New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-21
COLLECTOR MERRITTs VIEWS.
HE FAvORs A LATE STATE CONvF>,TION-HOw II
WOULD HAVE THE PRESIDENT CHOSEN.


WOULD HAVE THE PRESIDENT CHOSEN.
Collector Merritt asked yesterday by a
representative of THE TRIBUNE when he
thought the New-Yorl State Convention for select
ing delegates to Chicago would probably be held.
He said
Il have no information on the subject. l don't
belong to the machine, and will not, therefore, be
consulted on the subject suppose however, that
the matter will he decided very soon. probably
right after the Pennsylvania Convention is held"
"D0 yOu favor an early a late convention y
81 should say that a month before the Chicago
Convention meets would be soon enough If the
purpose s as it ought to be. to have the delegation
represent the rlpened public opinion of the party
as to Il candidate for the Presidency. An early
convention would appear like an attempt to
forestalI that opinion. The discussion Of
the merits ard availability of candidates
has only just begun among the people, and the
longer il goes on the more likelihood there will
be of a sound judgment being reached"
"I have heard some estimates of the probable
complexion of the delegation. Have you any
opinion on that subject ~
"E is much too early to indulge in any
such spcculGtiOus. Something will depend on
the date when the convention is held. 4 Feb
ruary or March convention would probably. produce
q delegation unlike one produced were the dele
CATION to meet in May One thing You may feel
Ollie cNpCCbltlOus VI lIc
men of solid Grant delegation Will
not to be realized The more The thrd-term is talked
about the more opposition is manifested Where
ever n decided third-term movement has or
ganized itself, an opposition movement has at once
sprung up Ii n Grant Club should be started
here III Ncw-YOrk, an anti-thlrd-term or
ganization would be the immediate con-
sequence. You saw how it turned ont in
Albany. The opposition so strong that the
Grant Club disowned their purpose and declared
that they only took Grants name for their
club Just as they might have taken LincOlRs
or George WaslngtOn's. and all Republicans were
free to Join it, matter what their preferences as
TO candidates might be-"
81 see YOU were quoted in THE TRIBUNE the other
day on the question of changing the method OF
chOsng Presidential electors IN this State"
Yes and want to add to what then said that
if there is to be any change IN the pres
islature should not choose the electors outright
and thus settle the Presidential question as lar as
New-York is concerned and save the people from
the worry and expense of a canvass. Such
a course would be strictly legal. The Republicans
could not be charged with stealing the
electoral vote of the State as the Demo-
Gratis meant to do, in Maine i their
went Republican in 1873 and 1879 on clean Ma
tional issues and may therefore fairly he claimed
"a n sure Republican state this year. In
NV position | have n hand the pulse
of business and know that thousands of business
men would rejoice if we could escape the disturb
ance of trade consequent upon Presidential cam
paign by this State being taken out of The fight
do not say that | favor the choice of electors
by the Legislature as an independent question; but
do say that if any change is to he made IN the
existing system | should prefer this plan to any
vthcr,"