The sun., 1879-01-13
NOW OLD SALT SUCCEEDED.
The story of Mr.. AIvord's Electioa - the
Speak ershIp.

ALBANY, Jan. 12.-There was never In the
political history OF New York a closer or
severer struggle for tho Speakership than
that which terminated last week in the sue
cess OF Thomas @. Alvord. 1t began before
the election. Alvord's district was in dan
ger by reason OF tho strength OF the third
party. which was strongly inclined to knife
Old Salt because OF his known and sus-
pected relations to corporation interests. To
destroy the strength Of the workingmen by
seducng their leaders and demoralizing their
followers was OF itself difficult task. In polit-
ical circles throughout the State tho accepted
opinion was that 1t could not be done. and that
Alvord would be beaten. In all the estimates OF
the third party's power the Second District OF
Onondaga Alvord's district was conceded to
them. But Old Salt was not discouraged He
counted on substantial aid from u power that
holds Syracuse in willing subjection. That
power is the firm OF Dcnison X Bolden.
What they decree usually comes to pass in
Syracuse. and the lines OF their authority
sometimes extend to Albany. Denison &
Belden arc rich. and. what seems strange. thcy
are tho only men connected with contracts dur
ing the reign Of the Canal Ring who can show
good bank account to-day. Jarvis Lord Is COM
parativey poor George d. Lord is bankrupt;
and most OF tho other contractors are insolvent.
flush days OF corruption was spent with lavish
hand and they have nothing to show for II but
pile OF worthless due bills and notes Of hand.
Tho politicians who did their bidding are also
poor. But Denison & Belden are rich. Den
SON" Doc" Denison everybody calls him
would have been poor long ago II the manage
ment Of affairs had depended on him. His brain
3 not OF the finest quality at the best. and he
muddles 1t ofener than is good for him. The
head Of the firm is its junior member-James J.
Belden. His fortune is rudely estimated at from
two TO four millions Of dollars. but Just how
large 1t is nobody knows. II embraces stocks.
bonds. real estate. great sums OF ready money.
and an unknown number Of useful men. This
last item In the firms assets Is most important
When Mr.. Belden owns a man. 1t obviates tho
necessity Of buying him-and 1t is certain that
he owns very many. The process by which a
man is bought and not bribed is peculiar. He
falls into financial straits. and goes to Mr.. Bel
den and borrows money enough TO extricate
himself. He gives mortgage on his property
II he has any property. and IL no hasn't he
mortgages his power TO be useful TO the firm
Years pass away. the borrowed money Is not
returned. now debts are contracted. and moth
ing II said. But there comes n time when the
vote OF that man is wanted in the caucus or the
Legislature. Mr.. Belden is IA church member
rather profuse In his pcty and he would prob
ably consider it beneath his high moral charac-
ter to offer "A bribe to anybody. But tho man
who stands TO Jim Belden In the relation Of nm
insolyent debtor might as well surrender to the
sheriff at onco as 10 halk tho will or disobey
the behest Of that implacablo autocrat. He is
no respccter Of persons. Anybody. from a coal
HEAVIER TO Judge is useful to him at one time or
another. and he buys all tho human stock that
Ia offered at prices 10 suit himself II follows
therefore. that when Mr.. Beden came to his
assistance. Alyord's election to the Assembly
was assured.
Mr.. Sloan was compelled 10 accept a nomina-
tion to the Assembly from Oswego. somewhat
against his inclination. for the avowed purpose
Of shutting out Alvord in his race for the Speak
crship. He did what few men in this genera
tion have succeeded in doing-he made. two
years ago. clean and respectable record In the
| Speakers chair. He fully appreciated the good
| fortune which enabled him to retire without n
spot or stain upon his character. On tho
strength Of that record he willing to rest till
the times were ripe for his temperance in a
moro important role-possibly as a candidate
for Governor. lie was averse to tempting fate
| too often. But those who foresaw the outcome
| OF Avord's canvass insisted on putting him in
| the field.
~ ' " ' " u"
p'uu'vs us 'np na'u Hae'V VI nooAlahu' Dut the
s'que' sno"'u ',iu' nc nHu pIousn' MS h.''e
| porringer to the fountain Of patronage once too
O''on' 'on' ino e'uiilon's 'n"' no nau coun'eu on
'ot euppVi, ie'' ava, lVu' MN oeioi1 'ne crown
.'"e'.yu ''oNN ",,u WI" Wv nierio'is oos"n
~ u,t w. y" vio o"'uiu"! ooior9 'he caucus
''' n''o'u "'lu ',o"n ",'o "o oH' o"huiu"'oS
'Vs'"'.''.' e''a.'''1. III ~ ''r'
,-1i., .p'e' " Vu ,V'I ''o o''"up'
,, "n9 Dauy rom
.is' 80 - , Nu''eu iu p''O''' " ',io prom
'',o'o Io,,.% ~ % ~ nm uiiu
,'a.'L., ' Ii" ~ soo ~
-, ,',' ,N. '"1 - ous W ."o o'loi e,ue' iio
80 ',,,.' oH'' ',ooS VIZ "eto
-" ' h.i,1,i "A ,N' nv =, .
-, -. Ai ~ n''l'"s 'i.e"us' nv iio
'.a, ~, ha, ~ mi ~, ''l'o' o"oe''to 20 .
=, -, ~, So, 80 w VIZ '-a' vus ~
III ~, =, 49, a., Sou'u .'"'o u, -, ven
| IA 80 ~, t,,ii n', ~ nsS,. - H'
J,,c, ,h oar,s LEI W
| 49,, III 49, -, - ,,-.'.t' :. ti'
,nard. ha, ,h,,s ,o,i,od -, 81" ",e IN
or ano,har az n,.a - ,i1 V',.e ~
,he,r vo,es A. ,ho rar,,I,., ,',,. h",N- Hi''' ~
|