New-York tribune., 1876-12-30
ALBANY.

CONTEST FOR THE sPEAKERsHIP.
The BrsT REPUBLICANS ANXIOUS FOR CHANGE OF
LEADERs-MR. SLOAN OF OswEGo THEIR CHOICE
-MEssRs. Hustled AND ALvoRD ALSO CASDI-
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSEl
ALBANY, Dec. 29-The present contest for
the Speakership OF the Assembly is Of exceptional
Importance and eanestness though far It has drawn
scarcely more than dozen members here and the town
Is dull The Republican party has been ue
feated now in the State four consecutive elections
and the best men OF the party who have been content
heretofore TO let others its machinery seem 10
have TO the conclusion that new men and clean
be put In charge. Then also the dangers that
threaten the future Of the party that have grown out
Of the Presidential complication and yet will not be re-
moved by any solution Of it, have aroused them TO the
necessity OF immediate and thorough action Men Wno
have been content heretofore to work with the machine
and take what the machine gave them seem to be much
impressed with the importance OF the OCCASION INC
best Republicans of The State seem to nave
come 10 the conclusion that the sooner they take
the advice The TRIBUNE gave them long ago "tounoad
the better This feeling has been growing In sehg'h
every day since the election and there has been the "S
active correspondence aud consultation among the oee
class Of Republicans with reference to the speaKernp'
and especially among the class who, in default ot proper
aid of the state Committee last FALL took hold OF tne
campaign themselves in the interior counties and roeu
IN such heavy Republican majorities This sentiment
has centered nstnctyey about Sloan OF Oswego as can
ddate for Speaker in opposition to any other thht
has been named and has been all the more active IN
his behalf because he from the first declined To enter
upon personal canvass for the place. Whle AlVoru
has been writing letters to members begging their sup
mort Sloan has reiraned from solicitation canvass
ing Of any kind This is not one OF the pohtcal ncIon
by the way which caucuses are treated whtn the sue
cessful candidate, weary with prodiglous "lrepuhs'
returns his thanks IL fact as 1t Is creditabe
r.a4. E1nan al
the issue lies. but between Sloan on the one
side and Hustled and AvOrd the other
Hustled has reappeared O candidate, aiter
his retirement had been formally announced When DO
left Albany weeks ago, after his conference Win
Alvord announced that he was not candidate put
his workers heard from In various sections OF
the State and the conclusion inevitable that for
some reason changed his purpose This no sooner
became known than the bitter hostility against
him, which had begun TO die away, was aroused
again. Gen. Husted's course during the mst
session. when he made many enemies, especially by DIS
absence frou the chair the lnst daywhen 80 many
bills lost for lack Of time which his rapid manner
pportV Ti,ev have tcen deternIncd from the first
defeat him AZ all hazards, and his early arrival on me
ground to-day, accompanied by SIN IN NJ weed MS law
nrincr and soon followed by AlyOrd H. understood TO
have been for the purpose OF testing the strength OF
this hostility what he found could hardly have
been favorable. The local Republican sentiment Is
strongly against him and III favor Of sloan, ana almost
every member on the ground Is for sloan Inc troy
Times has already spoken freely rhe subject ana u Is
said The Albany Journal which, because OF the Pc
cuar position occupies Is never known TO express
preference among candidates, viii take the unusual
course OF declaring tomorrow for sloan The m
dications are tonight that Hustled viii with
draw, probably some me during the day IN IA
vor of Sloan, and that the caucus VIII be har-
| moniGus Strong efforts are now making 10 thlt
end Sloan himself will arrive tomorrow, ana meeting
between the two Will be arranged. III Gen. husltu
should gain greater confidence and attempt fight, there
will be rally Of SiOan's friends and good deal Of the
sharp conflict that on behind the scenes IN poes
Among those expected 10 be the ground tomorrow
for Sloan are ex-senator LOwcry Of UTICA warner
Miller OF Herkimcr, L. w. Rockwell Of Warren,
and Juo Preston Of Chautauquh. slOans friends
bers Of the caucus. AlvOrd Is not considered
as candidate at ALL He might perhaps be able 10 turn
few votes o. cr TO Hustled but beyond that he has no
strength or Importance. SlOans supporters are watch
Ing OF course 10 prevent any such fsion which j. not
likely as might be- supposed from the past relations Of
the Nv men. Avord II said had received pledges from
Hustled that he would not be candidate against hlu
and therefore has his own litie grievance.