Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-31
THE CONKLING COLLAPSE.

He Goes for Wool and Comes Back
ShOrn-War Dance Of tho Half.
Breeds-StalWart AccessfOns
to the Admfnfstra-
ton Camp.
The administrationists at Albany were jubi-
liant last evening over fresh accesSions to their
ranks. Among them was Senator Mills,
Utica, who last week held aloof and would not
state his position. Messrs. Geisline, Boardman
g. N. Palmer and Gates, members OF the as
sembly, who have been classified with the stall
warts are now placed with the administration
lists. Other changes are also anticipated, and
the edministrationists claim that the vote for
Conkl1ng to-day will show him to be In MI
nority, in which case. they say, he will be
abandoned entirely. On the other hand. the
that his true friends will stand by him to the
last as firmly as the 306 did by Grant Ia the
Chicago convention. Among those visiting eX-
Senator Conkling yesterday afternoon was
hour.
In the assembly last night, the senate resolu-
ton for joint convention to elect United States
Senators on Wednesday next was received, and,
by unanimous consent, adopted. The demo-
cratic members OF the legislature met In joint
caucus In the senate chamber last evening.
Assemblyman Murphy was made permanent
chairman. Senator Jacobs was nominated for
the short senatorial term to succeed Conkling,
ceed Platt. Thirty members were present.
The administration men met for conference
last evening. There were ffty-seven present
and notes from twelve more saying they will
vote for men who will support the adminI5tra-
ton. Resolutions were adopted pledging all
present to withhold their support from Conk-
ling and Platt.
number OF republican members remained in
their seats, in accordance with the invitation
to meet in caucus sent them by the assembly
Draper, CT Albany, to the chair. After some
speeches, the chair stated that he had q count
made. and it was found that there was not
majority OF republican members OF the assem-
bly, present. Z. A. Carpenter moved that the
caucus adjourn to pm. to-day, and the re-
publican members Of the senate be invited to
participate"
"vERY BAD FOR MR.. CoNKLING."
This is the heading of the New York Sun to
its Albany dispatches. That paper says OF the
proceedings there after the arrival OF Messrs.
Conkling, Platt and Arthur by the night boat:
"They arrived in Albany at an early hour and
passed to parlor on the third floor of the D Del-
avan House almost incogn1to. butcher, Car
penter, John F. Smyth, and other vaqueros
were were sound sound asleep: Their Their newly creased ariats
they mounted their saddles. The news, how
ever, was dispiriting. While they slept the
herd OF unherded yearlings had strayed deeper
in the forest. They were out OF reach. Two or
three had been noosed by the half breeds.
Worse than all, promising cattle had been cut
out OF the stalWarts' pen under the very noses
through the woods Senator Mills had rubbed
his hip against the stump OF party discipline
and effaced the Conkling brand. He walked
into the half breed corral as quietly as
lamb.
The Journal also announced that Assembly
mar Gorsline, black stalWart steer from Her
kimer county. had been yarded by the half
breeds. 1t said that the Overwhelming senti-
mPnf constituents left
alternative. The half breeds reiterated the
story until 1t seemed to rest on sure founda-
tion: Gorsline then turned up with his hair
freshly blackened. and denied it. he even
avowed a determination to sign call for
caucus. Another story. however, had the
essence OF Truth. Assemblymen Boardman,
stray yardlings caught In the woods by Blalne's
COW boys. They took the brand slssing hot
without murmur. Three other Conkl!ng
bulls were noosed, but they polted at the en-
the lariat from their horns. They would vote
for Cohkling, but they refused to include
Platt. II voting for both was to be the test Of
fidelity. they would vote for neither. 1t was
stalWarts."
EXTRAORDINARY IMBECILITY.'
The New York Times to-day remarks edi-
torially: "a CALL signed by Messrs. George 81.
Sharpe, E. A. Carpenter, John E. Gillette. and
A. s. Draper, was issued to the republican
members OF the assembly yesterday summon
the candidates for United States Senators to be
supported by them. OF the 20 republicans who
were in the assembly cham ber at the hour OF
the call Of the caucus committee, though
it had been alleged that a majority
Of the republican members Of the iegls-
lature had desired The meeting: Eight
and it was demonstrated that the number of
republican votes available for the re election
OF Messrs. ConkliDg and Platt is just 35. The
demonstrate beyond the possibility of dispute
the hopeless weakness of the Conkling cause is
OF piece with most OF the important moves
this extraordinary struggle. Failing to dis
cover the presence OF majority Of the repuD-
lcan members OF the assembly the chairman
announced the caucus adjourned till to- night.
Roscoe Conkling's chances of returning to the
Senate as representative of the republican
party stand adjourned for much longer
PERIOD
THE FIFTY-sBvEN."
The Albany correspondent of the Times
writes: "After the proceedings in the caucus
at the assembly chamber to- night there was
sudden disappearance Of stalwarts and an i'm
mense congregation everywhere in public
places of the administration men. After the
ominous news was made known as to the rela-
Conkllng factions. curious transforma-
OF the DelaVan House. In the lower
corridor there was large crowd
gathered, but the hitherto confident stalWarts,
who for a week past have been seen every
where. were nowhere to be seen. Scattered
through the throng there were numbers of ad-
m1nistration assemblymen, earnestly telling
their friends about their meeting at Mr.. Har-
ris's Office, where the 81 administration repub-
lcans had been gathered, and here. by the
rous triple coincidence OF these figures in this
canvass. For two days last week the stalwarts
went about Dragging that they had 81, and
some Of their prominent men said that their
list was In possession OF Mr.. Carpenter, of Suf-
folk. Now the figures are found to represent,
not the signatures to the call, but the actual
number of voters on the other side. Finally,
1t may be mentioned that 81 Is the number Of
the large parlor in the Delavan house which
has been used as Mr.. Conklings public head
quarters"
"a PASSION FOR SUICIDE"
The Tribune correspondent writes: "The
long deferred Conkling caucus was held TO-
night at last. Why 1t was held it would be
difficult to say, unless it be that Mr.. Conkling
has acquired q passion for suicide, and wants
to see how the operation can be repeated. The
Gail was made suddenly. The members and
politicians generally had settled down upon
the conclusion that all idea of q caucus had
been abandoned because 1t would be 8 mere
confession OF Mr.. COnklings weakness but late
In the afternoon there were intimatiOns that q
Conkling coup d'etat was coming, and In the
evening 1t arrived In the shape of q letter In
the post office box of every member signed by
four out Of the I'VE members OF the assembly
ftnrn NN