The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-09
THE sPEAKERsHIP AND the GOVERN.
ORSHIP.

THE SPE1hERSHIP and THE GOVERN-
ORSHIP.
ALBANY, Dec. The contest for the
Speakershp Of the Assembly is exciting great
interest in the rural districts. whore the large
share OF the Republican membership exists. 1t
has been understood ever since the election
that the prominent candidates for Speaker were
Mr.. Alvord OF Onondaga Mr.. Sloan OF Oswego.
and Gen. Hustled. who now halls from Rock
land. though still residing in Westchester.
Alvord is undoubtedly in the fold. and means
to win II II II is within the range OF possibli-
tics. His election by an Unprecedented major
ity by the Central Canal Ring has made Old Salt
more hopeful than at the last two or three ses-
sons when he aspired to the chair. And he Is
rather more audacious than usual. He bases
his claim on the fact that he has been the origi-
nator and tho leader in the conspiracy for de-
feating the apportionment Of the State accord
ing to the census OF 1875. whereby the Rcpubli-
cans maintained their ascendency in the Assem-
bly, Of 1877 and 1873 and more i'm
portant stin made II pretty certain
that In spite of all opposition they
would elect majority Of the Assembly of
1879. and thus secure Mr. Conklng's return to
the Senate. For these services Mr.. Alvord now
demands the Speakership. Nor is the validity
OF his claim upon the gratitude Of q Conkling
Assembly impaired by tho certainty that the
Republican majority Of siXty-twO I'm the next
Assembly is largely due 10 the dissensions and
blunders OF the Democrats. II Is true that
when Old Salt engineered his conspirnccs and
led the attacks upon the Constitution. no did
not take these Democratic quarrels into tho ac-
count. and pray who does? No one then
imagined that tho Democrats. by their feuds at
the State Convention and their one-man power
in the metropolis. would throw away So many
Assemblvmen this fall that they would hardly
have enough left TO call the yeas and nays.
So Ola Salt will insist upon having his reward
Just the same rs II the Republicans had n bare
majority in the Assembly; and II tho Conkling
men don't give it to him. the Republican mem
hers OF the Canal Ring threaten that they will
lie in wait To take the scaln Of the Oneida chief
~ some future day when he can loasttanUrd 70
MIR. Sloan is making vigorous oxertions TO
| carry of The prize. lie once nlled the Chair OF
the Assembly in a manner generally acceptable
t. the kepuhlicans The Hon. Warner Miller,
member Of Congress elect from llerkimer. Is
| conducting Mr. sloan canvass. lie has visited
| your city and brooklyn Tor TINS purpose. and
| % his return 20 the interior made report that
| sloan was sure TO be chosen. Mr.. sloan wants
| tho SpeakcIship. as the stcpping-stone 10 the
| Republican nomination for Governor next year.
| lie Is an cnterprising business man. worth
million Of dollars q shrcwd politician, rather
| conservative, thinks well " Mr.. VIM. VI. Eyars,
and Is cool supporter and not warm admircr
Because Mi sloan is ambitious and has his
| eye on tho next nomination ,for, Governor. Mr..
| 4. Il. Cornell and senator W. II. Robertson do
not wish TO see him Speaker Of the Assembly.
| Doubtless tho course Is pretty clear for a
| new Republican name for Governor. Gen. Dix
who oulnanked Senator Robertson at the State
| Convention in 1872 has boon put on the retired
list. Having held more offices and for greater
| number OF years than any living or even dead
| American. Dix Is doubtless in q state OF constant
! hewillerment at finding himself out Of place.
But the decree has gone forth. No moro Dix
Ex-Goy F. p. Morgan, who wrcsted tho nom.
lIna,lon ior Governor from hr. cornell and
Of the arena He no longer counts or is counted
| upon rs candidate
figure In the ornate speech ~ Mr.. George
| William Curtis at tho Saratoga Convention in
1876, he had not the slightest chance Of a
| nomination then, and he has since become one
OF the dendest politicians in the State.
The old red sandstone fossils having sunk
| ont OF sight. tho way Is prepared for ircshcr
materials from which TO construct candidates,
and. Therefore, Cornell and Sloan and Robert
Cornell may not feel disposed 20 give sloan a
liit 10y hclping him into the Chair Of tho Assem-
6ly-an Assembly,, hy the 10y, to which he thinks
his Infringement of the canvass contributed tho
Unprecedented number OF nney-hyo Repuo-
Ii is asserted that Gen. Hustled denies that he
is n candidate for Speaker. some who nave
seen him say that his highest ambition Il Ia
play the humble roo of q now and Young Nom,
Der from the little County Of ho Island. and
thus commend himself To the virtuous and
modest constituency dwelling in tho clefts OF
tho Ramapo Mountains. Others maintain
with equal assurance that the Bald Eagle Is
candidate; aud they oven show letters from
momhcrs elect who say that they have beer
urged by scouts of tho New York Central Rail
way To give him their support, Indeed, they q,
~ lar as TO charge that he is the tlyorte for the
Speakers chair not only Of the New York Cen
trail but of some muuiicont insurance com
uanics, and that in lqct'he Is the corporation
candidate and that the chief engineer OF hi
canvass il Mr. Chauncoy NJ. Depew, the Cen
trails head lobbyist at Albany Tor many pas
sessions NJ the Legislature.
However. our unsophisticatod country NOM
hrrs are, perhaps, mistaken. Gen. Hustled ma
have been n candidate; but recent events ma
have led him to think 1t best not to remain IN
the field. II has been confidently asserted tina
, Mr.. Conkling hns requested Mr. Cornell, thair
! man Of the state Committee, not ~ give him Ni'
and comfort. If this be SO, the Bald Eagle ma
, plume his wings and lily Mt higher game thai
, ! the Chair of the Assembly
l If the Greonhackcrs invigorato their organ
2ation and maintain an unbroken front, enthu
. siastic Republicans Of the interior countic
seem TO believe they can elect the GOyerno
. | next year-a year by the by, OF great mpOl
| tunco, for il may determine how New York wi
: be likely to 20 in the Presidential contest