Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-18
The COnkIing Collapse.

The contest between Senator Conkling and
the administration has been transferred to
Albany. but some OF the wires regulating this
political maneuver will be worked from Wash
ington. The question OF prime interest now Is:
Can Mr.. ConkliDg maintain his hold upon The
majority Of the New York legislature which Is
denominated as stalwart? In the recent sena-
torial contest, before the legislature to which
Mr.. ConkliDg now appeals, there was no secret
made OF the fact that Thomas c. Platt was the
choice OF Conkl1ng. Ia fact, the support OF the
ruling New York Senator was about all that
Platt had to base his hope of success
upon. The name aud influence of Roscoe
Conkiing was used at every step
In behalf OF Platt, and Mr.. VIM FL. Vanderbilt
was induced to withdraw his support from
Depew because 1t was foreseen that Platt
would be defeated for the nomination unless
the Vanderbilt influence went to his aid Not
withstandiDg all that was accomplished In
Clearing the path OF Platt OF formidable OBJ
structions, he very narrowly escaped defeat In
TIE caucus. Out OF los votes, he received 81
Just one more than was absolutely necessary
to 81 for the other candidates. There is no con-
eealing the fact that this Is a narrow margin
Tor Messrs. Conkling and Platt to count upon. es-
pecfally after they have voluntarily resigned
tier seats because they failed to dictate the dis
tr1bution OF patronage In New York. one OF the
truest friends MI. Conkling has had In public lfe
aman who, as Senator In the past separated
himself from the republican administration and
threw away all prospect OF his own political
advancement, to follow and support Conking.
is credited With having advised the latter that
he had acted like baby deprived of toy, in
stead Of like great man; that II ne (Conklingl
had resigned his seat In defence OF a principle
the country would applaud him, though 1t
n rT-ifh i'm y1rf
cause one appointment TO Office dIsplease1 him
would not add to his great fame. Though MIR.
CtrkliIg is not man to take advice and Is
said TO have been especially displeased at sug-
gesti0nS concerning his late STEP he heard
what was true and what he Will, perhaps, yet
recognize TO be sound sense, when the friend
referred to spoke. There Is not the shadow
OF a principle involved In all this war.
fare inaugurated by Mr.. Conkllng. Ic re-
lates only to patronage-to a single oniee-and
when all the glamor thrown around the subject
by meek heroies disappears, the people will
see the one small thing at the bottom OF all
this russ. Reports from different portions OF
New York are TO the effect that the people of
tAat state already begin to accurately weigh
the matter, and that protests against the re.
election OF Conkltng and Plat are already
eelng formulated and signed. 1t must also be
borne In mind, In calculating the weight OF
opposition TO Conkiing. that State Senator
Robertson will, after to day, be the collector of
eustoms-elect for the port of New York: that
he viii step from the state senate imne-
diately upon the adjournment of the
legislature into the collectorship, and that
this viii largely increase his political influence
among members OF the legislature. Tue GER
tainty that he will in few days more control
the enormous patronage OF the custom house
is calculated to make not few OF the stalwart
members Of the legislature, and especially
such as depend upon patronage for their future
success In politics. waver in their devotion to
The Conkling cause All things taken into
consideration, it Is not improbable that State
Senator Robertson may be able to rally fol-
lowing enough TO defeat Conkling and Plat
for denomination In a caucus should one be
hec; or they may decline to go into caucus or
be bound by rs action. In which case the eau.
Gus nominees could not be elected. In various
ways the election could be thrown over until
next winter, and meantime new legislature
must De chosen. Upon the whole, Mr.. Conkling
docs not appear TO have victory right within
his grasp, as Yer.