New-York tribune., 1907-11-19
PLACE FOR MERRITT.
PHILLIPS SCRATCHED.
Former Nosc on Slate as Majority
Leader Of assembly.

Edwin A. Merritt, Jr., is TO be majority leader
Of the Assembly. The announcement was made
last night by so close to State Chairman
Woodruff and Speaker Wadsworth that it ad-
rnits Of little doubt.
Before he left town last week Speaker wads-
worth communicated with Mr. Merritt and told
him he was in favor of his election as leader. {"
said one Of the 2kers friends last night IN a
Tribune reporter.
TnIs means that the so-caIIed slate which in
Guided WadswOrth for Speaker, Jesse S. Phillips,
Of Alegany. for majority leader and Ray B.
Smith for clerk in place OF Colonel Archie l..
Baxter has been changed and that the Speaker
has decided to have Mr. Merritt for an ally
rather than opponent
It IS understood that Mr. Merritt will make
No contest for the Speakership if he obtains the
leadership Whether the alliance between Wads-
worth and Merritt means any weakening in the
plan for the election of Ray B. Smith as clerk
remains TO be seen. Mr.. Merritt said last week
that he was for Baxter for clerk and he doubt
less viii support him. In consideration of the
Wadsworth support for the leadership 1t IS
likely that he will not do more than vote for
Baxter, leaving the fighting in behalf of Colonel
Baxter TO be done by others
Ihere Is a strong personal friendship between
NJ Merritt and the Speaker Mr. Merritt
stroked his crew at Yale to victory against IIar-
ward. and Mr.. Wadsworth was the captain OF a
winning baseball team at Yale. They are warm
friends 1t is understood that Speaker Wads-
worth yesterday saw Assemblyman Phillips Of
AHegany, and talked over the leadership matter
with him. and that Mr.. Phillips although the
ranking member Of the Ways and Means Com
nttee' VIII not be a candidate for the leader
ship by the time the Legislature assemblies.
The struggle for the clerkship goes on merrily.
Colonel Baxter is making the rounds, obtaining
a aG Eh1o
confident of winning. Mr. Smith has the back
ing OF State Chairman Woodruff which means
nearly all the votes in the delegation of thirteen
from Kings, assistance from President Herbert
Parsons Of the Republican County Committee
his own members from Onondaga and William
Barnes, Jr.. Of Albany. With these for a start
ne VIII be able to make strong showing when
the brethren get together at Albany. The old
timers say the vote will be close, unless one of
The contestants voluntarily retires
Senator Alfred p Page, one of the Coverno,ys
closest friends. was asked Yesterday what s,y.
hihcance he attached TO the activity OF the
"oodruit-Pars Barnes people in arranging a
siate Tor the legislative good things, and said:
WI ny do the heather rage and the people
Imagine vain thing?"
When 1t was suggested that something mora
definite than parallels would be welcomed he
smiled and shook his head
''ALi nj EHISOus De able to send united
delegation from this county to support his man
smith? was asked of Robert S. Conklin. of the
2lst Assembly District
Parsons? Parsons? Oh. yes; I remember where
I've heard that name" was Mr. ConkIin's reply.
Parsons was the man who advocated the
f1earst-Repubncan fusion in our late Iamented
campaign Mr. Conklin's plurality. It may be
recalled was cut down horribly by that fusion
lie vouchsafed no further reply to the question
Politicians estimated yesterday that James A.
Francis. of the 23d Assembly District in all
probability would decline to let Mr. Parsons
SWING his vote. and others said that r r.
TooFnbs. the new Republican member from the
18th Abe Gruber's district, surely would not
join the Smith ranks
Charles S. Belts. of Lyons, a member of the
Republican State Committee called at state
headquarters yesterday. He said that Governor
Hughes had the fullest confidence of the people
In Wayne County, and intimated that if Presi-
dent Roosevelt was not reuominated the people
would demand the nomination of Hughes