New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-18
TASTING TINE.

The Republicans have cast q majority oi
their votes in the Legislature for Mr. Dcpcw,
and plurality as to the short term for ex-
Vice President Wheeler. Either of these call
didates has received more votes than Mcssrs.
Conkling and Platt have received at any stage
of the balloting. The Senatorial dcScrtcrs have
never gained in strength, but have gradually de-
clned from the first. They were supported 10y
one third of the Republican members at the
outset, and are supported hy much smaller
number now. Still their adhcrcuts have power,
according To the votes thus far pOlcd, to pre-
vent any election.
1t is matter Of aStoni,lmcnt 10 sincere
Republicans outside the Legislature that
majority has not Yet been obtained for any
candidate If these members care for the SIC
cess of the Republican party 1t j. often asked,
why are they throwing away thoir votes upon
impossible candidatc,P Why, indeed. are some
voting now for candidates who m-ht, III Ger
tain contingencies, be clcctrdf Do they not
know that their refusal To vote for the candi-
date who has the support of the majority of
the patty, whether ju,tifahlc or otherwise,
will be used hy other members rs a reason for
refusing to vote for their iavorltc candidates (!
There is but one cour.c that is consistent with
fair dealing when a candidate has the ma
jority of Republican votes, give him the rest is
far as possible.
Most Of the Administration members have
given their votes for the short term 10 Mr..
Wheeler No man can say that there Is any
personal ljecton to his election He has been an
earnest and faithful member Of the Republican
party Its methods he has at times condemned a.
other Republicans idin $50. BIT the Republic
can party would be great deal bcttcr off today
if it had accepted and followed Mr.. Wheeler's
opinion in some points of dispute. There is
no faint of dishonor about his candidacy, and
if the Republican members see fit to vote for
him, and against the Senators who ran away
from their post of duty, they can rest assured
that Mr.. Wheeler will not bring that or any
other disgrace upon their decision.
1t is time to say that the Republicans Of this
State undoubtedly want this contest ended.
They are not blind to the possible conse-
auences of its continuance. They respect Mr..
Depew and Mr.. Wheeler and others who
have been voted for, but they want this con-
test ended by the election of two true Re
publican Senators. The Legislature could
have done this during the last week if
it had chosen. Mr.. Dcpew was malig
nantly and indccently assailed, and yet
his vote increased until, for several
DAYS in succession, it embraced more than half
of the Republican members of the Legislature.
Good Republicans cannot see why, after that
any Republican votes should have been cast
for any other candidate for the long term Mr..
Wheeler now has the support of larger num-
Der of Republicans for the short term than
anybody else. Constituents do not understand
why there should be any hesitation in conccn-
trating Republican votes upon MIR. Wheeler.
In plain truth, the Republicans of this State
begin to think that their representatives in the
Legislature have good many axes to grind.
Sometimes legislator can serve his private in
terests with honor and safety, but the growing
feeling is that members are trying to do this,
Just now, at the sacrifice of the public in
terests, the good of the State, and the
welfare Of the party. 1t is very clear that
no public interest can he served by failing to
elect Senators this summer. II men stand
Quarrelling about ersonal preferences to the
end Of the session they may 10 very sure that