The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-01
Close Race for the Speakership
Between MVOrd and Smith.
HOW THE CHANCES STAND.
A Powerful Phalanx Of the AdminiStra-
ton to the Support Of Smith.
THE GREAT ISSUES INVOLVED
A REPUBLICAN COMPROMISE


A REPUBLICAN COMPROMISE.
ALBANY, Dec 81, 1871.
The contest for The Speakership is now pretty
well settled down to race between T. q. Aivord,
OF OnOndaga, and Henry Smith, If Albany. Up to
yesterday afternoon 1t was generally reported that
the republican State organization had resolved 70
desert Smith and to concentrate their strength on
some other candidate but the arrival OF Mr. Cornell
Chairman or the State Central Committee; Knapp
Secretary Of the same; Lanin Surveyor OF the
Port OF New York; James w. Booth, Uniyad States !
DISTRICT Attorney Crowley and other strong sup
porters of General Grants administration, has set
this rumor at rest. They declare their determina-
ton
TO STAND BY SMITH,
and their headquarters at the Deavan House Is the
rallying point for the friends OF that candidate.
1t is now evident that the battle over the
organization Of the Assembly will be fought out to
the bitter end on the same issues as made In the
Saratoga and Syracuse conventions by C0nkling
and the administration on one side and the Fenton
anti administration on the other. outside these
are lobby agents. railroad rings canal ring and prt-
vate intrgues, all trading on their own account
The politicians are taking sides, and lines are as
distinctly drawn between AlvOrd ana Smith as they
were in the Republican State Convention between
C0nkling and FentOn. Every administration man
declares for the former. every antGrant man for
the latter. 1t seems to 10 generally admitted that
upon
v THE RESULT OF THE STRUGGLE
for the Speakership depends the election OF the
United States eenator ana final settlement OF
the question OF republican organization in
New York city. Although the successor
TO ConklIng will not be elected until
another Assembly cOnvenes. yet the great
the city OF New York. the railroads. the canals and
other large interests by The present Legislature Will
almost insure success in that contest, as well as In
the struggle between the rival Murphy and Greeley
organizations in New York, to whichever faction
may be able to obtain control Of the Speakership and
standing committees OF the present House. The
result OF the last twenty hours work has de-
cidedy tended to at-.N,
4. STRENGTHEN SMITHS CHANCES.
This arises from the arrival Of members as well as
from the efforts OF Cornell Lanln and the state
officers elect, whose patronage at the State House
ana on canals is being freely used among members
to secure votes for the administration candidate,
as already stated IN the HERALD AlvOrd's ap.
parent strength has mainly arisen from the
presence OF the large outside lobby, the
whole pressure Of which has been in his favor.
Az members reach the capital it Is found that they
are mostly unpledged and those who refuse to take
to be Influenced In their choice by the personal
character and record OF the rival candidates. except
where they have personal objects in view. In this
respect Smith seems 10 have the advantage over his
opponent in the opinion Of the members. He has
absented himself from the hotels, and up to the
present moment has not sought any influence from
outside pressure, except such as was exercised by
the State Central Committee. At the same time
ALvORD's STRENGTH
md 40 OH
pear the best. He has the full strength Of oil
anti-Grant republicans, together with the canal and
railroad rings. Inside and outside OF the Legisla
ture the Assemblymen who are in the market for
positions on committees and all the veteran
members OF the lobby, whose faces as
aoWa IN Ap Oh som ne OF his rmess
Will serve to show how powerful Is the combination
A. d. Barber, chief OF the lobby during the latter
days OF Dean Richmond, and head manager for
Tweed and the Tammany Ring; Barber has extern
sive acquaintance among the members OF the As
sembly, having been formerly In the republican
party and.attached to Weeds ana Stewards inter-
ests Abe Van Vechten, gentleman OF good means
and position, who graduated as lobbyist under the
veteran king or the lobby, Thurlow Weed, and has
managed the votes OF the most respectable portion
| OF the
MARKETABLE MEMBERS
in the interest OF the Central Railroad for number
OF years. and also been prominent manipulation for
! the Iammany Ring; George A. Jones. graduate
In the lobby Twelve years ago against the determined
opposi ton OF the ThuIlow Weed phalanx which
eoTses first successful hits were made nj ne SER
vice Of New York officials and railroad Jobs and he
has since remained leading Lobbyist for the Tam
the management OF bills on contract at lump sum,
making his own bargains with tine
under this plan 81 operations He has an Old friend;
fes A an oMe S% Se ce erd
Lieutenant Governor debt Of gratitude besides
recsn s Of OUT s n
the New York Custom House, where he held the
Been consS to city
he possesses shrewdness and good knowledge OF
men.
BEN FIELD Is THE MOST PROFOUND
and mysterious member to be found In the Third
House. He has been employed on some OF the big
especially IN railroad matters. being himself con.
nected with that business: He was a promlnent
main connection IN the lobby has been OF political
These iobb, leaders are all LOUD supporters of
AvOrd, and as they are well known to pay mem.
bers tile full amounts they promise and never TO 60
ali Assembymen who are ready to be 'seen." they
have every session their
In both houses, under pay for all jobs on which
insy are engaged and are now working DIsy with
during the s' session s na
case Aivord is elected 70 the Speakers char In
represented By Doc DennisOn, Of syracuse, Sem
Belden, J; Lord, George Lord, Willard ?. Johnson
george U. greene, canal Appraiser Wasson ex.
Canal Appraiser, and other contractors using Its
great influence In Alvord's favor The canal men
nave important interests at stake which will be af
iccted By the result OF tue organization OF the
House Tney have not only to provide for continu
ance or the rule OF the present Ring and extra APP
preparations for the present repair contracts but
also 10 cover up
THE MYSTERIOUS IrEM
Of 900 which appeared by some means in the
supply Dill last session. With Jarvis Lord In the
Senate George Lord in the assembly AIvord n the
Canal Committee, they can defy the power
have W" Things ,neir own 0o way. TSey S are
They are using all their influence among the mem