New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-22
Ogden L. Mills, After State
Trip, Reviews Speaker
ship Situation.
URGES MAN FREE
FROM INFLUENCE
Should Consider All Elements of
Republican Party in Choice,
He Says.

| trip upstate 10 ascertain the sentiment OF
| the independent Republicans I'm regard TO
a candidate for the Speakership of the
next Assembly issued statement yes
terday In the statement he was inclined
TO discount the declaration OF William
| Barnes Republican state chairman. that
I he would keep his hands off" i'm the
lection of the next Speaker. Mr. Mills
! pointed out that Harold j. Human. the
! present minority leader Of the Assembly.
as his record would show. is the choice
of the state chairman for the place. Mr..
! Mills urged the importance of the selec-
ton Of man who is entirely free from
any personal influence.
| His statement follows.
In view of the statement Of Mr.. Barnes
published in Saturdays papers, and the
reports that have appeared OF late in the
! daily press with reference to activities on
I the part Of myself and other Republicans
! in connection with the organization OF
/ the next Assembly. ! desire 10 make my
! position clear in the matter.
In the first place, il has not been. nor
is il. my purpose or the purpose Of any
one with whom | have conferred To at
| tack the state chairman directly or indi-
/ rcctly. or To in any way dictate the choice
/ OF the Speaker. quite the contrary. All
! our efforts have been 10 ascertain by con-
. ference and communication. with Repub-
! lican mcmbers-elect. what man was best
! fitted 10 lead the Republican majority
according 10 the views OF the members oil
the party at large expressed in open
meeting
! shortly after the election in November
/ IL became known that a number of Re
/ publican Asscmbymen were 80 fearful
| that an attempt would be made by the
state chairman To- force upon the AS
scmblv a candidate for Speaker. whom
1 they regarded as inimical To the interests
of the party and state, that they openly
threatened not to enter the party caucus
I and joined themselves with a number oil
! Democratic and Progressive AssembI!
men. with the avow6d purpose OF acting
with them I'm opposition 10 any such at
tempt Whether or not their fears were
or are. well founded Is immaterial Such
q programme. II carried out. would result
at once in a factional split in the Re
publican party. and could not be ignored
that party.
Accordingly. At the suggestion OF the
Republican Assembly men-eiect OF Kings
and Of New York County. some three
weeks ago ! travelled through the state
interviewing as many Asscmolymen a.
possible in an effort to ind out whether
there was not some candidate Tor Speak
ar on whom all Republicans could unit.
IN the confidence that his administration
would be carried on IN manner sails-
factory 10 all members o. the party. ana
without any fear Of methods That have
brought criticism IN IN, past Far from
being an attempt 10 organize the Assem-
bly, on fractional basis 1T Was and Is
the only way of avoiding this uniortu-
nate result
This ACTIVITY has resulted In keeping
the contest an open one. as contrastcd
with some previous experiences when,
with the weight OF the party organiza-
ton behind one man. the decision OF the
party caucus was forcgOne conclusion
long before the Assemblymen reached
Albany. Such was the case ia 1912
MIR Barnes SAYS that he will not in
terfere. but his preference has already
been clearly expressed by the events OF
the last two years. I'm 1912 Mr. Hinman,
OF Albany vas selected as chairman OF
tho Judiciary Committee by Speaker
Merritt over the head Of his senior in
point Of service. and certainly his equal
I'm ability. John l.. Sullivan. OF 'hautau-
qua. I'm 1913 he was chosen as minority
leader. with the backing Of tn" state
ha
the personal candidate Of the latter for
permanent chairman OF the state con-
ventiOn.
Under these circumstances. every As
semblyman must know without being
told that Mr. iinman is the choice Of
the state chairman. Furthermore IRE
spective Of personal qualifications, many
Republicans believe that for these rca-
sons MI Human is under obligations
which would inevitably prevent him from
Giving an open and impartial admins
tration OF his office
"ln my opinion no speaker will be &C
ccptabe to the great body Of Republi
can voters who has been closely dent-
fed with any one faction or who will
assume office handicapped by a suspicion
in the public mind that he is susceptible
10 a single influence rather than respon
sive 10 the will Of the whole party.
Il entirely agree with Mr.. Barnes as
TO the overshadowinE importance OF the
coming election for Governor and United
States Senator; but | believe that the
greatest factor which initiates against
future Republican success is the fear I'm
the minds Of many that the Republican
organization has remained unchanged in
purpose and spirit since the days Of its
oppositlon TO Governor Hughes ! be-
lieve that such fear is keeping out OF
the PARTY thousands Of voters who wish
10 be and normally would he. Republic
cans.
THE election Of a Speaker. pledged 10
confer with all dement's Of the party be
fore Initiating legi Station. and who In
spirit represents Rcpublicanism in It's
most liberal and widest sense offers the
surcet way Of rcgainng the confidence
of these voters and of insuring Repub!i-
can success"
A fourth nom partisan conference of A.
scmblvmcn-elcct will be held to-day AT
the Hotel BrevOort The committee on
the Speakership Is expected 10 report rs
TO whom its members consider the most
available candidate a. a result 81 the
committees canvass OF several supposedly
'reccptIvor candidates and ifs work ~