New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-12
THE STRUGGLE AT ALBANY.


NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MCCARTHY INblGNANl-
Mr.. PLATr LEADING IN THE RACE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
ALBANY. Jan. 1.-THE machine managers had
surprise ready for the anti-machne members OF the
Legislature tonight 1t was stated IN these dis
patches last night that if the COnklng leaders found
that the Senate Caucus Committee proposed to put
off the caucus by declining to take part in the Joint
meeting of the two committees, suggested by the
Assembly Committee, they would have call issued
for a caucus signed by majority of the Reprbi-
cans in both Houses if possible and thus override
the committee entirely. But it was not supposed
that this action would be taken until some time had
elapscd. Tonight, however, when Speaker
Sharpe brought down lis gayel announcing
an adjournment of The Assembly nntll
tomorrow morning, he quickly added an
announcement that the Republican mc'nb - ci
the Assembly were requested TO remain few mo-
memts. Those who were not in the secret supposed
there was to be a meeting or consul alton OF some
sort. But they soon that the members were
drifting one by one up the steps past the Speakers
desk and into the Speakers room. Here were [.
NJ Dennison and A. b. johnson, of Utica, and
other prominent Conkling leaders, who offered the
incoming stream of members the opportunity TO
sign the following paper:
We, the undersigned Republican members Of the Log,
islalurr neT,Dy cai pIt n me CcI s"c,rl Cbger "n
Thursday evening January Is. ls-l IT $50 p H. for
the Of nominating candidate Tor Oncl 0stog
senator and transact such other business as lay
come before the caucus
The call was signed in the Speakers room by the
following Assemblymen George II. Sharpe, s. II.
Everett f. A. Holt, G. NJ. Palmer, J.
r. DutcEer. ]. NJ. Congdon Hiram Sessions,
e. Goodman George Lasher, l. p. Root, John
Cowles. b. F. Walker IL. Binnnger, James Arm
strong d, Walton. r.. II. Hamilton, S. W Evans, ;.
H. Morgan, NJ. H. Phillips. l.. o. Laws, j. Ranos,
G. L. 6. Seely John Reitz, X. \. Derrick W. y.
Brennan p w. Cullinan, ". ID. GorSline, J. ID. Gill
Iette X. NJ. Scott, l. S. Carpenter, William Levin.
NJ NJ Fenner, S. II. Morgan a. S. Draper, y. D.NIE-
iams, ,W.J. Trimble, J.. A. Carpenter ), +. Brodsky,
e. H. Russell, G. Campbell, 5. *. Bemlss, {. L.
Brehm, Thomas Hunter, \. Rowland, A. L. Sheldon,
Truman Boardman, A. w. Gates Il. Robinson,
James Low S. p. Bowen, b. G. Butler n. Turci,
+. D. Roberts, ]. w. d ckey $. II. Bradley, II. j.
Eurd. Francis Sepp and George Bingham All tod,
tbere are ifty-eight names in the list, or majority
of the whole number of Republican members Of the
Legislature which is 106. All OF these signing are
Assembymen, leaving only twenty-three Repu0-
Tcau Assembvmen not down on the list. When tie
call is passed around among the machine Senator,
the number WILL Of course, be increased. lhe paper
is in circulation for signatures.
At a late hour :he scene while the signing was IN
progress was busy one. The room was thrOugcd
ana laughing and outside crowd in the Assembly
Chamber watched the stream of members flowing in
and ont and wondered what was doing within. 1t
is entirely inside of bounds to say that this action
Of the Conkling managers aroused great Indignation
Among the anti-machine members of the Legsla-
ture. especially in the Senate and also among some
who have been classed in times past with the ma
chine. Senator Rockwell, of the Senlte Caucus
Committee who voted thrty-six times for Grant
nnn6f hIo in q II
sparing terms as an insult to the committee aud TO
the Senate He was requested last Wednesdl ~ the
day on which the Legislature adjourned, to ask
Senator Mccarthy and Senator Forster and the
other members of the Senate Caucus Committee, to
meet the Assembly Caucus Committee that after
noon for consultation with respect to a caucus. He
found that Senator Forster had gone home the
night before and there cOald be no meeting that
day Then the committee adopted the resolution
for a Joint meeting tonight, which Speaker Sharpe
embodied in letter to Senator Forster, published
the other day with Senator FOrsters reply III 1HE
TRIBUNE Senator Mccarthy did not receive the
letter addressed to him by Speaker Sharpe until
after reaching home. He thed sent the following
reply from Syracuse, dated January 1O.which shows
that he would have been here tomorrow: Your
notice for Your joint meeting of the Caucus Meeting
of the two houses not received until my return
home. 1t will be impossible for me to return to
Albany sooner than Wednesday, which feel quite
sure will be in good time."
Instead of waiting for Senator McCarthys arrival
when meeting of the Senate Committee would
lave been called the ConklIng managers asked
Senator Rockwell and Senator ForsteT to attend the
meeting of the Caucus Committees originally called
for tonight. Senator Rockwell assented, on con-
dtion that there shonid be action on the date o
the caucus before the arrival Of Senator MCCARTHY
the chairman Of his committee, and came into
the Assembly Chamber tonight at the hour
appointed with the understanding that tins
was TO be the course pursued. When he reached
C place of meeting, the Speakers room, he was as
tonished to find it crowded with members signing
the call for the caucus, with no indication OF COM
mittee meeting anywhere. He expressed MS mug
nation very freely No man. he said, could say that
he had once indicated his preferences III the sena-
toral contest or could charge that his feeling was
du. to personal bias toward any candidate; no one
could fairly charge that there was any dispo-
stion on the part Of the Senate Committee
to delay the caucus. He would have been
ready, and no doubt the other members OF the COM
mittee would have been ready also, to hold caucus
at any reasonable interval after the announcement
Of the committees by Speaker Sharpe. Now the men
who signed the call did 30, some OF them, at least
in fear that by refusing to do 30 they might incur
the displeasure of the Speaker. There can be no
guarantee now, said Senator Rockwell. " that tue
committees will be announced before the Caucus abu
that the same influence will nct be held over INC
heads of men until after the Senator has been nomi'
mated" The comments OF the anti'machine inen
generally were in this vein.
THg CAUCUS LIKELY TO DE dR1D.
II has not been decided vet what effort shall be
saade to checkmate this move. Ii the anti-nachint
nlsn could hold majority OF the Senators together
in a refusal to sign the call for caucus and IN