The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-16
A Division on Open and Sc
cret Ballot.
Mr.. Herman Nominated by Seven
ty-seven Votes.
Signal Defeat Of Henry @.
Murphy.

proceedings commenced at four O'Clock and the
| final result was not reached until eight Three
O'Clock found the galleries OF the chamber and
Hobbies of the Capitol leading thereto filled. Men,
bers OF Assembly and Senators participating were
also early in attendance. BY the time the caucus
was called to order by Senator Jacobs further In.
| gress became impossible.
| Old politicians here tonight state that they do
not recoect ever being present at a political
gathering OF similar import where so much inter.
est was exhibited. Admission was obtained
through tickets signed by Senator jacobs, OF
Kings, and Assemblyman Waehner, Of New York.
| OF the Joint Caucus Committee. Seventy-lour
| Assemblymen and thirteen Senators ans wered the
roll call. In addition to the privileged persons
present on the moor were several politicians from
| New York city ana different parts of the
State. Among the familiar faces were recognized
Secretary OF State Wilers, H. ]. Tiden brother OF
the Governor, Congressman Bliss, Thomas Kim
sella, General Socum, Commissioner Wheeler and
William Q. Kingsley, Of Brooklyn; ex-sherir
O'Brien, General f. B. Spinoa and Judge Dennis
| Quinn, OF New York; Joseph " arren, OF Bunalo;
Henry Richmond. son OF Dean Richmond, and
! others, who occupied seats on the floor.
| When Senator Jacobs called the caucus to order
there came hush OF expectancy. The peculiar
rumors floating around during the last few days
led many 10 believe that q close contest might
! become very decided wrangle.
Senator Laning, OF Buffalo, elected to I'LL the
unexpired term OF the deceased Senator Ganson,
| presided over the caucus with dignity. His al.
| dress urged harmony OF action as the best guar
antee for the choice OF proper candidate. Then
| came the anticipated and much talked OF motion
made by Mr.. S. Fl. hammond, Of Oneida OF q uiud
uoce vote. Here was the 6rebrand which occupied
the attention Of the caucus In debate for three
| long hours. The Kings county delegation. how.
| ever, were evidently prepared for this
| event. Senator Jacobs rose Immediately and
offered an amendment to the effect that the
caucus proceed in the usual form, and the i'm.
passloned speech which he delivered In support OF
his arguments exhibited good judgment and re-
search. His attack the Tammany dictation
policy was received with applause from a part Of
the assembage, particularly his assertion, that
boundless power Is always followed by boundless
corruption. He had hoped the influence OF Gov
| ernor Seymour would nave been thrown IN favor
| OF party usages. The principle OF the secret pal
| lot, ne commended. was right, and had been
supported by both parties. His alIuslon to
precedents in the election OF Sas Wright In lS43,
| the contest between Dix ana Dickinson in 1S45,
| the Seward battle and on other similar occasions,
| were very happy, and II addressed to q general
auditory instead OF party Of ofical gathering
| would have worked very efectually in favor Of
| the speakers side OF the question. He leveled
| severe blows at the Tammany delegation and
claimed an earnest desire break the chain
that bound them, as he knew the gentlemen
| too well not to believe that It's yoke CALLED them
| to their hearts, core. He wished 1t put ON record
that II John Kelly owned the city OF New York he
! did not own the Legislature OF the State. This
| attack on the leader OF Tammany raised the ex-
| element to fever heat, and at one time 1t was
feared personal alteration might result from the
controversy. Each gentleman from ,ne New YORK
dalo oviA foIf thox ma
an opportunity Of defending the leader
and dispenser Of patronage from Tammany's
gates. Those who could talk avaied
themselves freely OF the privilege, and put MIR.
Kelly on q pedestal higher than Trinity church
steeple. have heard similar oratorlcal efforts
| used in exatation of Tweed and other notorious
members of the Ring when they held similar
| power. Politicians cringed and fawned here at
this caucus to-day under like inducements. Mr..
| Waehner's response To Senator Jacobs was blow
well and adrotly delivered. He charged that
Kings county had dictator and q ring
OF It's own and the lieutensnts OF that
clique were there on the floor Of
the House-alluding to Messrs. Kingsley, Kin
| sella. Wheeler and other Brooklyn chiefs. The re-
tort courteous, with much gan in it, passed be-
tween him and Jacobs, and at one time the gentle
| men faced one another few feet apart In excited
| debate. The argument OF the open voters was
perhaps best summarized In the assertion of Sen
ator Parmenter that the ballot was made for the
private individual and the vtud uoce Tor the repre-
sentative men. Senator Johnson followed in
vigorous speech also favoriEg an open
ballot. There was comparatively plain sail.
ing until Speaker Mcclure took the moor
| and called attention to the rumorS
floating around the parors OF the Delavan and
flashed through the press OF the State and the
nation, charging the Kings county delegation
with corruption. The gentleman was sorry to say
he understood the friends Of Mr.. Herman had Cir
culated some Of those reports. The speaker be-
leved them entirely groundless. This speech was
the signal for another bathurst on the part OF
Jacobs. and he denounced in biting sarcasm any
such unworthy fmputation. Senator Fox next
/ took the floor and made q speech in advocacy
| OF Franc Herman. He concluded with O lauda-
| ton OF the character and abilities OF the
| gentleman he designated "Honest John Kellyn
| The alusion brought upon Mr.. FOX the dangerous
| weapons OF Senator Jacobs irony. The latter
facetiously called attention to the vigorous bid
which Fox had made to. get back into Tammany
| Hail. af.er he had piteously been dragged In the
political gutter for some time. The debate then
continued with Senators Lord. Parmenter and
Johnson, and Assembymen Daily, Brogan and
| Waehner the side OF an open ballot
Senator Jacobs did all the work in defence
OF the principle OF secret ballot bore the
brunt Of the contest with manly and eloquent
speech. Although the fortunes of the day we're
evidently against himself and his party his adroit
handling Of the question was very able. His sug
gestion as to an appointment OF committee OF
five to examine into the charges OF corruption
being acted upon few minutes recess was taken,
when Senator Bradley reported as chairman that
there was not the slightest foundation for the
| rumors
At the conclusion OF the debate o vote was
taken on the resolution OF Mr.. Hammond, when
the open ballot cause won by vote OF 10 to 10.
This was positive test OF the strength OF the
Herman and Murphy interests. subsequent bal
lot for candidates in nomination gave Herman II,
Murphy and HoIman1.
The nomination being made unanimous cheers