New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-31
CANDIDATES HARD AT WORK.
NO CHANGE IN THE RACE FOR SPEAKER.
, sruBpoRS BUT GOOD HUNDRED cANvAss-MR'
sHEARD STILL IN THE LEAD.


A,n.Ny Dec 3O-The four Republican candl-
satas for Sneaker of the Assembly, it is evident
.o-nigbt intend to remain before their fellow-mem-
hers as aspirants for the office until at least one
+ast vote has been taken in the caucus tomorrow
night. Mr.. Sheard has still more votes than any
of the other candidates but his lead Is not SO great
90 70 forbid the friends of the other candidates
from hoping that their favorite may YET 10
selected Moreover, Mr.. Sheard did not make thoSe
gains to-day which his heutenants hoped 1or anu
consequently the courage OF the HlendS ol 'n0
other candidates was revived.
Mr.. Sheard suffered from the "locahty" cry,
started Yesterday by his opponents. 1t was urged
that there would be great danger to the State II the
offices of United States Senator Clerk of the Senate
and Speaker of the Assembly were held, the same
wear, by residents of the county OF Herklmer ana
in addition if a resident Of the neghboring county
of Lewis should hold the Office of Clerk OF the AS
sembly The result of a vigorous uttelahce Oh
this cry by the supporters of the three other
candidates was TO stay Mr.. Sheards progress ana
10 bring some votes to the support of Messrs Roose
Welt Erwin. and Littlejohn. Finally it was rumor-
ed about that Mr.. Sheards strength had so faded
awav beneath the attack that he had decided TO
withdraw in Mr.. Littlejohn's favor.
Mr.. sHEARD's CONFIDENCE.
Tbereport ra herstartled MI. .Erwn's followers and
they sent Mr.. Hunt of Jefferson County an Erwin
man. to learn if there any truth IN the report
Mr.. Hunt found Mr.. Sheard i'll the act
of taking OIL his ovcrcOat and appearing as
If he had lust come in from the outer
air. Mr.. Hunt frankly stated his mission Mr.
Sheard laughed and replied: "My dear Hunt, L
haven't heard the rumor because | have just been
taking a five mile walk over the hills, and, cOnh-
dentially, during that time have been composing
my speech of thanks to the caucus" This speech
of Mr.. Sheards was considered IN excellent piece OF
inventive genius by the other candidate.
Mr. Sheard's leuteuants, ex-COngreSsman Smart,
Congressman BuTeigh, Hamilton Fish, jr. Carroll
T. Smith and Henry l.. Dugud went vigorously at
work TO stem the tide against their can
didate. They first disturbed the serenity OF
Mr.. Erwin's friends by pointing out that
MIR. Erwin had opposed the adoption of the free
canal amendment to the Constitution and could
not therefore be consistently supported by MEN,
bers living along the line OF the Ene
Canal Late at night Mr.. Shcards mana
gers were confident that he had not lost any
votes, but it could not be denied that the Chautau-
qua and Cattaraugus Assemblymen had grown
rather cold in their devotion TO Mr.. Sheard5 cause
Here and there about the State asO the single
representatives of counties had pledged their votes
to other candidates. This was the case
with Mr.. Hall, of Allegheny County, and NJ.
Dibble, of Orleans County.
A"CAMP OF OBSERVATION"
One amusing result of the combination against
Mr. Sheard was the formation of " camp of OBJ
servation" The "camp" was pitched in Mr.
Roosevelts room. Mr.. Roosevelt, to his great
delight, received numerous additions TO
his support That is, ostensibly they
were additions to his support. Thus, there was
packed away in the "camp Of observation" during
the day, eight out of the nine members from New
York, the four members from Kings County, the
three members from Monroe County, and
the representatives of several other coun-
ties. Ex-COngreSsman Davy, of Monroe
County, well expressed his intention in
putting the Monroe County members into the "camp
of observation" when he said: &" 1t is safe place
to be in for two three ballots" 1t was well
known to those who were managing the
canvasses of Mr. Sheard and Mr.. Erwin,
that the men who had thus joined Mr.. Roosevelt
were not actually for him. Part Of them are for
Mr.. Sheard and part for Mr.. Erwin, and they will
be drawn out of the "camp of observation
when needed tomorrow night Some of
them may leave 1T on the first
ballot. The managers of Mr.. Erwin's
canvass, John f. Smyth, Louis F. Payn,, Silas b.
butcher and A. B. Hepburn, keenly eyed the g camp
Of observation" all day and were III communication
with it all the time. On the other side Messrs
Smart Bu en- Fish snS Dpgge weTe weTe ep S9Ga
the "camp" who had not indicated whether they
were for Mr.. Erwin or Mr. Sheard, and remained
men will be promised tempting TatlOns tomorrow
by Messrs. Sheard and Erwln's managers, and urged
TO come for b,
MR. RoosEvELT's SUPPORT.
Mixed in with these men were Mr. Roosevelt's
actual support. This has been composed largely of
the younger members of the Legislature. They
have como here unpledged to any candidate, and
with the sole idea Of earning honor for
the Republican party in the Legislature.
They have made -, an earnest ca canvass ay5ss
politicians by their success in obtaining votes for
him and in retaining that support. Experienced
test is practically between Mr. Sheard and Mr..
Erwin. large part of Mr. ROoseyelts support is
insnceTe and Mr.. LittlejOhn has little supporters.
Some of his supporters also are IN a quiet little
camp of observation" Of their own. Mr. Sheard
however, has to obtain fewer recruits from the
ceed. 1t is not yet known where Mr.. Roosevots
actual support will 20 if it becomes apparent that
hc is defeated.
HOW THE CONTEST WILL BE DECIDED.
Some politicians anticipate several ballots in the
caucus and some even have predicted deadlock.
I'm the opinion of the most experienced, however,
the contest Will be decided tomorrow night. In
whatever way it is decided there will be no ami
mostly of feeling to cause dissension in the party.
With all the and counter rumors the contest
has been conducted in gOod-hUInOred way. there
has been charge of bribery or corruption such as
has frequently disgraced a contest for the Speak
ership The contest has been q stubborn one.
because some of the ablest Republican politicians OF
the State were opposed TO each other III mas Deen
prolonged because the politicians were acquainted
with each others methods and therefore knew now
10 defend their positions.
Late tonight Mr.. Sheard's managers were claim
ing that they had made some additions to his lst oil
supporters. They claimed that both MI clinton
and Mr.. Sipp had assured Mr.. Sheard of their sup
port IL is probable that the vote will be by ballot
General James W. Hustled will probably preside
over the caucus which will be held III the Assembly
Chamber of the new Capitol
CREDITORS EXCITED OYER 4 FAIL URE.
rPy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrarr,-tt