The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-02

night at Albany resulted in the nomination
of Henry Smith, of that city, as the candidate
of the party for Speaker Of the Assembly.
The issue had been fairly made between the
supporters and opponents of the administra-
ton of President Grant and of his renomina-
ton for another Presidential term, and the
Fenton soreheads again suffered defeat. Their
representative, Mr.. Alvord, had the additional
strength of the lobby, canal ring, and all the
marketable Members Of Assembly to aid him
In the contest, and he was beaten on the first
ballot by half dozen votes. The veteran
Greeley made pilgrimage to the State capt.
toll at the last moment to assist In the overthrow
of Speaker Smith, and threw into
Alvord's scale the weight Of the Twombly
interest. The canal contractors used solid
arguments in favor of their candidate, the
lobby buzzed and Huttered in the halls Of the
Delavan around the country members as they
arrived on the scene, and yet their united
efforts could only raise forty-four votes out of
a caucus Of ninety-seven.
We presume after this we shall hear nothing
more of Fent0ns strength or Of the patriotic
oiser of ex-Assembly man Dwight. of Tomp-
kins, to withdraw the Chautauqua Senator's
opposition 10 Grants denomination, or Of
Conklins's reelection, for the trifling con-
sideration Of a Cabinet appointment for
Fenton, a fair division of the federal offices
among his friends and a seat in the United
States Senate for Philosopher Greeley. 1t is
charged by the Fenton- Alvord faction that the
result Is attributable to the use of money
by the State Central Committee and the New
York Custom House but as the other
side are equally positive in their assertion
that good portion of the forty-three bal
lots cast for Alvord were purchased with the
money of the canal ring we may fairly set
one statement against the other and cry quits
on the financial portion of the operation. 1t
is no doubt true that very strong force Of
federal ofice-holders were present at Albany,
working In connection with the State Central
Committee on the side of the successful can
didate but there is nothing extraordinary in
this. The recent election was sgnally won
in the cause of official reformation, and the
standard bearers in the battle, the nominees
of the Syracuse Convention, were especially
the candidates of the administration, The
Fenton faction denounced the republican State
ticket on this very account, and laid the re-
sponsibiity Of its selection at the door of the
federal office-holders. 1t was natural, therefore,
that those who were held to accountability
for the character Of the incoming State gov
eminent should use their best efforts to pre-
vent the State Legislature from being handed
over to the tender mercies of canal rings,
railroad jobbers and lobby corruptionists.
The assertion of Colonel Rush G. Hawkins,
openly made in the caucus, that the election
: of Thomas G. Alvord to the Speakers chair
would be treason to the cause Of reform, 80
triumphantly INDICATED at the polls last No
vember, was Indignantly repudiated by Assem-
blyman Hustled, of Westchester. Neverthe-
less, it was felt by the caucus to be strictly
true. Mr.. Alvord might be as pure man as
ever sat under the roof of the State Capitol,
and he could not escape faint from the asso-
Citations by which he was surrounded. Amere
glance at the crowd that was so loud and
outspoken In his favor was sufficient to con-
for the position to which he aspired
in q reform Legislature. 1t would have been
absurd to suppose that he could have shaken
himself free from the influence and demands oil
the old lobbyists and INSCRIPTIONS rings, to
whose efforts and active aid he would have owed
his success. In one respect it is well that this
issue between the honest portion of the As
sembly and the suspected members should
have been made at the commencement of the
session. The friends of Speaker Smith, by
boldly taking up the gauntlet in defiance of
corruption, have pledged their candidate to
pure and spotless record in his new and re-
sponsble position. Unless he commences
from the beginning the good work of legisla-
tive reform, he will bring discredit upon
his supporters and will disappoint the
hopes of the people. No personal
friendships, no fear of opposition
on the floor of the Assembly, no
considerations of legislative courtesy should
induce him to place on any important standing
committee single tainted name. He should
religiousy exclude from the committees Of
Cities, Railroads, Canals, Insurance, Judiciary,
&C., every member whose official integrity is
even suspected. Unless he fearlessly pursues
this course the people will suspect that the
professions of honesty made by bis supporters
have been mere shams and political tricks to
gain an advantage in the contest for the
| Speakership. The test Of his sincerity will
be looked for in the first announcement thai
| will be made from the Speakers desk after the
recess.
| If the Bonuses, Husteds, Frears and Fields
are allowed any share in framing the business
of the session, the public faith in the now
popular organization Of the Assembly will bs