New-York tribune., 1874-12-12
SUMMERS SEAT.

n.wra !. VERY pIsCoURAGING 0NE-JuDGB
HoAR's STRENGTH AS POSSIBLE INDEPENDENT
cANp1pArE-MEssRs. wAsHBURN. BULLOCK, AD-
,Ms AND THEIR cnANCEs-A LONG CONTEST AN
TICipATED.
IrRom AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
BosroN, Dec. S.-Amid the unprecedented
reyerses that heie the Republican party OF Massachu
setts the State election month ago. the sate cRe'
aside the Governor and also the Legislature "ero
saved The minor State officers we're elected py an
average Of nearly 1000 majority and the Legislature Is
retained by about majority. This last preponderahee
makes 1t nearly certain that the BepnOhcahs VIII oo
able 10 elect some one OF their number In good parry
standing to the United States Senatorshp ior 'nous
there are several OF independent tone amons INC
LEGISLATORS chosen not probable that this feehhg Is
strong enough TO induce them TO 80 outsae he parry
rants Tor Mr. Summers successor. There has seldom
been time however, when 1t was more difncut 10 lor"
an intelligent judgment In advance as 10 what VIII DO
the result OF election In that body in INC preso".
case Nobody processes 10 be able even 10 give gooo
guess with regard The contest is more In doup''
apparently than that for filling the unexpired Term
of last sprpg which 1t occupied the Legislature seVera
weeks to settle. Men do not hesitate 10 preoc' who
will not be chosen. They cay Mr. Dawes cannot pe'
Judge Hoar cannot be- and Charles FRANCIS ADAMS
cannot be- with much confidence according 10 their
prepossessions; but when they are asked VINO VIII oe
the fortunate man they essay the attempt to fore
tell. ,z
THE CALL FOR CAUCUS.
thought
surveying field and counting up their majority was
tocrowd their own candidate through party caucus
That candidate is Mr. Dawes 1t was part OF the orig
inal plan OF last Summer the other features OF which
opera;ed diasrousy that he should have this place.
The Commonwealth newspaper called for caucus early
after the composition of the Legislature was ascer-
tanned. This Journal was originally the organ OF the
more and radical branch OF tie Free Soil
wing Republican party It was established with
the money of Frank w. Bird, Geo. L. searns, Henry
/. Pierce and William Clafiln Moncure d. conway
was Its first editor After left for Europe Mr. Charles
W. Slack its present editor, was engaged to NIL his
place aud later the propretOrs gave the paper TO Mr
Slack Mr. Slack at first conducted 1t according to the
original intention of its founders but President Grant,
IN 1865 made him Collector Of Internal Revenue Tor the
Southern Boston District and since that time an enre
change has wrought in its tome 1t is now the most
thoroughly partisan paper in the state supportngeSery
man who obtains a Republican nomination. whether MS
name be Butler Dawes Hoar Aver. Talbot or anything
ee but preserving especially Its feay to the Pres
dent being very careful not to offend the PRESIDENTS
leading representative in the State, MIR. Benjamin
+. Butler. 1t the most natural thing In the
world for such q paper to call for caucus,
because the caucus gives that party stamp TO
man which is the only thing necessary, according
10 It's ideas Of politics, to decide its action. IL Is
OF no that tho people to be cheated out
OF their verdict In this way II the thicLandhin par
tsaus can compel the election of Mr. Dawes in spite of
that verdict, thing will be done. But there has
cordial to this suggestion even on the
part OF the organs themselves. The Journal reminds
people that 1t was for last Spring. and there
apparently ends its interest IN the subject
POOR PROSPECT FOR Mr.. BUTLERS FRIEND.
There are those Mr. Dawes's friends, II is said who
do not dare trust him in His opponents are
very positive that he cannot be elected IN any event.
OF the supporters Of Judge Hoar are carefully re-
vOvipg in their minds the question to whether the
Judge would prove stronger In such an assembage
than would Mr. Dawes 1t optional with the members
Of the Legislature to whether any caucus shall be
held Their is nothing in party that makes it
necessary. Since the Republican party was organized,
there has been but one legislative caucus held pre-
llmnary to the choice Of United States senator-that
which chose Senator Wilson four years and this
was called without especial authority, for the pur-
pose OF comparison Of opinions, and was not held to
be binding.
yet apparent how earnest will be the effort
made for MI Dawes this Winter II can hardly equal in
confidence and persistence that which failed last Spring
There was any amount OF money, thorough organiza
ton In the in and out Of the Legislature
and hope of success greatly beyond what is possible
can now be realized. The prestige Of Mr.. Dawess
workers, less than his own, is greatly diminished
MI Thicker Of Adams. the Boss of triumphant party
ring in the western portion OF the State, was the
leader of outside operations with the power Of
Butler and the power OF nearly the whole Of the
paid lobby 10 back him. Now Thicker must
come 10 the State House q completely crestfalen
Seldom has boss been so badly beaten as
was he at election IN his portion OF the State 1t
Tucker who engineered the nomination for Congress
IN the XIth District that buried beneath 6.OO0
majority To expect him TO have that prestige left in
which hvexths Of his power is Of absurd.
Butler has lost all stomach for fighting for anybody and
1t is not to be supposed, he coptempates his
downfall he will have any great solicitude prevent
Mr.. Dawes from sharing his fate. His influence
Legislature is limited and will be useful only in
he Case Of Ia he
spirit the material for such that made
earlier therefore The Republican losses in the Legsla
from last have been largely in the Western
section, where Mr.. Dawes most expects aid. Mr..
Learned Pittsfed, who bis chief reliance
Spring again returned. Mr.. Orcut OF CumngtOn,
however comes back. He is the manufacturer OF his
section who the Legislature dinner Of the
features Of the former Mr.. Orcutt will prob
ably take the lead inside but he will find no assur-
either in the hopes Of friends
OF opponents
JUDGE HoAR AS A POSSIBLE INDEPENDENT CANDI-
DATE
Judge Hoar's friends, who had in effect abandoned
the field last Summer and in the early Autumn, have
experienced revival Of hope proportioned to the bad
luck that has befallen Mr.. Dawes This feeling comes
from the triumph Of the independent element Of
party in the Governor and Congressional vote II
Legislature shares in this in the composition Of its
bershp any extent is decidedly favorable Judge
Hoar. is the first choice Of all the indie
pendent Republicans; but the larger portion of them
would prefer him. aud all would accept him rather than
Mr. Dawes. The doubtful element In this calculation
arises from the fact that nobody knows what the
tendencies Of the men just chosen TO the Legislature
Judge Hoar win be supported without doubt, by
the larger proportion Of the prominent members
elected yet there are hundred to whose gem
eral disposition little 10 known, except that many Of