New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-24
THE OUTLOOK AT UTICA.


ONLY FEW DELEGATES ON THE GROUND-OvER-
wHELMINo MAJORITY GRAyr-coNJFc-
TUREs AS TO THE COURSE or THE CONVENTION.
lBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE.
UTICA. N. Y, Feb. 23.-The main result Of the
Republican State Convention, which meets on
Wednesday, has been so well ascertained in adj
vance that the delegates are slow in coming There
is scarcely bakers dozen on the ground
tonight, the most prominent of whom are General
Chester A. Arthur, chairman Of the State Commit
tee and Insurance Superintendent Smyth. Talks
had with well-nformed Republicans to-day, how
ever. both here and in Albany make it easy to dis
cover what the Convention is likely to do and what
ii is likely not to do.
The exact figure of General Grants
majority has ceased TO be matter
Of discussion, since it has been seen to be
large enough to give his supporters absolute con-
troll of the Convention in all its operations. 1T be-
difficult to say just what it will he, inasmuch
as the prepOnderance OF his vote is almost certain
to carry over some delegates who have no very
strong feeling against him, and do not TO make
an opposition which Will avail nothing.
TWO UNSETTLED QUESTIONS.
There are two questions only two, TO which
there is uncertainty. and which may provoke
a struggle in the Convention. All agree
that resolutions will bo passed by q
and nsructng or requesting the delegates to Chi
cago to support him IN the Convention; but it is
still mooted question whether the dele
CATION shall be instructed to vote as
unit, and also whether there will be any
attempt on the part of the Convention to revise the
action of the Congressional districts in choosing del
eQates in other words to substitute Grant DEL
egates by vete of the Convention for ant-Grant
delegates chosen by the districts.
Strong friends of General Grant and Senator
Couklnp urge the bold course in both cases. They
point to the fact that the action of the
districts is in reality only nomination
though in practice it has grown TO be
looked upon as an election; that to
lis of delegates chosen by the district is invariably
in Republican conventions in this State, read to
the Convention and approved by formal mo-
ton. They insist that there would be no
moral wrong in exercising the right in fact.
which the Convention has heretofore exercised only
In appearance and therefore believe In making up
q united Grant delegation TO Chicago by this means
Unnecessary.
But it is by no means certain that this is TO be the
policy of the majority. Supporters OF General
Grant and friends of Senator Conkling
who are auite as well informed concern
ing the purposes of the party leaders as
the gentlemen who take the view just given, be-
Iieve that there will be no unit rule and
no ottempt to interfere with the choice
of the districts. They hold that it would
be clearly impoltc, when the delegation is certain
to he almost unanimous for Grant TO press action
uuon the Convention which would stir up bad blood,
simply to make sure of the few remaining votes.
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.
They look for the adoption of some such resolu-
tion as that which was adopted at the Syracuse
Convention four years ago. The resolutions passed
then simply presented the name of Roscoe ConklinG
10 the Republican party candidate for President.
and requested the delegates to use all honorable
means TO secure his nomination This resolution.
one of Mr. Conklngs intimate friends said tonight,
WAS regarded as binding instruction by sixtynine
out of seventy delegates to Cincinnati. Only ono
delegate refused consider il as such Only one man
in the State of New-York, this gentleman said. Was
capatle Of disregardng such an instruction.
and that man was not likely ever to be a delegate
again TO a Republican Con, ention. The allusion
was TO George William Curtis.
This brings up an interesting rumor that has
been floating about for a day or two. Mr.. Curtis
has engaged rooms here, il is understood.
and the leaders of the majority weuld
NOT he at all surprised TO see him appear
in fine Convention a delegate from some anti
Grant district, By substitution Tor some dele
cate already elected. This Is often done in
tLe Conventions of both parties, when
leader great or little. suffers such defeat at homo
MS Mr. Curtis has recently experienced. One oi the
smile: IF Mr. Curtis appears III that ConySntlon
we propose 10 ask HIN certain questions. We sIai
ask him whether he supported the n9lnee @ ns oi the
Inc will abide by the action OF tins convention.
What would follow was not stated, but IL
WAS evident that the Grant men propose 10
confront Mr. Curtis with his record as
!" SrratcberD aud are ready 10 follow mp their ad-
vantage. 1t is even hated that they mlght 20 SO
far as 10 vote for his expulsion irou tue oo''eh-
ton. ~, 49,, .
AR Curtis's friends say that he Will not be present
at fine Convention. He was "iered ah election as
delegate FROM another district than MS oWh pt de-
clincd il.
SENATOR CONxLIXG's PURPOSES
rhere ar, rumors that Senator Coukling is al
raadv in the city, but it is not definitely known.
7, tbe evident division of opinion among his
friends respecting the proper course to be pu-sued
ON tle po,n.s mentioned above. his preferences
become of great interest. They are not
definitely known, bat many Of his friends
agGressiye pocy. One OF the latter SAID to-day:
M Conkling never does things by halves. He
could instruct the deeaasIn, ana instruct , @ IL 70
~ 49,. Conyrntion With the majority he has got.
he Is not the mau to stop half way In any OF his
purposes" . ,...,a.s ,s;., oro TraI, >.
choose anti-Grant delegates is varonsly estimated
BY some it is placed at three ana not more than
dSur, 10 r,antiuGrans u delegates eight. Others who
or are Grant men also think that there
may be ten. or even ,SaanSiv twelyeii .rIain ani,,
tbat the Cbautauona, Dntchcss, st. Lawrence a1d
Wsstchester Districts Will be against Grant, elect.
ING in all eight delegates. Some OF tne 1fanSs
men admit there Is danger that the Jefferson ana
nnnndaga Districts may 10 the same wsy making
twelve delegates IN all bit + IS fxpeSssa TX Ss end 'ha'
onondaga will probably S tsic Chicago will W probably
be senator Conkliug Governor Cornell, General
Rrthmr and James ID. Warren OF Buffalo.
DELEGATES TO UTICA.
OPPOSED TO INSTRUCTIONS.