The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-12
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER IL, 1868.
The spoiIs and the senatorship.


the most arduous labors Of the professional
politicians really begin when they are enabled
TO concentrate their energies on the task of
dividing the spoils. In the midst of popular
contest private jealousies and private ambi-
tions must be concealed, but after 1t is decided
the aspirants for Office feel at liberty to recount
in the most impassioned language the story of
their personal hopes, fears, and hatreds. Ap-
plcants for leading places under Grants
administration are already becoming as plenty
as backberries, and thousand fauoiful argu-
ments are invented to prove that Cormorant
No. / is better fellow than Cormoraut No. 2,
or that the country and the Republican party
can be better served by enriching ofice-seeker
A than by pandering to the ambition Of office
seeker B. Men who made speeches that no
body listened to are fully convinced that
Grant carried Pennsylvania solely by the aid
of their eloquence, and men who bore torches
or marshalled professions think it little less
than treason to doubt that they illuminated
the way and opened the road to the grand
triumph of the third Of November. As long as
parties exist these asI iratons will continue; and
in q nation where every school-boy is taught
that the Presidency is within the scope of his
ambition, it is natural that thousands of en-
thusisstio spirits should feel confident that
they can prepare themselves for a higher
flight by revelling for time in the delights Of
subordinate offices. Experience soon teaches
the dullest aspirants, however, the immense
disproportion between the number of places to
be filed and the number of applicants, and
that the golden key which unlocks the caves
of power is political influence. curious
chapter could be written on the mysterious
methods by which 1t is acquired, and the
varied and innumerable articles resorted to
for the purpose of producing in the proper
quarter, at the propitious moment, the i'm
preston which is necessary to secure coveted
appointment. The most common and essen
tial step is to obtain the active friendship OF
influential political leaders, and their endorse
ment is usually an indispensable requisite of
success. Those who secure the sincere aid of
the Congressman of dominant party who are
their immediate representatives thereby gain
an important point. But although it may bs
conclusive in respect to minor class of
offices appertaining strictly to the re-
spective districts, it may prove OF
comparatively little service, unless strongly
supported by other influences, to those who
aspire to important national positions. In
many conflicts the word of United States
Senator carries great weight. For this aud
other reasons the impending Senatorial con
test in Pennsylvania is invested with deep in
terest. A number of clashiNg and honorable
individual ambitions will struggle for ascend
ancy. Among the candidates already named
are Glenni W. Scofeld, Galusha A. Crow,
Benjamin Harris Brewster, James K Moo
head, Wayne McVeigh, Thomas Williams, and
William H. Kemble, and other aspirants IN ly
be expected to enter the field. Ex-Governor
Curtin and John w. Forney, who were
candidates at the last Senatorial
election, do not appear to be now actively
pressing their claims; but their names are in
eluded in some of the lists. Grow, who was
also a candidate in 1867, received at that time
three or four vo;es in the Senatorial caucus,
and he is making an earnest struggle to In
crease the number of his supporters. Young
as he is, however, he already belongs to the
past rather than the present. He gained
his original prominence as Representative of
the famous Wilmot district, and after becom-
ing Speaker OF the House he retired iato com-
parative obsourity, from which he was scarcely
drawn forth by his unsuccessful attempt to
gain the support of the Pennsylvania dele
cation for the Vioe-Presidency, and his
temporary prominence as Chairman of the
Republican State Central Committee. He has
strengthened his position, and will probably
exercise some influence with President Grant,
and be enabled to obtain good appointment
for himself if he desires 1t, but his election as
United States Senator is extremely doubtful
Glenni w. Scofeld, who represents the Erie
district, is one of the most talented and inhu-
ential members of Congress; and If the con-
test depended solely on qualifications as de-
batter and knowledge of public affairs, he
would be formidable candidate. Any strength
that may be displayed by James X. Moorhead
or Thomas Williams will be due rather to
local reputation and to an alleged claim that
the West is entitled to the Senator than to an
enthusiastic desire of the people to secure
their services. Wayne McVeigh is talented
and eloquent lawyer Of Chester county, who
served with distinction in the State Legisla
ture several years ago, and who subsequently
acted as Chairman OF the Republican Stat'
Committee in 1868, when Governor CurtiI
was reelected. From that time up to th'
fall of 1866 he was recognized as leading
friand of Governor Curtin, but he aston