New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-27

The afternoon session opened with n surprise.
The Committee on Permanent Organization reported
Senator Conkling permanent President, as was
arranged some days ago. When the convention
had waited fully ten minutes for the Senator, he
entered, and Instead of proceeding to the chair ex-
pressed high-bred and rather comica surprise that
he had been chosen in his absence to this position
lie said that he thought it perhaps best that he
should remain on the floor, there to take his full
share of responsibility for whatever the convention
might say, and for whatever il might refuse to say
He then suggested that ex-COngressman Platt had
shown himself so capable in the chair, he might be
continued there. In this Mr.. Conklng was more po-
lite than accurate, for Mr.. Platt was far from
mannerly in the chair. Just what Conklings pur-
pose was in doing this is clear. He certainly by
so doing accepted the responsibility OF Mr. Piatts
remarks, and perhaps the true explanation of it
that given by one of his supporters. who
said that the Senator wanted to force again
upon the minority Chairman whose speech
had created so much dissatisfaction. But he was
not to succeed without a struggle Mr.. Forster
of Westcbester. was instantly upon his feet with
ringing protest. He objected to the election of a
gentleman as permanent Chairman whose speech as
temporary Chairman was calculated to put the con-
vention in false position toward the Admnistra-
ton. So extraordinary step as an objection to the
election OF a Chairman, and the spirited and
manly way in which it taken, drew
ont o storm of applauses and misses from
the crowd that now filled the great hall
to overlooking. Mr.. Forster is of the best paria-
mentary fighters seen nowadays in n Republican
Convention. He has a vigorous way of shooting out
his sentences that tells better in political conven-
ton than more studied speakers. Last year
he was one of Mr.. Curtss most effective aids in the
tt,,a
year he sat by Mr.. Curtls's side, dividing with him
the aggressive work of leadership. Mr. Forster
made some illusions to Mr.. Platts speech that, if
made with less sincerity would have sayored of the
demagogue. but which, made as they were, wouh
have told heavily on any convention that not
already cast in a mould. He reminded Mr.. Platt
that he had done the very last thing he should have
done; that it was not for him to attack men
who hold offices which he had himself
sought; that the gentleman who asplred to
be Postmaster-General should have RETAINED
from assaiiIng the man who is POstmasterGeneral.
He added buntly that the speech was IN {" shame
fully bad taste" Therefore, he proposed that Sena
tor Conkling himself should b. made Chairman /;
and in this curious way Mr.. COnklng became the
candidate Of the anti-Conkling men. Ex-Congress-
man Hamilton Ward who led the Greeley
and Fenton forces in the famous Republican
Convention of six years ago. the anniversary OF
which occurs tomorrow but who is now one of the
STRONGEST Conkling men in the party, came to Mr..
Plajs rescue, and declared that. If it be true that
the announcement Of Republican principles be the
condemnation of the persons enrolled in the Admin
isiraton, he would let that condemnation fall.
After Mr. Forster had made an attempt to make Ly
man Trcmain chairman, inasmuch as it seemed I'M
uossbe to force Mr.. Conkling into the chair the
aves and noes were taken. Tnasnueh as objection
had been made to Mr. Platt solely on account of his
reflections on the Administration, this vote was
fairly test vote upon the President. IL was evil
dent that no Administration man would vote for
Mr. Platt and probably no COnllling man would
vote against him, though there was q good
deal of quiet disgust even among them.
The vote showed a somewhat larger portion of
strength for the Hayes party than II had been sup
posed it had. There 81 votes for putting Slr.
Patt in the chair, and 10 cor keeping him out.
When Mr.. Platt took the chair he was rewarded for
his trials with hOarse cheer and the business OF
the day began. st Charles f. Smith, of Albany,
read the platform. The significant portions were
received with a great deal OF favor, as was the
arrangement of Attorney-General Fairchld Mr..
Curtis was Immediately on the iIOor with suDstl-
tute approving the Administration in unqualified
terms. He made skilful use of the fact that
the demand OF tine majority OF tH6 CouNcntlou
had been for peace and harmony and yet the first
words of the temporary Chairman were denuncia-
tons of one of the cardinal principles of the party
as a "nauseating shibbOeth" and of the members
of the Cabinet of the Republican President. Mr.
Curtis spoke for forty minutes and was loudly
cheered, but most of his applause, it was notice
able came from the galleries. During the
whole speech in which there was some
keen allusion to Mr.. COnklng, the latter
watched him with a fierce and steady eye that
reminded one of rumors that had been floating
abont the convention, among the rougher sort OF
Mr.. Conklng's friends that George William Curtis's
scalp was to be taken this time and when evening
came and with 1t the Senator's speech. it was evil
dent that if the scalp had not been taken it was not
for the want Of the will to do it.
LYMAN Tremain took the stand next, speak
ING from his chair His speech full of
Amerlcanisms that hit the fancy of the
convention. but il was marred by a fling ut Mr.
Curts's supposed ambition for the English Mission,
that was none the less because It was covered
IN afterwaId with a compliment. The length of the
discussion had now made it impossible for Mr.
Conkng TO make his speech. and an adjournment
till evening was had.
EVENING SESSION
Az tbe evening session q full opportunity was
allowed for debate before Mr.. COnklIng should close
the debate as Chairman of the Committee on Resc-
lutions. Sigsmund Kaufman. of Brooklyn, boldly
CONGRATULATED the convention that the prediction of
last wear that President Hayes would be IN the
hands of Morton, Conkling * Co. had not
been fulfilled Hamilton Ward waved the
first bloody shirt that had been seen, and
smoke scornfully of the Commander of the
Black Horse Cavalry escortingthe President through
the South. Ex-Congressman Hotchkiss, Gen. Mar
tindale and Mr Curtis spoke, the latter closing his
brief address with the avowal that he believed