The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-06-25
THE CONTEST AT ALBANY.

90 home on Saturday and remain away unit
Monday evening, so that there is seldom
quorum present in either house on Monday
The "halfbreeds" took advantage of this praC
,ice and rallied in such force on Monday tina
they came within a few votes of olecting thei
man Dcpew. When the joint convention me
at noon 1t was discovered that Unexpected
there was quorum present and an lmmedat
ballot was ordered, The vote stood 81 tor De
pew and all Others but 81. Now as Depew'
full vote is So, and as at least 5 Of the vote
cast against him on this ballot were halt
breeds and really Depew men, 1t was seen at {
glance that o rally of but tour or five mor'
halfbrced5 and second ballot must result IL
the election OF Depew. The democrats, o
whom but 25 were present, at once united will
the stawarts in demanding an adjournment
in which they succeeded only by the clos,
shave of two or three votes. But the scar,
will probably serve the good purpose of pre-
venting their being caught mapping a second
time in the same way.
Aside from this exceptional ballot the rela
tive vote of democrats, stalwarts and half
breeds remains unchanged, the deadlock being
maintained with the same rigldlty that has
characterized it from the beginning.
On Monday evening there was IA conference
In New York city between Conking, Grant
Plat, Arthur, and other leading stalwarts, at
which 1t appears the question was discussed
of dropping Plat and putting Grant on the
track in his place The latter, however show.
ed solilile inclination for the arrangement that
the project was dropped.
On Tuesday evening the stalwarts held an.
other conference at Albany at which Conk-
ling, for the first time since his resignation,
opened his head in q speech 20 his followers,
The substance of it was vigorous portrayal
of the corruption eff the monopolists, who have
combined to compass his defeat by the use of
money and all other disreputable means, and
an earnest exhortation to his followers to per
nit none but stalwart republicans to be sent
to the senate; strongly prcferring an adjourn
ment of the present legislature and submission
of the question to the people 10 the election of
any half-breed or creature of the monopol,sts
Among the latest work of the bribery inves.
tgation committee is the thorough airing Of
the methods OF the eninen, lobbyist Mr. A.
ID. Barber, who is regarded as one of the most
effective of the workers" against Conkllng
and fatt. Mr.. Barber, to ordinary apprc-
hension, is simply an elderly gentleman of
turn of mind and with Il somew hat
singular preference for the society of ,cg,s.
Iators. Accordingly he keeps rooms at
Albany during the sessions Of the legislature,
in which the legislators play "od sledge,"
pitch" and other games of cards at
which Mr. Barber, In spite of his experience
always loses money. In somewhat rigid over
hauling Of his bank account the committee es.
innate that his losses at the present session, in
his amIablc way, have been enormous, run.
lng up to $4,000 or 100000. Mr. Barber
however had taken due prccaution to remove
rom the bank in time the checks showing to
whom this large sum Of money had been paid
It was also discovered that Mr.. Barber Is very
'hoiCe Of the members with whom he PLAYS
hese amiabe games of "pitch," "old sledge,"
&c. and that somehow the heavy winners al.
ways happen to be such as, before encounter.
ng him, had stood doubtful on the senatorial
question, or IN regard to important measures
n which MIR. Barber happens to take an inter.
st, but who, after night in his room and
winning pile from HIM at his favorlte game,
ire noted for a sudden marvellous stiffness of
backbone IN support Of Mr. BARRIERS pet
chcmes or measures.
That MIR, Barber, in his little games, IS not
losing" his own money, is of course selfcvi.
lent, the great question with the committee |
'eing, whose money is he using Mr. Tuthill,
n speech in the house on Tuesday boldly
charged that he is supplied with money by
he railroad monopolsts, adding, "lf those
who frequent BARRIERS room for such purpose
complain of this statement, let them put me to
ny proof Let a committee OF the Joint con |
'entlon be raised, and will furnish the names |
If the witnesses who will uncover this foul |
nest of legislative jobbery. go further, and
NY that Barber and his corrupt agents have
been controlling and leading managers, man.
aging 10 put into the Senate Of the United |
States their chief, the man who supplies them
with their money to corrupt and debauch the
representatives sent here by the people"
Oh. they are sweet set at Albany, But
hey are no worse than the republican mana.
gers have become everywhere. The a,temp,
ofGarfield through johnny Davenport to bribe
Senator Strahan shows that the standard of
morality among the leaders at Washington is
no higher than at Albany, and that the stink.
Ing corruption that bought Indiana last Octo.
Der and that paid John Sherman's elec,ioneer
ing expenses by drafts on the treasury to pay
for candles" that were never bought, have be
come ingrained IN the very marrow Of "the
party of great moral ideas