, now DO you
think the people of the State are likely TO treat
Republican candidates for office generally?
II is wrong to violate the constitution Of ths,
state in letter or in spirit. It is wrong to make
the Assembly a place TO fight out dlnerences
that should be settled in the Republican STATE
convention It is wrong to attempt TO build a
:politicaI machine on a foundation OF unfairness
and Misrepresentation. 1t is bad politics TO be,
In a wrong way What sort Of leadership does
such things Indicate? To what brilliant vic
IN if viii have to answer before the year is out
to an outraged and disgusted constituency
will be interesting II we ever Know WnO
prompted Governor Higgins to hand out his
typewritten notice Of appointment. II would
be worth a lot to know who poured the oil and
wine of conservation on his head When the!
method decided on in which this thing
should be attempted which one Of the two orr
three possible persons said, Just hand it out
to them That is the way 1 do It. They VIII
stand for 1t like the outcasts and towards we
know them to be"
There is more in this than appears Covernor
Higgins and his advisers have produced this !
situation: let them work out the solution Il ]
was said of old. He that draws the sword shall
perish by the sword" There Is also the well
known classic history Of the sowing of the
dragons teeth and the pleasing results that fol-
lowed.
DOESN'T WANT TO BE misunderstood.
T do not wish to be understood as making
kind or fnvdious comparisons. but does Gov
arnor Higgins really desire 70 take the res2oa-
sibIlitV of putting upon any inexperienced man
burden which men OF such long service. tacl aio
force as the late Speaker Nixon found at times
yearina and severe2 Does he think II wise %
Dut his choice in position where his acts
viii be- criticised and his motives possibly
misfnterpreted by a large number Of men vho
feel that in the selection made and in the man
ner Of its announcement deIbeSate Insult has
heen offered to all the men Of longer service in
the Assembly? Is it not as unfair 10 him as &c
any one?
Next year we have a Governorship campaign.
TO secure the supremacy Of the Republican
party success at the next election Is important
To the mass of the party generally Repuoh-
canis1n means the triumph Of certain principles
of government more than Il does the success or
individual leadership. Do Governor Higgins
and his advisers desire to take the responsibility
of a situation which may unfavorably affect the