National Republican., 1880-05-03
THE THIRD-TERM CLIQUE.
Tho Material of which It Is Comnosod.

a gentleman VINO was an attendant nt the recent
con ference of "anti-third-tcrmers" at Albany and
who is well acquainted with the inside workings
of politics In the Empire State, was interviewed
yesterday by representative of THE NATIONAL
regarding tho strength OF the aFore-
mentioned element and its present objects The
reporter called the attention of this gentleman to
the recent article In this paper on the subject en-
titled "a Glance Behind tho Scene" etc, After a
careful reading Of the same our informant stated
that the article in questinn was faithful picture
of the state of affairs now existing.
"The Albany conference" he said, demonstrated
very clearly the inherent weakness of the So
called 'scrNtcher movement. What may be fniry
called the leading element of the movement was
tious young men from Now York. including Mr..
+. W. Whitridge, Mr.. Bowkcr-the only active sur
vlvor Of what was once he promising party of
Tilden Republicans and whose first choice for
the Presidency Is now Thomas +. Bayard- twa of
Mr.. Whitridgcs 'heelers' named Ynndu2cr and
politician whose residence is in Chicago and whose
creed is the Nation newspaper. and just fifteen
other individuals, the less said of whom the better.
1t Is safe to say that not fifty of the 1000 voters
who scratched Governor Cornell last year did 50
oil account of this organization.
Now wish it distinctly understood" said our
informant, that l am decidedly opposed to the
denomination or reelection of General Grant and
to the continuance of tho obnoxious machine
rule IN New York. and some good may possibly
come even from such reformers as those above
mentioned"
How about the Reform League and the other
elements represented at AlbanyY
THE Reform League has good material in H. and
If men such us those formerly identified with it
General Devep, Congressman Merriam, Matthew
Hale, Henry Randall Waite and others-would
now take hold OF It, 1t might become a powerful
organization. The connection with it of such q
disreputable character as A. N. Cole. and. moro
over, his antics while in the position of chairman
have, of course. disgusted many and driven these
clements of responsibility elsewhere. There Is now
no really powerful anti-third-term party in New
York: What little of real strength was exhibited
Mt ntrla Rnf MI Tnouy M
men or outsiders, who viii join 10 organization
such as the one formed"
What was the character OF the proceedingsT'
"Ihey were chiefly remarkable for the absence OF
all real dcliberatton, but wcio marked by several
ludicrous incidents, Cole, the lobbyist alore-
called tho Father Of the Republican party in New w
York lie dropped hint to this effect at Albany
when up jumped old DR.. Ball, of Saratoga aud
assured the conference that he had the honor OF
giving birth to the promising child aforesaid and
that II was necessary TO beware of limitations
He had hardly sat down, when Bradford Il. Wood
of Albany, took the floor, and expressed his sur
prise that every one seemed TO be ignorant of the
fact that he, together with three Others, none OF
whom were present, divided the honors of pater-
the further discussion of this interesting genoa.
logical question, which leaves the legitimacy at
tending the birth of the great Republican party in
such unpleasant state Of doubt, was cut short by
the entrance of the committee on resolutions
headed by Horace White. The latter modesuy re-
qnestcd those present to adopt his resolutions with
the dissection. grammatical as we'll us pulii.
iCal, which the conference applied As it
stands, the address adopted means pretty much
everything in general and nothing in particular.
The only sensible resolution offered. that OF Mr..
Kaufmann, was voted down because Mr. q. w,
Curtis had announced that IL IL were adopted he
would decline 10 address the New York Local ASso-
citation. An ornamental State committee was
elected. with DR.. John Swinburne as chairman,
Hon. Matthew Hale having declined peremptorily
TO take the latter position. Even this was not ac-
compished without some friction, and in fact the
only point an which substantial unanimity pre-
vailed was adcterrnnation 10 sqnelch tho notorious
Cole ono OF the putatiyo therJ OF tho pa-ty. This
may add, has probably been accomplishment
least nothing has been heard from him since the
conference"
What do You think Of the ST. Louis conyen-
tionY
"rhat is a different matter Such names as sena-
tor Henderson, Mr.. Hitchcock and Others who are
at The head of this movement, arc guaranty OF
respectlbilty. Sti, doubt whether II would pay
many Eastern men 10 Huoud though II may be the
nucleus of {. party, such as | sincerely hope may
arise, based on sound finance and thorough
ciyi.seryiCo reform,