The New York herald., 1871-10-30
SCHUYLER COUNTY POLITICS.

Rivalry Of Two Towns tor the County Seat
OF Schuyler The Animosity II Enxendered-
Effect the LOcRt Politics Of the County
Chances in Favor Of the Democratic Caudi-
date FIR Assembly man-ProbabIe Election
Of n Republican state Senntor-uopes Of
tho Democracy-A Close Contest for Both
Branches of tho I.eaisiature->mnli Repub-
lican Majority for the state Senate.
WATKIHe, Schuyler county Oct. 27, 1871.
Political affairs In Schuyler county o little
mixed at present. Ever since the county was or
ganized there have been dissensions relating to
political principles hut TO county matters the effect
OF which been to divide the OF the republi.
can party here, especially with reference TO candi.
da.es for local Offices These dissens0ns nave ex.
lsted for some seventeen years, ana though time
and events haze served TO heal them to some ex-
tent, there remain some traces OF them winch have
their influence yet. The troubles date back as far
xs 1854, when this county was formed out OF the
counties Of Chemung, Tompklns anu Steuben. 1t
Is state that the author OF tie Mr. Charles
Cook, who Is now deceased. Havana, rival
town, lies three miles north OF heTe Watkins
being situated at the head OF Seneca Lake.
Cook was one OF the Canal Commissioners OF the
state, ana was mainly In trumental in having a
ship canal cut from the lake to Havana the pros
perity OF which ne was personally anL particularly
interested. When commissioners were appoinlcd
to locare the county site he threw all his personal
ana Official influence In favor OF Havana. Notwitn.
standing that the sentiment or the citizens OF 1ve
out of the seven townships, including large ma
jor1y OF the people Of the county, wanted Watkins
to be the county seat and took occasion to indicate
and urge their preference, the commissioners has
tly declle0 In favor Of Havana. This created much
dissatisfaction among majority or the people ana
gave rise TO Dltter and ungelerous rivalry or Sec
tions, which continued for several years. Subse-
quenty the Board Of Supervisors, under a clause In
the state constitution investing them with certain
powers took occasion to cnange the county seat to
Watkins, but soon altcrward Mr.. Cook, about 1860,
succeeded IN gettDg the Legislature to pass act
restoring tine honor to Havana. A lew years ago
Mr.. Cook left the county and the world forever.
His death had the enect OF putting an end
to anv further for the dispute; Tor, alter the
removal OF his presence and his influence, strong
and successful effort was made TO establish the
county buildings permanently here at Watkins,
winch, situated as 1t l. at the head OF beautiful
and navigabe lake, Is naturally their proper site.
But the iivary o. the towns mas been all along TIL
recently the source 0f bitter jealousy bad feel
| ing generally among the people oi the county and
| 1t nas appeared most prominently all elections
| tnaI the question Is sett ed finally, old
| anmoslty Is gradually disappearing, yet there are
| The explanatJn Of tho long .contlnued unsettled
state o politics 10 Schuyler county.
The closest contest over anY 0ncer this year VIII
| be for member OF Assembly. On purely party
issue schuyler county Is republican. Several years
age, IN important Presidential lights IL showed Itself
very strongly so; but more reoeauy the republican
majority has been falling OH and the democratic
| vole has been gradually gaming. Woodwards
majority for Governor last year was only 3S7, but
In the lace o thai Inc democrats elected their MEM
! Der Of Assembly. as tney ana The previous year.
Jhey feel very san2unc tnat th VIII do the same
| TINS time, although their canuldate has not vet
| Deen put In the neld. The county convention has
otn n.tnT n a. \ Hl1It ~
Coon, who was successful at the last two elections
would DO the candidate again, aud he Is the first
| choice OF the members OF his party, and perhaps
the strongest they could select but II Is understood
| that nc Will decline to run. Should he adhere 10
his uccisloD the democrats intend to nominate AR.
the town OF HECTOR Although his town IS the
republican stronghold oil the county-t having
given republican majority OF 80 last
fall, while the whole republican majority In
tile county was cnly 3Si-he was last spring
elected supervisor ny small majority ms re-
publican competitor his trends INSIST mat MS
own township will give him all Increased majority
tins year, and that that wll be sufficient 10 elect him
IN the county Bu whether ne or some oLner shal
be the candidate, the democrats feel cute connucnt
that they can elect their man; and Indeed tue
chances seem TO he rather IN favor. Thc re-
publlcans have ali eady made their nomination Ior
member OF Assembly. they have chosen HarInon
L. Gregory, VINO Is one vi the strOlgest men lhey
could oppose 10 either FISH or Coon. Inc repuo,i,
complain tnaL Ihey have lost some strehRth as
the polls IN recent years. through me acyc ,aiiu
ence OF two melnbers OF their party, resiuenss "
the county, who held snecure appointments lcerk
snips) under Tweed In New York city, Dut sicy
hope tnaJ that influence will be lost 70 tho ,
Gratis tins year bv tue exposure OF ihe matter. WIN
the practical healing Of the local Jel0Isie5 srowinG
out UI the contest Of the Two towns l0r te coV,Iv
seat, ana with vigilance anu acuvity on ucn ni
the republicans express not only tue hopv, ous
the beef that they Will eject their mcmpct " ,nn,
sembly. Kepubiican5 say they nope, Dui III .suS
tney fear. Considering tlat the democrauo o"uu''