New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-01
MEETING OF THE STATE COMMITTEE.

MEETING OF THE STATE COMMITTEE.
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCES Of THE MEMBERS AND
OF OTHER PROMINENT EPUBIICANs-PRoCEED-
.INGs OF TIE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
DELEGATES TO THE STATE CONVENTION.
The meeting of the Republican State Committee
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday called to-
ectaer a large throng of politicians in the
corridors of the hotel. 1t was universally
conceded that the State Convention would
he held at an early date There was no
reason for delay, and the Republicans of New
York. il was thought, might As well make their
preference for the nominee for President known.
The great majority of the members of the State
Committee and other leading Republicans present
Expressed themselves as strongly i'll favor OF
Senator Conkling for first choice. but III
case Senator Conkling would not allow his
name 10 be presented for the nominatlon'
then they favored General Grant with Senator
Blaine as second choice. The general opinion was
that Senator Conkug could carry the State beyond
n peradventure. With him as a candidate, 1t was
asserted. 1t would be only question of majority.
With any other candidate it would need hard work
to give the State to the Republicans by a falr
majority "SenatOr Conklngs name heading
the ticket would be worth 10000 votes
said one of his enthusiastic friends. HIS
nomination. too would be equivalent TO an election,
if 1t depended on New-York State alone. We would
he willing TO nit him against Tiden or anyone else
the Democratic party might bring forward. There Is
no question but that General Grant has also strong
hold on the Republican voters of this state and If
he should be the choice of tho National Convention
he would receive hearty support from the workers
in the party
Several of the members of the State Committee
said that they had travelled good deal through
their districts aud cOnyersed with the Republicans
ana in most instances had found them outspoken
for Conkling or Grant. There were many who adj
mired Senator Blaine and believed he would make a
GOOD run IN New-York aud safe President, If
elected. Nevertheless, the feeling was largely in
favor of Conkling and Grant. Secretary Sherman.
it was stated was not much talked of. There were
some outspoken Republican opponents of the third
term, but they formed very small percentage of
the party. Only one OF the members of the Com
mittee. AIr. Hicks, of Queens County, favored the
candidacy of Secretary sherman.
General james b. Swayne. Editor OF The
Hudson Rirer Chronicle printed at sing Sing.
Westchester County, was in 1872 Secretary of
the Liberal Republican Committee for
the State of New-York. Personally he Is in favor Of
General Grant, and has advocated his nomination in
the columns of his paper. He still keeps mp CORE
spondence with those who were Liberal leaders in
1872 and says that finds rule the sentiment
OF the former Liberals is opposed 10 the nomination
of General Grant They believe 1t would be unw wise.
and would cost the Republican party many votes.
One of the members said a vote taken on the cans
on the way from Albany to this city was interest
ing as showing the drift of public opinion. This
vote WAS as follows: Conkling, 10; Grant, z;
Blaine, /; total, %. This might be an extreme
case but he did not think so. IL agreed with what
he had observed in his travels through the interior
Of the State.
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
There was little delay in 'e meeting of the
committee caused by the tardness Of some of the
members. The committee called TO order 10y
the chairman General Arthur. The roll was called
by the secretary. L. NJ. Johnson, with the following
result