The New York herald., 1874-12-28
The New York Scnatorship-views Of
Democratic Members OF the Lsgisla-

Democratic Members OF tho Lsgisla-
turc.
We print this morning pretty extensive
series Of interviews with the democratic men,
bers of the Legislature, relating to the organ
ization of the new Assembly, the chances OF
candidates for the Speakership and Clerksnlp'
and, most important of all, the election OF
democratic successor to Senator fenton. Inc
Speakership and Cerkship OF the Assembly
are of minor interest," and need not detaln US
except for passing remarks. There Is such a
preponderance of preferences for Jeremiah
Mcclure for Speaker and Hiram Calkins
for Clerk as to leave no reasonable
doubt of their election; and that
part of the slate may be regarded as
settled. Mr.. Mcclure is an Irishman by
birth, clear-headed man, a good country
hwyer and a former member of the Assembly;
but he has no experience in the kind OF duties
which belong to the Speaker, and his success
in that position remains to be tested Mr.
Calkins was Clerk of the last Senate and
also of the Constitutional Commission which
framed the new amendments just adopted by
the people, and in both capacities he ac-
Quilted himself to the satisfaction OF those
who elected him and was much liked by the
members. He has large acquaintance with
the public men of the State of both parties,
and being journalist by profession, with
reasonable share Of the esprit de corps which
prevails among members of the press, he will
be obligng and helpful to newspaper corre-
spondents at Albany.
The great duty which devclves upon this
Legislature is the election of United States
Senator The new Senator will certainly be a
democrat, for it is sheer misinformation which
supposes that the liberal republicans hold the
balance in the new Legislature. The demo-
Gratis have clear and assured majority on
joint ballot, and only pronounced democrat
has any chance of an election. The liberal re-
publicans have not strength enough to be
makeweight even in the Senate. Lieutenant
Governor Dorsheimer, its presiding Of
fcer, who was put on the ticket
with Mr.. Tilden to catch the lib
eral republican vote, will hereafter class
himself as a democrat, and he is certain to
shun Identification with Senator Fenton and
to abstain from any steps that wouldobstruct
his reception into the democratic party in full
communion. No contingency can arise which
will make Mr.. Fenton's chance for re-elec-
ton worth discussing, and he must be dis
missed from consideration as An impossible
candidate The fact that the straight repub-
icans have majority In the Senate will give
emphasis to their complimentary nomination,
but since it can be only mere compliment
there is not yet the slightest public curiosity
as to the person on whom it will be be-
slowed 1t is more likely to be ex-Gov-
ernor Morgan than anybody else, as it
was the understanding in the canvass
ture, Mr.. Morgan would be elected to the
Senate.
Since Congress, few years ago, prescribed
uniform method Of electing United States
Senators in all the States, the forms of pro-
ceeding on such occasions are we'll understood.
Each branch of the Legislature votes sepa-
rately on the appointed day, and if the choice of
both houses falls on the same individual their
joint meeting is merely formal to declare the
result But it it happens, as it is certain to
happen at Albany this winter, that one candi-
date has q majority in the Senate and another
in the Assembly, the Senator is elected by
joint ballot Of both houses meeting together
as one body. Mr.. Morgan is likely to be the
choice of the Senate and Mr. Herman or Mr.
O'Conor the choice of the Assembly, and the
candidate Of the Assembly, whether IT be
O'Conor or Herman, is sure to carry off the
prize. The election will move with perfect
smoothness in the Legislature. The contest,
if there should be contest, will be confined
to the caucus Of the democratic members, or
to the personal canvassing which precedes the
meeting of the caucus. II it should be settled
and conceded in advance that Mr.. Herman or
Mr. O Conor has clear majority of the dem
ocratic members, the nomination will proba-
bly, be made by acclamation, without the for.
mality of ballot But if there should be a
doubt as to who is the strongest candidate
the democratic caucus will be lively and
exciting.
1t appears from the interviews which we
print this morning that, before the imposing
figure of Mr.. o. Conor appeared in the field,
the balance of chances was decidedly in favor
of Mr.. Herman. As against Mr.. Murphy, the
strongest of his previous competitors, or
Judge Church, or Judge Parker, or Governor
Hoffman, or Mr.. Wheaton-and these are the
only candidates whose names appear in the
interviews-Mr. Kenan would be pretty sure
OF success But the presentation of the great
name of Mr.. OConor suddenly changes and
almost revolutionizes the aspect Of the cam
vass. He is a candidate against whose supe-
rior fitness it does not lie in the mouth Of
any genuine democrat to make objection.
His superlative ability, commanding char
acter, peerless national reputation, lifelong