New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-14
,,,rr IRON CAUCUS RULE.

n.
r,.,rops HEARING FROM THEIR CoN9i
my rrLEGR.PH TO THE TRiBtNf~i = ...-.
No, "a The Republican senators
W,ND.har cancus this morning, and aiter d -
Deiu '.-sS 80 .,ro bours' duration, mainly aoU"'
su,''o. .,o, oase adjourned subject to the can u
hoD ' 7, il generally believed, ho"e''i' - -
po,blican caucus of this session was "0i'
'~' Sonotors are even more reticent than S'u",
.J;no tbe caucus proceedings. One hepuo''e
rTes".or bovever. in conversation with iHi'0
.orresnondeut this afternoon, sara w -, or
- now houud ly any obligation uhoelS''li'' .lo
- ovcept tbe ordinary rules OF the Se"ao - IN
.o,,'nct Of executive business. No coninN''0
s.,o,,nt n, smother any nomination whici n'9
s'so ss o. i and the Senate will promptly proo'0u
sa~t week 70 dispose of the executive ou'i'0'
which remains 10 be done.' -, ,..o,.ioTv
Another Republican Senator salu -
.ha same thing this evening, and addeu
oily one possible danger now lms ho' -
NAV drive enSugh Senators away ~ D'o''D 80
.n"y heore we can get 10 the Robertson nonlin"
quoi oN os o ,bat those Senators said can have
-. ono meaning the caucus rule IN reIa'lon "
,as,+os,od nominations is no longer operative
"a senator Conklinc understands that no at'eihp.
a~s,o,I.r the nomination of Judge Robertson VIII
he per1nitted to succeed. IL.
Tbere is reason 10 believe that this understandings
r,as not reached without some rather Nloie"' "a
n-ass;ons of dissatisfaction by Mr. Conkhhs "uo'0
romarks in the caucus this morning are sai" ~
have been in striking contrast To the temperate anu
ra,ber piteous appeal which he made to the Se"'
tors in the caucus last Monday. 1t is unoeIs'ooo
that he went so far to-day as 10 provoke haish
,isms from Senators who have hitherto syInpa'
with him. and indeed from some Senators VINO nav
been counted upon to vote with MN WIEN 'N' ''
shall come. .o,,,+io, 20
..oaood 20 tho consideration of all nominations be-
fore the Senate. it was interrupted by Mr' fla' u,
NJ, yorl, Who had lust arrived from home ana
ubo atated that if there should be postponemen'
,;, Nondav he felt authorized TO assure the caucus
1hot a oornpromise could be effected which WouIu
remove the stumbling-blOck presented by hopeI'-
SONS nomination. Mr. Pl1tt made his statement
with such confidence that the caucus at onoe o',-
,rced-onIv 70 find, as one Senator suggestel'
that a confidence game had been piayeu on
the caucus by Mr.. Platt just 10 secure d
nostnonement The only possible adJus,hen'
70 which Mr. Platt is thought to have reierro" - 'o
s;ny one afoat here this evening that an arrange
ment has been made by which Robertson shsu po
confirmed as Collector and then with g1eat magma
niu;tv decline the office and be appointed to some
o,bor Mace This very wise arrangement proceeds
an the basis that the President and Judge Robertson
~ willing TO pose as pattern fools before the conn
trv and be everywhere laughed at and rlhcned'
The President and Judge Robertson on the con
are not engaged in a game of child s-piay' ~ ~
hardly necessary to state that there Is not "oId ol
truth in the rumor, and that the President was
never 90 firm and steadfast as he Is to-nght III MS
determination to secure Judge Robertson con-
fUnatIOn
There is good deal of feeling among certain Sen
ators that a postponement should have been Sc
cured by such tactcs and great deal OF surprise
that Mr. Platt should be willing TO resort TO such
questionable methods. Senator Conkling is re
ported TO have said in the caucus that he knew OF
no COMPROMISE and that if any was under consider
alton ne was not responsible for 1t.
Said one Administration Senator toa TRIBUNE
correspondent to-day: "Do you believe it possible
that Robertson will be such fool as TO ask the
President TO withdraw his name, or foolish enough
10 decline the Office of Collector" Absurd as such
suggestions appear there are cool-headcd Senator's
sbo believe that such a scheme is afoOt, and that
the hone of its success sustains those who still main
tain that compromise is possible and even
probable.
There Is reason TO believe that the number of Re
publican Senators who win vote against the con-
frmation of Judge Robertson has fallen of since the
beginning of this week The almost universal sentl-
mentof the country in favor of sustaining the reel-
dent against an attack from Mr.. Conking Is begin
ming to make itself felt in Washington even
by Senators, and several who were counted
among Mr.. Conklng's supporters three or four
days ago are already said to be wavering In their
allegiance Even Senator Anthony Is said to be
considering whether he can afford to stand with the
Eew-York Senator and against the Administration
ON a question which has become one of National
IL 4 .nA hat AY
Anthony has received information from prominent
republicans in Rhode Island to the effect
that his continued adherence 10 Mr.. Conkllng
may endanger his own reelection TO the Senate
because the Republicans Of Rhode Island regard the
present controversy rs more than mere local dis
pute, and because IL Is one in which they are unit
In support of the President. Ii il also SAID that
eral other Republican senators, who have hitherto
ranged themselves under the Conkling banner, have
received intmations fiOm leading Republicans in
their own States that their course in that respect *
creating great dissatisfaction.
Taking everything into consideration, therefore.
Il is doubtful wLether Senatorial courtesy will
bring half doz6 Republican votes to the support
Of Mr.. COnkling when the test shall come. In this
respect the delay for whic Mr. Con king has fought
earnestly and with such success is likely TO prove
fatal 10 his hopes of defeating Judge Robertson.
That nomination, 20 much discussed, has become a
question in which Republicans throughout the
coantry have become interested. To them 10 now
represents principle of government which they de-
sire 70 maintained and If Senators go counter to
that desire they Will he likely TO feel the disPeasure
oi their constituents Some Republican Senators
already realize this fact, and are inclined TO shape
Their conduct accordingly.
IL ts understood that, besides the Robertson nom
nation there was some discussion in the caucus to-
Gay OF the pending resolution 10 elect officers of the
senate and that the drift of opinion was in favor Of
ssslng the resolution rest until next December.
ms is the only course possible under the circuIn-
a&nees Republican Senators who cordially sup
pcft tne Administration will not remain in session
nse day for toe purpose Of engaging in the attempt
70 osicyete 70 ONCE man who, day after day, pOurs
gat spen the Administration torrent of abuse and
nsnder n the columns of his newspaper. The sup
YSfsors o. fres1dert GarfelPs Administration viii
sss T;s cSvc. oeesge 9. Gorham Secretary Of the