New-York tribune., 1881-12-29
THE DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA
TAsfMANY HALL AND THE LEGISLATURE.

AfBsSY Dec 2S.-The meeting OF the Demo
cratic Legislature promises to have the picturesque
ness of a Spanish butght Already the IamInahy
bull is Drancing about the ring, the country Demo
Gratis have taken to the fence and Daniel Manning
the JOrreador of the occasion, Is rather ahXlousy
surveying the field while he prepares the lnlple-
ments to subdue the obstreperous monster-a whlte
flag and shillalah. Apparently the white nag Is
chiefly to be employed; although the country
Democrats say that shillalab will be IN view IN
Mr. Mannings coat tail pocket when he enters the
ring The bull is actually of pacific disposition,
say the country Democrats-although TO onlookers
the glare of his eye tells different stOry-and Will
be easily conquered, they predict.
The leaders Of the Tammany Democrats are Ger
tanly not showing any disposition as yet to unite
with their fellow Democrats from New-Iork CITY
and from the rest of the state III the organization
of the Legislature. For q month past an active
negotiation has been carried on by Mr. Manning the
chairman Of the Democratic State COMMITTEE, with
John Kelly for the purpose of accomplishing such
union Friends of Mr. Manning here say that the
first Overtures came from Mr. Kelly Ihey state
that directly after the election Mr. Kelly heard that
Mr. Manning had already selected the officers OF the
LEGISLATURE. choosing in several instances men who
were bitterly hostile to Tammauy Hall. Naturally
Mr. Kelly and his friends said that the Tammany
Democratic caucus whose action, in opposition to
their desires had already been fully decided. Mr.
Manning and his friends protested that they had
not drawn up the hostile programme attributed to
them They said that Democratic membei OF tue
Legislature had always been recognized as OF equal
party standing when they reached Albany ana thlS
Legislature would not prove an exception. Cer-
tany there was no intention OF inyelgIlng the
Tammany members into a Democratic caucus ana
then waging war on the Tammany organization by
naming men for legislative Offices who were
especially obnoxious to it. Furthermore the
country Democrats, for the first time IN several
years, were inclined to treat the Iammany Demo
Gratis with amabilty the constant qaarres between
the Democrats of NewYork had exhausted their
patience they would he glad to hear nothing more
about those troubles and TO that end slntended to
treat the New-York Democrats of whatever organ
ization with equal justice.
Mr. Kelly. while not putting much trust IN these
prohers OF peace authorized OF his lieutenants
TO open negotiations with Mr. Manning regarding
tnc pos, ton that was to be accorded Iammany in
the LEGISLATURE These negotiations, as already
stated nave been under way for a month past. Not
much progress has been made. General Francis b.
Spinola and Edward Kearney have been here sew
eral times for Tamnlny. Mr. Manning himself
went To New York at the close of last week, and had
a long conversation with Alr. Kelly about the
caucus No agreement OF united action was reached
by them. Mr. Manning must have offered attrac-
tive terms. however, for General Spnoia aud Mr.
kearney followed him to this place on saturday,
and ncld another long talk with him concerning
the caucus. Uron the same Saturday night. how
ever the Tammany Hall General Committee met in
New-Yor and passed resolutions virtually instruct
ing ne Tammauy members OF the Legislature not
to enter the Democratic caucus unless everything
sLould be- arranged beforehand TO their satisfaction
The ostrnslhc point aimed at was that the Legs
laUrr should be organized throu yhout in opposition
to monopolics.
In ihis city it is believed that the monopoly cry
was raised especially to kill Oh senator Jacobs as
a candidate for President pro tcmpOre OF the
Senate For some reason Senator Jacobs Is IN
teuse;y di-ljkcd 10y Mr. Rely ana bis associates in
Tammauy iIsll. Politicians believe this hatred is
based on Senator Jacob,s refusal to accept nom-
nation from Tammany for Governor in 1879 at the
Syracuse Convention. the defeat of Governor
Robinson for denomination depending on Jacobss
decision. Singularly enough. this matter Of the
elect on Of Jacobs a. President pro temporc of the
senate is the chief thing in which Tammany is in
terc,tcd Little has been said by A!r. Kelly about
the minor onces little even about the NUeakership
of the Assembly There is this to be SAID about the
Presidency of the Senate that it Is indeed the chief
place i'm the Legislature because Of the power OF the
man holding he Office 10 name the committees OF the
Senate These committees take hual action on
most of the bills before tho Legislature. ihey are
composcd OF few men, whose Importance 49, of
course greatly enhanced ia contrast with the mem
bers nclougng 10 numerous Assembly commit
tee. The senate committees being the true centres
of power in the Legislature, It is an extremely i'm
portant matter to Tammany that they should not
be- named by an enemy All To- sislatOn regarding
New York City. and much of an important character
us MANNED by the Iamuauy organization, would
necessarily have TO be abandoned. in case of the
construction OF committees hostile to the Organiza-
Wr Manning is embarrassed By this demand for
the o,trac!sn OF Senator Jacobs. for the man has
been one Oi his most useful political aloS Tor sew
erdlsyears Jacobs himself - also not Nlilhg 10 oe
ruled out thus summarily rs Il candidate. flo
plrads his long service IN the Senate, ms repeated
srlrction by the ncmocTatIC' senators as their
candidate tor President pro tcmporc. when they
were in tire minority He also eudeaNorS TO arouse
the country Democrats 20 resistance 20 his Ostraclsm
by declaring that Tammany is d tempting to dictate
to the senatorial caucus. Mr Manning, on his
part ieeh compelled 20 say 10 be lammany negO-
aturs that he has no authority To pledge IN advance
the action OF the country Democratic senators regard
ING the presiding officer of the Senate. This Is not
satisfactory 10 Mr. Kelly or the Gammany members
ol the legislature Their programme now Is TO
wait till the country Democrats reach here and then
NEGOTIATE directly with them for the offices. MIR.
Alaunpg is content; knowing inll well that he wlll
have lar more lhulthCe Nlth Jhe country DEMO
cratic members than lammany can possibly gain.
1t IL his policy also not TO make mp slate of
officers of the Legislature yet II he should dare to
make slate it would be smashed in twenty
four hours Democratic members who should arrive
and lud that the officers of the Legislature had
been selected without their having u voice in the
selection, would quickly take effective measures 10
undo all his work. The Democratic majority IN the
Senate is only two votes; the transfer of vote
to the Republican column would make a deadlock.
One Democratic Senator who should be offended
and remain away from the Democratic caucus,
could thus defeat the action of all his associates.
Considerate treat ment of even Senator Jacobs is
thus demanded.
In case of tine defeat of Senator Jacobs for the
T.. fba tp "