New-York tribune., 1875-01-15
GENERAL POLITICAL NEWS.

|
THE SENATORIAL CONTEST AT ALBANY.
| KKRNAN's NOMINATION APPARENTLY AssURED-MUR-
PuYs SUPPORTERS KEErrSG UP GOOD SHOW OF
| coNFIDKNcE-wnD RUMoRs AFL0Ar-Kx-Goy.
! SEYMOUR DECLINES TO BE CANDIDATE.
| fsY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBUSEl
| ALBANY Jan. 14-The Murphy supporters have
not abandoned their policy of vociferation even at
midnight when most OF the old politicians
| concede Kernan's nomination at the caucus,
tomorrow afternoon, and many predict that 1t will
! be made unanimously Assurances still come from
the old headquarters of Tweed that Henry c. Muir
ply is to be the next United States Senator and
| that in any event the struggle will be
fought to the end in the caucus. This is only in
pursuance Of the policy which Mr. Murphy's
friends have pursued from the beginning.
Whether they are making professions for
the sake of preserving an appearance
of strength until the very last gasp. whether they
have stores of votes with which to redeem these
promises, only they know But if political skies can
ever be read Alright. Mr. Kernans nomination to-
morrow is positively assured. If there are any
combinations or influences or bargains by which
ostensible Herman men are to declare for Murphy
at the last moment they have been
hidden so well that the shrewdest politicians and
the most industrious correspondents are unable to
detect the slightest trace of them. Outside of
Kings and Queens Counties there cannot be found
tonight q man who avows himself for Henry {.
Murphy
The canvass to-day has gone on mainly under
the guise of discussion on the question
of secret or a rra Vocs vote. The
Herman men exact from their adherents
support of this proposal, while the Murphy faction
have spent considerable effort on the endeavor TO
get pledges against it. There IS some oppo-
sition to it among members whose mo-
tives are above question, as beng q new ana
possibly dangerous precedent. but tho canvass
in its favor has been so thorough that tonight Mr.
Kernan's friends present the following recorhd
For a viva voce vote. 6S for secret vote, II
doubtful 49, There is even approximation TO these
6gures in the caucus The Murphy forces will prob
ably retire as gracefully as they can and allow
the nomination 20 be made unanimously IL. as
tbere ia every reason to believe. their OBJ
iect has been TO initiate the popular
motion of their strength any course but withdrawal
would be folly, inasmuch as vote II thls case
would only exposs tue weakness OF their follow
ing The Herman party have the advantage OF beng
able 10 force call Of the Yeas and Nays on
the motion for an open vote. One-ffth Of those
present can require this and then compel those VINO
are unwilling to declare their preference 10 place
| themselves upon record. There VIII be no douDt
raised at this point of "Tammany dictatlon'
! 70 which telegram from John Kelly to
| each member of the New-YOra delegation
| has given some pretext. This was an
earnest request, sent late last night
that each member exert himself for an open vote
and was so urgent as be imperative. BEt this cry
| has grown somewhat wearisOme by this tlne ana
! the average country member refused TO be stirred
/ by it.
As a specimen of the wild rumOrs that are atioat,
il NAV be said that while prominent New-lor
politicians are prophesying that Mr. Muir
phys name will not come up In
the caucus at all, there are those
who claim that he viii receive GO votes on the first
ballot. The only suppositiOn on which the STATE
ments Of Mr. Murphys supporters can be believed are
that a large proportion Of the members OF the
Legislature have been engaged for some time past
in a gigantic system of lying so that no matter
What the report is, somebody going to be
| mazda uncomfortable. Sixty votes are claimed
and with good reason, for Mr.. Herman. II these
! fail him. differences will be in order. Both sides
! claim majority on the first ballot Either
the Herman men are being decelNed'
therefore. or the Murphy men are
Oultv of false pretenses. In a canvass
conducted after the usual manner. there would he
no danger in making absolute the prediction OF MI
Kerpan's nomination, and would have been done a
week ago but observers agree that TINS Is
the most singular canvass on record. MT
Murphy has no visible support except
from his neiQhbors. but the energy and industry Of
his Committee their shrewdness and experience,
and above all, the suspicion that attaches to
their movements would throw o shade OF
doubt over the prospects of any candidate. however
strong Ii ia more than probable that tomorrow
will demonstrate that there was more wind than
weight Id their assertions"
Mr. Kernan's nomination can only be in doubt in
case a secret ballot is obtained 1t Is freely as
serted that in that there may be as many as ~
votes given to Murphy that have been promised to
Herman. but the friends Of the latter firm They
believe that an open ballot will be ordered.
Ex-Gov SeymOurs letter, which appeared in the
afternoon papers, excited little comment, as it gave
no new phase to his position. During the day Mr.
Seymour spent several hours at the kerna headquar
ters in the Delevan House. expressed himself freely
and strongly in favor of Mr. Kernan's election
Thomas Kinsella and VIM. A. Fowler Of
the Brooklyn delegation called upon
him while there, and an interchange Oi
visits and badinage between the two headquarters
which lie close together. began. to last until mid
night. There has been considerable gathering Of
poticisns from all points some Of them having beer
sent for with a view to strengthening the back
of members who were supposed TO be waverinl
in support Of Herman. Among them were Jos. War
rem, Henry A. Richmond, the Hon. Homer A. Nelson
Erastus Brooks, Congressman George 81 Beebe
John Morrissey, Gen. James McQuade
Judge George r. Comstock, and William
Walsh. The Brooklyn delegation has beer
reinforced by Thos Kinsella and Archibald NJ. Bliss
and Jas. OBrien has appeared on the scene though
he denies any connection with the SenatOrship fight
Ex-Gov. sEYMouRs LETTER DECLINING TO BE A