The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-30
THE ANTI coNKLISe CONFERENCE
Some Inside Points About That Meeting of
Last Week.

SARATOGA, Aug. 29.-What Is generally
called the Conkling conference Is in session
here to-day. Your regular reporter will no
doubt send you an account OF Its proceedings.
As / happen to know something OF the interior
operations OF its rival. which is generally dosig
mated as the Cowdia conference, few items
relating thereto are atthe service of THE Sun.
Tho card issued by Mr.. Cowdin ne Chairman
and ex-senator l.. Bradford Prince az Secre-
tary was sent to some twenty-five Republicans.
asking them to come to Saratoga and talk over
the political complications Of the passing hour
in this State. In response to tho summons pre-
csely thirty-eght well-preserved Republicans
Of the Hayes persuasion cnmoto Saratoga last
week. They consulted. debated. talked around
tho corridors of the hotels. and then disap
peared. Ever since their exodus the pro CQnk-
ling wing Of the party at the Springs have been
trying to belittle tho numbers and influence OF
what they designate as the anti-Oonkling CO.
But. as to numbers this line OF criticism will
hardly bear inspection; for whom you invite
twenty-five friends 70 dinner. and thirty-eight
respond In the affirmative, the motion can
hardly be said to be lost And as 70 influence.
II would be impossible to get together thirty.
eight gSs1ntlemen who had in times past held
osC S Who o' b s Sihc M at the beck y MesSTs
You have seen the resolutions passed by the
Cowdln conference. They arc merely thin
veneprtng Of the real objects that lie concealed
beneath. Mr.. Cowdin is anxious TO promote
the union and success Of the party. JET who will
be The next Senator In Congress But those who
ing In this world so much as tho defeat OF Ros-
coe Conklings aspirations to DO his own sue
cessor.
The most fiery OF Mr., ConkllnR's opponents
who attended the conference were the Hon.
Es II he Hort wn% wdSn 81 kab SGn
ferstsT' Ss%e%ber r" Of Assembly. who 'f had
ito" last September. The resolutions finally
adopted by the conference were FAR too tame to
please Roberts and Woodin. They would have
preferred a declaration more clear, emphatic,
and beligercnt in its tone. They wanted to
speak right out against the influence dominat-
tor Conkling. Forster. his head Ms round as a
bullet, and full Of fight up TO tho ears. took the
than Roberts and Woodin. who were implacable
in their hostility to the Oneida Chief. The Hon.
4. \. Cole. flaming spirit from southern
tier. who usually claims to represent Gov. f. ID.
Morgan on such occasions favored an open
declaration Of war. Senator Prince. though
casiigation which Conkling Inflicted upon him
At Rochester. Prince was rather quiet during
the conference but he concurred in its mild
resolutions with manifest reluctance.
The pugnacous members wore kept in toll
erably calm suite by the soothing maniIula-
Sprague Of Buffalo. They prepared the resolu-
tons. which. after a free discussion upon the
general aspect OF the campaign. were accepted
The conference appointed n committee TO
communicate with the Republican state Conn
mittoe and II this committee reflect the real
sentiments Of the body that delegated them
they will demand that there ha a state Conven-
yention this year. that II consist Of three dele
gates from cach Assembly District. and that
John f. Smyth Of Albany be not appointed the
Chairman Of tho State Committee for the COM
ing year.
The conference was thoroughly fixed In it's
opinions and purposes On another point. Its
members and those whom they represent will
insist that while on the one hand the Hayes
Admin lstraton ought not to call TO its aid the
Federal officers in this state to help II defeat
Conkling for the Senatorship, on the other
hand they must not bo used by Conkling to
assist him 10 the Senatorship or TO fight the
Hayes Administration. On this particular sub
Ject. the conference and its constituents will
| imperatively demand that their wishes be re-
spected; and II they are not. then they will arm
to the teeth. and fight ii out that line to the
bitter end Letters from high sources show
| that the Hayes Cabinet are In full accord with
| this programme. so let New York Ofilcehold-
| ers look out for their heads.
IL Is fact worthy Of note that Mr.. George
William Curtis was not at the conference The
| reason is he was not invited. And he was not
| invited because the managers were afraid he
| would be unmanageablc.
In brief and without going more into detail.
| the so-called Cowdin conference IL generally
| regarded AS the initial stop In n campaign
| against the reelection OF Mr.. Conkling to the
| Senate and its objects are cordially approved
| 10y the Federal Administration. which Will give
| the movement all the aid in its power.