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

q
The State Legislature meets tomorrow, and
party caucuses of the Assembly have been
held this evening for the purpose of putting in
nomination their candidates for its organiza-
ton. In the Senate there appears to be
no opposition to the election of James
Terwilliger as Clerk, aud as the present
democratic Lieutenant Governor presIdes
over that body its organization is
mere matter Of formality. In the Assembly
1t Is different. There great struggle will be
made over the Speakership, and the fight will,
no doubt extend to the Clerkship and all the
minor offices. Our Albany correspondence,
published in the HERALD to-day, gives US q
view behind the scenes Of the several interests
at work on one side and the other and
of their operations in advance Of the caucus.
1t appears that the issue made at the
State Convention has been revived at the State
cation of the Assembly is in reality the old
fight between the supporters Of President
Grants administration and the dissatided re-
publioans, who desire new deal in the Presi-
Dental contest of next year. Fenton, Gree
ley, and the whole army of patriots
who are banked in their laudable
ambition to serve their country in federal
Offices, have declared for ex-Speaker Alvord,
while the hosts of office-holders headed by
the fiery young Roscoe Conkling, together
with the Republican State Central Committee,
tho Now York Castops- House. thA Stata officers
elect, and the general supporters Of Grants
administration, are enlisted under the banner
of Henry Smith, Of Albany.
To be sure, there are other interests involved
in the contest and other influences brought to
bear on the result. There is the enterprising
and energetic Albany lobby to be considered
as no insignificant power in the settlement of
question Of such vast Importance as the
Speakership of the House; and we are told
that the members of that fraternity, almost to
man, are supporters Of Thomas G. Alvord
Indeed, main portion of the strength
of the old Hero of Salt Point
is supposed to be drawn from the members Of
the State Legislature out of the pay due to
them for their votes and for never betraying
the confidence of those with whom they may
have business operations, on the principle,
we suppose, of the old adage, ''Honor
among thieves" Then there appears to
be powerful canal contractors ring
enlisted in the cause of Alvord, and
rumor attributes to these gentlemen
spirited and liberal contribution to fund of
fifty thousand dollars to aid in securing his
n hos e
the members elect, who are anxious to secure
positions on most important standing COM
mittees of the House, laboring on the same
side. So, in case Alvord should be success
full, 1t will scarcely be claimed as bona tide
Fenton triumph
Henry Smith, Of Albany, on the other
hand, appears to stand solidly on his
personal strength and the support Of the
administration party, and hence his chances
are supposed to he not quite so good as are
those of his opponent Its, however, q good
sign that he eschews the favor of the lobby,
refuses to show himself at the hotels, and
prefers to rely simply on his own merits for
the Office to which he aspires. So far as
regards their qualifications for the position of
Speaker the two candidates seem to be pretty
evenly balanced. Both are familiar With par
lamentary rules, quick and apt and possessed
of sufficient nerve and dignity. Both may be
honest men for anything we know to the con-
trary but certainly the associations that
have surrounded Mr.. Alvord are not
in his favor. The support Of such
men as Mat Bemus, Ben Field, A. D. Barber,
and the whole gang Of legislative lobbyists. to
say nothing Of notorious canal and railroad
rings, is scarcely desirable for the presiding
officer of a reform State Legislature.
While this fight is progressing in the ranks
OF republicans the democrats at Albany
are preparing q shrewd programme. 1t Is
their intention, in case the choice Of
their opponents should fall on the lobby candi-
date, to put Samuel ]. Tilden in nomination
for the Speakership on their side Of the house.
They will then be able TO appeal to the coun-
try with good effect, to contrast the difference
between the action Of the two parties.
Mr.. Tilden is well known to have
been one of the principal actors in
the cause of reform during the recent
campaign, and to him probably more, than to
any other citizen are we indebted for the
practical results that have been achieved In
the detection and substantiation of the fraudu-
lent acts Of the late city officials, 80 far as an
honest legislative reform is concerned; and
to this the republican party was specially
pledged as one Of the first and
most important objects of the recent
revolution. There can be no question
as to which Of the candidates, Alvord or Til
den, would best satisfy the requirements and
wishes of the people. Indeed, it is said that
some honest reformers and republicans are so