New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-05
THE CONTEST At ALBANY.

II was our earnest desire that the new Legls-
Iature of our State'be organized without a re-
newal of that war of factions, which seems to
have become chronic in the current history OF the
Republican organization of our State. Hence, we
did not favor the suggestion that Mr.. HOra-
ito NJ Twombly be made q candidate for
Spcakcr-he being q member Of the old Union
Republican organization which has, by Custom
house patronage and effort, been discredited
and pronounced irregular, and did favor
the presentment for the coveted post
of Mr.. L. Bradford Prince Of Queens who, so
far as we know or suspect Is neither =" Fem
"ton" nor COnkling" man, but merely an
honest and ardent Republican RefOrmer, con-,
nected with no "Ring," whether "Canal,"
Railroad" Custom House," or other Had
the Republican Assemblymen from this end OF
the State seen fit to unite in the presentment OF
Mr.. Prince, he had assurances of support from
the interior which would have rendered his
election highly pTObable and we feel certain
that, if elected, he would have welded the
powers Of his high Office with single eye to
the public good, and with Difference to the be-
hcots of no faction, clique or ring" what
ever.
The canvass for Speaker took, however
different shape from that we had desired, in
ducng Mr.. Prince to request that no votes be
cast for him. The IjmeSS correspondent says
of the Editor of this journal:
"Tho first thing he did Monday morning was TO induce
Prince Of Queens to withdraw aud turn what strength
hc had over AlvOrd This he succeeded in accomplish
ing so far Prince himself concerned but II was
difficult task for Prince 10 ms friends over TO
Alyord than to 80 himself and tho result showed that
hut one Prince man. beside Prince himsef, voted for
AlvOTd."
This is of piece with the gross falsehoods
which prccede and follow it. Mr.. Prince did
not Withdraw on the morning of Monday, nor
at any time during the day, and was never
asked TO do so by Mr.. Greeley. He may
even not have voted for Mr.. AlvOrd-
we do not know which way he voted,
and presume The Times man does not That
he I'd not attempt to "carTy his friends over
"to Alvord," we are morally certain.
As between Messrs. AlyOrd and Henry Smith,
who were the only candidates voted for, the
former had already presided over either branch
of our Legislature with conceded ability and
fairness, and is by far the most eXpc-
rienccd legislator in either House. Mr.
Smith served in one previous Assem-
bly,. and is a lawyer of decided ability
and mhlcmishcd reputation. He was made u
candidate for Speaker by those who had re-
solved that FentOn and Greeley must, so far
as possible, he crushed out That Gov. AlvOrd
would have beaten him at least twenty votes,
if Federal patronage and power had not been
welded TO the utmost i'll his behalf, Is as
notorious as that there is city named
Albany. lie WGS beaten up to the hour when
the Surveyor of this Port, the Naval Officer,
the Marshals of the Southern and the North
cm District of our State, the Collectors at
Buffalo, OSwego, sc, with a brigade of Post
masters and walters, appeared in the
arena. the Surveyor taking command of the
Federal forces and deplOying his legiOns so as to
sweep The entire field. Members who had avOwed
their determination TO vote for AlvOrd came
into the city with Custom house officer
on either hand, a postmaster in front, and
another bringing up the rear. Members who
assured MIR. AlvOrds friends that they should
vote for him explained that they must talk
the other way to save their friends in the
CustOm-house from instant decapitation. AS
this was the very day on which, by proclama-
ton OF the President, the Civil Service Reform
took effect, the reality and efficacy of that
Reform received striking illustration
With all this tremendous weight of patron
essential TO the defeat of MIR. AlvOrd that
personal detmction Should be reSOrted TO.
Accordingly, Nj. Rush G. Hawkins, in present
ing the name of Mr.. Smith to the caucus, was
moved to say:
What foe had we In 1874 To meeti The corrup-
tious Of Taumany Hail. villainous black and ccff'pt
That ne force harc goi 10 meet Ii is the force
W. have got e. meet during the Whole session OF this
Legislature. While she head If the qonSor is bruised,
hc stiIl lives ana is powerful II you doubt il, you
hare only "a loOk ne iobheS Or The hotels Of
this city to-day. The most important step 20 take
ia the organization o; tins L gissIture 10
elect the rglt man for Speaker In order elect the
right for - 'aLer, must nominate him here
night Ia this caucus. because hc Republican party
more reigns supreme lAppausel |, We make 1e Ndtai
mistake Of eieCtRg man ~ easy political rfue,
chOSe hodi record does not std abOre reproach.
the fault u ours, aud constituents viii hold re
spopsiblc ! here a representative OF the
Of the people OF tls city Of New York That element
lac not been represented here before far q long time
40 az propose t0 vote for any FOR speaker suy
officer measure ais Winter. that above proleh
In every particular. 30 Ia flr honest. capable
that cannot he corrupted; hqi do not b,loug any
corrupt Ring. any rta,aGAy R,ag 0Hy Central Tark
Rug a"s Cd"o Ring. or any Ring kHorH % Ire politics
q Ctt &atG dV a9l e~ro how long . nan may have