The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-01-23
COMBINES CANDIDAC1.

OuI LeltBTaUS OF yesterday stated
that Senator Conkling would he a pres
idential candidate in case Gen. Grant
does not obtain the nomination. .Judg-
ing from what has transplred of late
the report is probably true. Politicians
generally concede that he can head and
control the delegation from New York
to the Chicago convention. Hence
Conkling becomes a prominent figure
in politics, and as he will lead the larg-
est delegation in the convention, he is
a very important parsonage, and it is
well to know of his intentions. His
preferences are narrowed down to two
men-Grant first and Conkling second.
We can conceive of no contingency
which would influence him to wheel
into line for Blaine or Sherman. Ad.
hitting that there is no indication OF
Grants nomination, we come to con-
slider Conkling as a candidate. The
first point that naturally arises is, can
he control the New York delegation in
his own INTEREST," Thirty five delegates
are a good many to handle, and a small
sized army TO back a candidate in the
convention. But we believe that
Conkling holds the throttle of the
machine in his state. Gov. Cornell
will lend him powerful aid, and the
thousand and one federal office holders
in the state will all rally to his support,
thus insuring a delegation that will
20 first for Grant, and then for Conk-
ling. There is no discounting the sem
ator's control of the office holding class
of politicians. His power over them is
of many years. duration. 1t began
when Fenton was a senator from New
York. Mr.. +. had the infelicitous
habit of ceaselessly boring President
Grant for small Offices in behalf of
clamorous constituents. Grant soon
tired of the endless siege and gave over
the federal patronage to Conkling.
The latter at once provided places
for his friends from the Atlantic to
lake Erie. Hence his powerful grasp
on the political machinery of the state.
Since President Hayes came into Office
there have been but few changes in
federal appointments in New York,
and they were OF the prominent ones,
like Cornell, for instance, who is now
governor. So it will be seen that Conk-
ling has things well in hand to date.
HIS influence and power are a species
of despotism, and he can command o
state delegation that will stand by him
for his nomination for president, or
even his nomination as vicegerent of
God upon earth.
Conkling, then, will be q power in
the Chicago convention. of which he
will represent one-tenth In strength.
With his t~hirty-flve votes he can almost
become a presidential Warwick.
Whether he strives for Grant or helps
himself he will be a power. The pity
Is that he should have such great
strength in the event of his own can
didacy.
The man must be measured, not by
his popularity, but by his strength in
the convention. By cajoling oil promis-
ing places to other delegates, there is a
possibility that he can obtain the nomi-
nation-possible though not probable.
There is too strong a feeling against
Conkling in the country to justify his
nomination, if the republican party
would succeed. His naughty, imper-
ious, intolerable, undemocratic manners
that are as arrogant as those of the
plantation, have caused n feeling of
distaste for him all over the country.
His alleged liaisons with Mrs. Kate
Chase Sprague have done irreparable
damage to his reputation. Whether
innocent or guilty, the affair places him
in an urenviable light and n large por-
tion of the people believe him guilty.
As a presidential candidate he would be
on the defensive during the campaign,
and behind in the count. 1t is strange
that he does not consider these things.
But possibly he is blinded by ambi-
ton.
at any rate he should know that his
nomination would not only be objec-
tionable but disastrous. 1t would
prove a bid for a %ruinous defeat. He
can not be elected under any circum-
%stancea