New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-27
RAFFLED AT ALL POINTS.

,u,fpERs UNDER FALSE PRETENCEs-A DEAD
LOCK BELIEVED TO BE INEVITABLE
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIBuNEl
,,,.yx Nav 08-Mr Conkling has not political
strength enough left to call legislative caucus VI
his own party This is q strange spectacle IN new
York politics The slow podding effort 10 get sig
natures 10 the call for caucus has gone on tnro"e,
the night and through the day, and the hour hAou
for the gathering actually arrived without seeine oh
the list the names of majority of the RepuDiicah
members of the Legislature.
The messengers of the Conkling canvass went
about calmly claiming that they had ffty-sevcn
.;gnatnres. and would have sixty before they got
through. The fact was, however that with all their
efforts. all their threats of party accommodation,
and all the appeals of the most distinguished set Oh
lobbvists that ever hung about Senatorial caucus
and fshed in buttonholes for votes the supporters
of the Senatorial deserters have not been able to Sc
cure majority of the members. Just now many
signatures they actually have, it would be difficult
TO say. A member Of strong Conkling sympathies'
but not in favor of seeing him a candidate,
said tonight that at midnight last night there were
only thirty-sx names on the list, and he believed
there were now only thrty-seyen- 1t is known that
the supporters of the Administration have thirty
nine names signed to. their pledges and count up
now fifty members who will stand by them.
THE ADMINISTRATION PARIh ChONlNu'
The drift is unquesionably toward the Admins
tration; but in the eyes Of many of the members
the machine casts long and fearful shadow. They
are afraid of offending the machine, at the same
time that they are afraid of offending the Admins
tration and thus they remain in doubtful, almost
eauiyocal position between the two; afraid 10 go
over to either and afraid to stay away from both.
It was announced some days ago that caucus of
the opponents of the Administration would be held
this evening. This prediction was never with
drawn. Now call for O caucus-and especially a
Senatorial caucus-is usually published sometime in
advance, 30 that due notice may be had by every
member The cal for the Conkling caucus was not
made public this morning. for the sufficient reason
that it was far from havings majority Of the MEN,
beTs names. 1t was not announced in the Legisla-
ture at the hour OF adjournment, Is sometimes
done; and yet every Conkling manager, when ques-
toned the subject, invariably stated that there
swould be q caucus in the evening, called by a
majority of the members aud at which nominations
would be made.
This be it remembered, was TO be the so-called
Regular Caucus, for the most important Senatorial
election that has taken place in the State in many
years-perhaps since the foundation of the Rcpubli-
can party and at o'clock in the evening, hour
before II was said that it would meet, members of
the Legislature and the standing army of politicians
were going about asking the COnkling men and
each other "Is there to be a caucus tonight
not ~ c. A. Dennison, of Utica, one of Mr.. Conk-
ings most trusted friends, did not know at o'clock.
&. B. johnson, of Utica, another of Mr.. COnkling's
devoted Utica friends, did not know at 7:3O and
o'clock came with no public announcement that
there was to be a caucus or was not to be one
A TRICK WHICH WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL.
Long before this, however the caucus had been
rahan4;zad M a fha
correspondents and other credulous and simple
minded persons ii was called caucus, but with
members Of the Legislature, and especially those
whom there seemed to be any hope of winning il
was called conference. The doubling and doubtful
member was asked whether he would not be willing
70 come to an informal conference, which need not
commit him to anything. and there the whole situa-
ton could be talked over and perhaps harmonious
solution reached
Superintendent Dutcher-whO has large and en-
srgetic way Of canvassing. AMI has ioosened the
roots OF more than one legislative coat tail in the
past two days in his efforts to detan an important
ustener-is said to have put this view with great
sarnestness to a number of members. 1t was be-
ieyed to be the plan that the uncommitted men
should be beguiled in this way into conference,
which should be speedily converted into caucus
under the influence of some stirring speeches that
ths bees would be hived; there would
Be majority of the members present;
the claim could be made that these men
were TIE regulars" and that the men who remained
eutside were the "bolters' But the project failed
conference Of the opponents of the Administration
looked very much like the same thing az a caucus;
and the consent of the coveted majority could not
be obtained.
OF course the Conkling managers did not give this
version OF II; they said that Speaker Sharpe had
oiundered In falling to announce the caucus
rom The desk just after the adjournment,
ana they did not want to be charged with
having called snap caucus Only two
hours before. however. these gentlemen. when
asked how they proposed to have q caucus without
making the call public, said it was not necessary IN
make the call public. When a certain number of
members agreed to meet together for certain pnr
Pose, II was not necessary that they should publish
ne call; and the suggestion about snap caucus
ns very aptly met by politician who said that il
would certainly not be snap caucus to those who
went there.
POSTPONED TO MONDAY.
~ about half past in the evening there was
mfAsfing In Senator Conkling's room of Mr. Conk-
me ex-senator Plat. ce-President Arthur. Su-
teEntendent butcher, ex-Marshal Payn, s. b. John
- e. n. Dennison, John f. Smyth md others
x.ess eentlemen said to be considering whether
esacas should be beld this evening or not,
yex1eus machine men professed to be divided in
Edniea whether Ii should be held at once or post-
About halfpass IL was solemnly an.
esnced that It had been decided to postpono IL
:. - nsxs Monday evening. Meanwhile the janitor
~ capitol - was afterward found, had received
3 = iease IN hour before to put out the lights.
- eopaeee eollapse was received with some as
=. sven by thoss who had the least faith
{ ~ . me susnesh cf Mr.. Conklings friends II was
Z pfssed oy many TO mean that he would not be
e % secure majority, oven merely as'sisnsrs to
4nr cnuc1s, ,by Monday night or ss any other TINA
We S Se1nnetnscn, n also Of some OF the mem