Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-01-06
CAUCUS AT ALBANY
Vote on Secret Ballot to Fore
shadow Result.
FRaNCHOT'S STATEMENT MAKES STIR
superintendent OF Public Works
Says wadssyortb Cannot BE
Defeated Even by Use
of Money.


Of Money.
ALBANY. N. H. jan 2 The test OF
strength In the caucus Of Republican
assenblymcn tonight will probably be
taken not directly in vote upon the
candidates for the nomination for
speaker Of the assembly, but upon the
question whether the vote on the speak
crship nomination shall he secret
vote.
In this statement. which represents
the situation at late hour, may be
summed up tie late developments. The
utmost resources of both sides in the
contest are now concentrated upon that
single point Its Importance is evident
in the light Of the fact that the pledges
hitherto obtained from the individual
members of the new assembly have
had reference only to the support Of
this candidate or that. The issue of u
secret ballot for speaker has visibly
disturbed all the comparative certain
ties which had been supposed to exist.
Leaders of the movement for the
of James w. Wadsworth
Jr., of Livingston, who was selected
by Governor Higgins as his choice, adj
NIT that if they cannot prevent Sc
cret ballot they cannot secure Mr..
Wadsworths nomination by the eau
Gus. On the other hand, the adherents
OF Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., of St Law
renee changed their previous tactics of
claiming that they could defeat Wads-
worth even If they could not elect Mer-
rift and began to assert that they were
certain of votes enough to secure Sc
cret ballot.
At last accounts the best informed
observers on both sides agreed that In
an open ballot or roll call of Republic
an assemblymen in the existing condi-
tion of affairs Mr.. Wadsworth would
be elected Estimates of his majority
varied as the point of view of the per-
son estimating. Both sides agreed also
that upon secret ballot the result
would be very different. What such
ballot would develop nobody pretends
to know.
That Mr.. Wadsworth's supporters
view the proposition of secret ballot
with solicitude is evident from a state
ment made late in the evening by SUI
of Public Works n V. V.
Franchot, one of Governor Higgins
closest advisers. Mr. Franchot said
There is no change in the situation.
An effort has been made by the friends
Of Mr.. Odell, including J. Calvin Nc
Knight, recently Mr.. Harriman's pri-
vate secretary, to commit assemblymen
to a secret ballot. The friends of Mr.
Wadsworth are able to put but one
upon this scheme and that
Is, the desire on the part of those OPP
posed to him to use money for the pur-
pose of encompassing his defeat
Even with the use of money they do
not believe this can be accomplished.
The supporters of Mr.. Wadsworth, rep
resenting the vast majority of the Re-
publicans of the state, cannot be in
tluenced by any such means
The statement of Mr.. Franchot soon
became known about the Ten Eyck
corridors and produced a profound sen
sation. Neither Mr.. Odell nor Mr.. Nc
knight would reply to or comment
upon it, but Senator Malby said:
Il should say in reply to the state
ment of Mr.. Franchot that it is the
policy of this state in the interest of
honesty to have secret ballot. Inas-
much as the executive, his superintend-
ent of public works, Mr. Franchot, and
other members of his administration
have sandbagged every assemblyman
from Montauk Point TO Niagara Falls
to secure his vote for Mr. Wadsworth.
Justice and prudence demand that
these men should for once have an OPP
to vote as they want to.
LAS for the use of money, the charge
comes with ill grace from n candidate
who is himself several times a million
aire"
State Chairman Odell has aAived, but
had little to say except that in his
opinion Mr.. Merritt was steadily gain
ing in strength and would secure the
Mr.. Odell announced that
ne would say nothing for publication.
The attitude of the members from
Greater New York Is regarded by both
sides as exceedingly important, and
Ihe Endorsement of Mr. Wainwright of
at the conference there is
the subject of much discussion.
wainwright Has Had the Grip.