New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-16
SWEET MAY WELD
CAVEL FOR HOUSE
Oswego Man Said To Be
Progressive Republicans
Pick for Speaker.
HORTON PUT DOWN
FOR FLOOR LEADER
Bull Moose Leaders to Take
Up Question of Candidate at
Meeting on January 5.

mtStIHS VII JdHuui ~
1t was reported yesterday that the Pro-
eressive Republicans of the state had de-
cided to support Assemblyman Thaddeus
G. Sweet of Oswego. for Speaker OF the
Assembly; Clinton T. Horton. of Erie.
for Republican floor leader, and John
Leo Sullivan. of Chautauqua, for chair
man of the Ways and Means Committee.
Ogden L. Mills. treasurer of the Repub-
lican County Committee. recently made a
tour Of the state to determine Just what
sentiment there was for q progressive or
ganizatiou Of the Assembly. ON Friday
night he had several Of the local leaders
and a dozen or more of the upstate pro-
gressive leaders at a dinner conference
al his home, No. East saith street.
When the attention of Mr.. Mills was
called TO the report that the Progressive
Republicans had decided whom they
would support in the organization of the
Assembly. he said:
1T is true that conference was held.
in which many of the upstate leaders
participated, and at which among other
matters of party policy. the names Of
various candidates for the Speakership
of the Assembly were discussed includ-
ing the names OF Sweet, Horton, Sullivan
and IIon.
1t was not. however, the purpose or
function of such a conference to deter
mine the choice of the Assembly for its
Speaker. as as TO any other Of its officers.
nor was that done"
Mr.. Mills said he did not care TO give a
list Of those at the conference. It is I'M
derstood however, that among those pres
cnt were Henry l.. Stimson, Representa-
tive William L. Calder Of Brooklyn: Rep
resentative c. NJ. Hamilton. Of Chautau-
qua Frederick G. Greiner. Of Buffalo:
Harvey u. Hinman. of Biughamton. and
Samuel S. KoenlC, president OF the Repub-
lican County Committee.
All of these Assemblymen have been
more or less active candidates for
Speaker. The Mr.. Hon spoken Of is AS
semblymsu- elect Almcth w Hoff. OF the
18th District, Kings County. However,
nc has not had much strength upstate,
and II has been question as to which of
the three others might be able to COM
mand the most votes in the Republican
caucus as opposed TO the candidate Of
William Barnes, jr
Friends of Mr. Sweet have argued that,
although he is a Progressive. he would
probably be the most formidable candi-
date against any man tina. Mr.. Barnes
might select. He attended the last meet
ing of th2 Independent Assemblymcn-elect
at the Hotel Brevoort, under the auspices
Of the ProgressiveS 1t is believed he
would he strong among that group.
Assemblvman Sweet comes from Pro-
gressive district He was elected on a
direct primary platform 10 succeed 2 man
who was turned down because he had OPP
posed direct primaries. He has always
urged this reform. His friends say that
he has consistently shown his Progressive
tendencies. Mr.. Sweet has just been elect
ed to his fifth term in the Assembly.
One of the greatest problems that the
Progressive members of the Republican
organization have had was 10 secure a
progressive organization Of that body
Although Chairman Barnes has denied
that Assemblyman Harold J. Human, the
present Republican floor leader, is his
candidate for Speaker, il is pretty well
understood that he would secure Hin
mans election if ne believed II possible
However. the general belief is that he has
some man up his sleeve who would carry
out the Barnes reactionary ideas If
elected.
The Progressive state leaders some time
ago organized an independent conference
of Assemblymen with the idea Of holding
the balance OF power. This group includes
Democrats and Republicans, as we'll as
members of the Progressive organization.
They have held several conferences but
have not decided on any candidate for
Speaker. They have to be reckoned with.
however. when 1t comes TO the election Of
a Speaker.
Theodore Douglas Robinson, chairman
OF the Progressive State Committee, has
appointed a special state committee to
consider the question of Speaker, and has
called il TO meet in this city on January
g. lie believes that by that time the stu
alton will be so complicated that the Pro-
gressives may come in in such way
as TO secure considerable advantage TO
themselves on committee places.
One thing that the Progressive Repub-
leans have considered is that there must
be absolute team work between the Speak
er the Republican floor leader and the
chairman Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee. They believe that in selecting
the men for these places the qualifica-
lions of each candidate should be con-
sidered with reference to all the places.
After the Republican conference at the
Waldorf on December 3 there was con-
ference OF Republican Assembymen-elect
at the Republican Club. A resolution de-
claring against the selection Of candi-
date for Speaker who might favor the
ideas Of Chairman Barnes was offered,
but failed OF passage.