New-York tribune., 1912-01-01
HEADQUARTERS FOR DANA.
New Yorker Confident Chances
for Speakership Are Good.
INDICATIONS FAVOR MERRITT
His Friends Say Fight Was Prac.
tically Settled Soon After Elec.
tion-Smith on Hand.

tBy Telegraph TO The Tribune
Albany Dec. 81. - Assepbymsn elect
Charles 4. Dana. OF New York. who Is op-
posing Edwin \. Merritt, jr.. Of 81. Law
renee County in the fight for the speaker
ship of the Assembly. opened headquarters
here tonight. While he is conhdent that
his chances are good the indications point
to the election OF Mr.. Merritt The friends
Of the ST Lawrence County man declare
that the Speakcrship fight was practically
settled soon after the fall election, and that
Mr. Dana started his campaign too late.
Mr. Dana came to Albany to-day after
trip through tine central and western coun-
ties of the state. lie has the support OF the
New York County Republican organization
and. with few exceptions, OF all the Assem-
blymen from Manhattan. He. however,
does not say how much support he expects
TO get from the upstate counties, while the
friends OF Mr. Merritt declare that not
more than one upstate member VIII vote
for Dana.
Mr.. Dana said that he had visited
many counties, but had asked no one TO
vote for him. II asked no one 10 pledge
himself" he said. II simply told tho vari-
Gus members the reasons 7 believe Mr..
Merritt should not he chosen
Asked about the upstate sentiment a. he
found II. he said that there was a strong
feeling in many places that II would be TO
the hest interest Of the Republican party TO
adopt a policy which would give the Assem-"
hlv a start without handicap or without
any cause for criticism. lie thought that
this should be the policy, particularly at
THO time. when the Republican party had
been returned to the control Of the Assem'
blv nv such an overwhelming majority.
"Ir Il Is possible TO organize" he said.
"bv electing officials above criticism ana
susnicion II would be helpful In making
the session more successful
"r have inst visited ten counties In the
western part OF the state, ana am con-
vinced that the claims OF the Merritt sup
porters regarding the large NUMBER OF
n,odoes for their candidate are unfoundeds
Of ALL the Assemblymen | visited but four
informed me that they had pledged them-
selves 10 vote for Mr.. Merritt.
"I think the Republican party wou'd
make a grave blunder In electing Mr.. Mer-
ritt as Speaker. ] am opposed to MIN oe'
cause Of his record, and II those who are
Of the same opinion desire me TO withdraw
and II they have a candidate whom they
feel they can elect / will give him my
hearty support.
"I have been informed that Samuel 8
Koenig. chairman OF the Republican Com.
mittee Of New York County, Will be hero
tomorrow to open headquarters for the
anti Merritt men. We are in this fight TO
stay"
Although the friends Of Mr. Merritt
claim the support of the members from
Erie County Mr. Dana said that they were
not pledged TO anybody
A hard fight over the clerkship Of the As
sembly Is also expected. Ex-Clerk Ray B.
Smith. Of Syracuse, who is one OF the lead
ing candidates for the place, arrived hero
tonight with his friend and supporter As
semblyman F. ". Hammond, OF Onondaga.
He Is confident, but some OF his supporters
express some concern over the action OF
number OF Republican organizations against
him. They, however, believe that. Mr.. Mer-
ritt desires Mr.. Smith as the-next clerk OK
the Assembly and are relying largely on
his influence Others mentioned as candi-
dates for clerk are Willard A. Marakle,
newspaper man OF Rochester: William IA.
Ten Eyck, OF The Bronx; Henry Seilheimer'
of Erie. ex-assistant journal clerk or the
Senate and William V. Ross, OF Cohoes,
former assistant clerk Of the Assembly
Assemblymen Wilson, of Ontario; feo-
mans of Wayne and T. * Smith, OF Onon-
daga all Merritt men, arrived here to-night,
and Mr. Merritt will open his headquarters
here tomorrow.
s. s. Koenig, president Of the New YORK
County Republican Committee, who is push
ing the candidacy OF Mr.. Dana Is also ex-
pected here tomorrow, together with
Messrs Kracke and Campbell. Of the Re-
n,hIican committee OF Kings County.