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Show DESIRE 10 USE I MOHEVGHAHGED I Wadsworth's Supporters Op- ' pose a Secret Ballot on R-' ' This (.round. p MEN SHOULD VOTE AS THEY f LIKE, SAYS ODELL'S MAN f. Test of Strength in Caucus to fca Come on Question Secret Kh Vote. Wt ALBANY. N. Y . Jan. L Tho test of ' strength ln the caucus of Republican As- semblymen tomorrow night will probably E? be taken not directly In a vote upon the H candidates for the nomination for Spink- Bp'"' er Of the Assembly, but upon tho ques- ' 'BpF',' tlon whether t ho vote on the Speaker- Kt '' ship nomination shall bo a secret vote. fSKi Tho utmost resources of both sides In fej? ' the contest are now concentrated upon B?- that single point, its Importance- Is evl- EC dent In the light of the fact that tin- KB pledges hlth. rto obtained fr,.rn the indi- 5 vldual members of the u a A. mbly Rrv-v have had reference only to the support of this candidate, or that. The Issue of Bt a secret ballot for Sp. .ik. r sprang Into Kf I existence late this afternoon, and iflsibl) disturbed aii the comparative certainties ip r.-.' which had been supposed to exist S'V'' Wadsworth Opposes It. j& Leaders of the movement for the nom- Hj Inatlon of James W Wadsworth. Jr. 61 it" Livingstone, who was s.-ic. ted by i;.. If Hlggins as his choice, admit that If they cannot prevent a secret ballot they can- P I I not secure Mr. Wadsworth's nomination t"-, l b the . auo us On the other hund, the f , '. adherents of Bdwla a Merritt, ,ir . of ii- St Lawrence changed their previous tat IB, '' ' tics of claiming that they could defeat :K Wadsworth even If they COUld not elect y Merritt and began to assert that they kv were certain of votes enough to secure H u secret ballot !,; Secret Ballot Defeats Him. At last accounts tonight tho beet In- I formed observers on both sides agree, I Ife that in an open ballot roll-call of Ri . lU publican Assemblymen, In the existing condition of affairs. Mr Wad-w.,ri'. would bo elected. Both sides agreed. I SlSO, tli 1 1 upon a secret ballot the result f," Would be very different. H That Mr. Whdswotth'd supporters vlsn tho proposition of a secret ballot with H solicitude Is evident from a sfalSl h I made late in the evening by B ipf rln W tendent of Public Works Sr. V V. l-'nin- k chot, one of Gov Hlgglns's closest ad- f I vlsers. Mr. Franchot said- !' Chaigo Attempted Corruption. k "There is no hange ln the situation. A H desperate effort had been inado bv the H frb nds ,,f Mr od.-ll. Including J i''al In M M. Knight recently Mr Haj-rlman's prl- II VStO secretary, to commit Assemblymen to a secret ballot. Tho friends of Mr M Wadsworth are able to put but one con i structton upon tills statement, and that Is, the desire on the part of those op- H posed 1 1 him to us.- money for the pur- I pose of encompassing his defeat Thinks They Can t Be Bought. "Even with the use of money they do H not bcllevo this can be accompli! id t The supporters of Mr. Wadsworth r.pi.-- sentlng the vast majority of the Repm. 1 ll an.-, of the Suite cannot bo Influenced BijfeMddSd by any such means." H This statement of Mr. Franchot soon Haft I became known at. out tin- Ten Eyck n rldors and produced t pi.,f. und si 1 1)'' tlon Neither Mr. Odell nor Mr Hi - I Knighi would replv to or comment upon It, but Senator Malby said: Should Vote as They Want To. 1 ' I should nay In reply to the statement of Mr Franchot that It Is the policy H Oi this Stule In the Interest of honesty PH to have secret iMillot Inasmuch as tho executive, his Superintendent of Public BH Works. Mr. Franchot, and other mem- bcrs of his administration have band- BH bagged every Assemblyman from Mnn- tuuk Point to Niagara Falls to secnio J bis vote for Mr Wadsworth, justice and prudence have demiinded that these- rn. ;, should for once have an opportunity to Bl vote as they want to. BBHJ "As for the use of money the charge. B comes with Ill-grace from a candidate) BBBh who Is htrn-iclf sevirul times a million- BjffiBBl BB Says Merritt Is Gaining. State Chairman Odell had little to sav tonight except that in his opinion Mi. BBBB Merritt was steadily gaining In strength BBBBB. and would secure the nomination. BBBB Mr Wadsworth himself reiterated his BBBBJ statement ttiut he had pei-sonal pledg, BBBBB enough to elect him. BBBBB |
