New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-09
A CANVASS OF NEW-YORK.
SENTIMENT OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS.


arrived in Washington with information
that he is receiving hundreds of letters
from all parts of the State expressing
the preferences of Republican voters in re-
gard to Presidential candidates. These letters
show that among Republican voters there is
wide division of opinion. some of them
favori1g General Grant as first choice, some
favoring Mr.. Blame and others Mr.. Sherman.
The majority, however. are for Mr.. Blaine, or
for candidates other than General Grant.
TIE EXPRESSIONS OF PREFERENCE.
LETTERS COMING IN AT THE RATE or FORTY DAY
WHAT SOME OF THEM SAY.
IFRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON. Feb. 6.--The old saying that one
must go away from home TO hear the news is more
frequently illustrated in Washington than in any
other city on the continent In times of popular ex-
element or when public men are intentlv watching
every straw caught up by the wind in order to ma
out in which direction political breeZes are
blowing the visitor to the National Capital fresh
from contact with his neighbOrs and party friends
at home becomes very important character; and
lie often finds himself the possessor of information
the importance of which he did not dream of until
he set foot on the banks of tie Potomac.
At home one active observant person knows about
as much as another concerning the drift OF popular
sentiment as it is Indicated by the private CONVEX
satlons which occur daily in shops and offices, IN
streetcars and the corners in country stores and
in the village lyceum. But transplant man from
his sbome surroundings to Washington, and then what
he has to say about the condition of affairs
TO which he has become so much accustomed rs to
consider it matter of course Is discovered to be
fresh and full of meaning to those who are drfthg
around in the never ceasng whirlpool of Ma
is W Washington
Journalist is frequently able TO learn more about
local public sentiment In distant States than can
be cleaned from the county newspapers. The editors
of those Journals az general thing do their work
excelleutly; but the things which would be news
hundred or a thousand miles away are as household
words to the readers of those newspapers There is
no necessity for printing them there.
Among the visitors in Washington this past week
has been veteran Republican and journalist from
the interior of New York State, who unlike many
others who come TO the Capital. did think that he
had some interesting news. In 1876 he was an
active member of organization formed for the pur-
pose of assisting by work independent of the State
Committee in the election of President Hayes.
The first object of that organization. / suspect,
was to look up the Liberal Republicans of 1872 and
bring them back into the ranks of the National
Republican party but as the campaign went on 1t
enlarged its field of labor and extended its opera
tons among all that class of Republicans in
the State who from any cause were dissatisfied
with the party mana cement, and who were disln-
cned to work earnestly under the leadership of
the machine" as they called 1T. 1t did not
undertake to interfere with the work of
the State Committee, or of the local COM
mittees. but it did attempt to reach that
class of Republican voters which those organza-
tions failed TO enlist. Its mode of operation was to
organize the Liberals and the anti-machine" Re
publicans in every town, city, school dis
tnct and voting precinct in the State A
State committee OF 100 was appointed repre-
senting every county of the State ana
comprising 400 members at large correspondent
was selected in every town and ward. with associ-
ates in every school district and voting precinct.
An organization of this kind was perfected
throughout the State. except in the cities
of New-York. Brooklyn aud Buffalo; aud
II had the countenance and support of
influential Republicans in every county, including
some Conklng men, who recognized the necessity
of reaching the classes of Republican voters whom
the machine" could not influence. At the close
of the campaign of 1876 the lists and correspond
enc. of the organization fell into the hands OF the
gentleman above mentioned.
Shortly after the first of JanuGry last he sent
circular letter to the correspondent Of the oreani-
yadon IN every town and ward, asking, among
other things, WHICH OI tuc hepuphOdH
for the Presidential nomination the Republi-
cans Of the neghborhood preferred. About
two weeks ago the replies began TO
come in. and they are now being received at the
rate of about forty day. Some of the correspond
ents state only their preferences. while others
tay that they have taken pains to inquire among
their Republican associates of all shades of opinion
aud report the results of their Investigations. The
letters thus far received have not been arranged nor
has the information they contain been tabuiated; |;
but they represent every county OF the State and IN
some of the counties a large proportion of the
towns There was no hint in the circular sent out
in regard to the political preferences of the gentle
man asking for the information was there any
remark about either of the candidates. In fact the
returns do not show that the candidate Of the gen
tleman asking for the information is strong he
supposed or hoped he would be-
In order to show the general drift of the letters
thus far received have been permitted to make
extracts from about O dozen of them. taken at ran
dom. might I'll whole page of The TRIBUNE
with similar extracts give the counties, but not
the towns. bat have the original letters before
asI write:
Cu.uT.UoUA CoUsrY-"I ind the choice OF Repub-
hcas in tDs vicinity be- first Blaine second. sher-
uisn third Grau All shades OF Republicans are dis
now and ID en- one VINO will support Grant"
ULSTER COUNTY" As TO personal preferences. wo
I,ateil either Sherman Blaine 1he young and warm
Rspublcans IN this part OF the county like Blaine but
me old war horses incline toward sherman, and with
him We can WIN J would that Grant has been IA
yorite hut the truth he cannot poll the fun Repu5l
can vote HIS boom Is over"
ST. LAWRENCE CoUsTY-"As 10 who snail be oar
next President my own oplnlon Is that Blaine Is the
man. and believe he also the choice OF large ma
jorits OF the Republicans In this section; but our
friends here will support any good Republican VINO IL
nominated TIC two most objectionable men would os
Grant and CoHking know OF several earnest work
ing Republicans who would vote for neither OF these
men,"