New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-29
THE CONTEST Fol SPEAKER
THE CANDIDATES AND THl@ CHANCES.
THE RESULT IN DoUBT-PRoGREss OF Mr.. sHEARD
CANVASS
Try TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.l

CANVASS.
GBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE'l
A1RAxY Dec 2S.-It is not yet obvious VINO iS "
he the next Sneaker of the Assembly All that can
hc nerceived by the keenest-eyed politician is that
Ntossrs sbeard Littleiohn, Roosevelt and Erwin
eocb have n little group of Assemblymen at tner
lock but most of the Assemblymen are yet holdhg
aloof from all of the candidates Some even nave
given pledges that they will nOtcommlt themselves
in favor of any candidate until they reach Albany
A r,tla croun of Asscmbymen of this cautious
pature was discovered to-day in the Western part
of the State. 1t consists of the three Monroe
County members and the representatives OF OeheSee
and Chcmung Counties. The Chautauqu" anu
Cattaraugus County Asesmblymen also deeI"Io
that they are not pledged to any candidate.
There could not be better proof that the contest
for sneaker is not one of factions or that any can
didate is favored by "machne" than this free
dom 70 make their own choice that exists among
the Republican Assembymen on the eve oil the
Republican Assembly caucus. The contest is
plainly one governed chiefly by the merits OF the
several candidates. The man thought OF the III
coming Assemblymen and their political ADVISERS
seems To be TO select man for Speaker VINO VIII
conduct the Assembly so as to bring honor 10 Ille
Republican party. 1t is pointed out that thiS Is
close State as was shown by the recent vote Ior INC
Republican and Democratic candidates for State
lican majority in the Assembly is a good one II
will materially increase the chances OF kepuo-
Icm candidate for President carrying the State
next fall Moreover a Speaker of shrewd Judg-
mont can so guide legislation to give few oppor-
tunities to Governor Cleveland to make party
capital by veto message. 1t Is known th3l the
Democratic leaders in this State have determined
10 take advantage of every mistake OF the Repub-
ncan Legislature. Under these circumstances the
Republican leaders feel that they must exercise
great care in the selection OF the CihceEs oil the
Legislature.
HOW THE CANVASS Is BEING CONDUCTED.
Mr. Shcards canvass seemed TO prosper to-day
more than that of the other candidates Mr.
Iittleiohns drooped and that of Mr. Roosevelt and
Erwin appeared for the moment to be at stand
still Mr. Sheard's apparent prosperity was partly
due to the fact that several AsSemblymcn who
staunchly support him arrived and loudly an
nounced that they would cast their votes for him.
Several members also who had declined to give any
pledces came to Mr. Sheard and told him that they
had looked over the groundp and had concluded
TO give HIM their votes. Among these men were
Baker and Westall, of Washington County, and
Cortwright of Delaware. Mr.. House, OF Ncw-iork,
also said that he should support Mr. Sheard 1t
had been supposed that the New-YOrk delegation
would vote unitedly for Mr.. Roosevelt, but he
states that he had never put Mr.. Houses namc
among his list of supporters. There was the same
mysterious absence of support of Dewitt c. Little
John that characterized his canvass yesterday
Yet as only half of the Republican Asscmoiymeh
have arrived it is too early to say that he has no
support. .1, Z,
and are half inclined to suspect that MI LlttIc-
Johns followers have some common agreement not
TO come to Albany till Monday and then come IN
body Ii is most natural in view of Mr.. LittleOhns
seeming weakness that there should be runoTs OF
his withdrawal. There was such rumor today,
and that he intended to withdraw in Mr. Erwin,s
favor but this class of rumOrs is an old device III
nolitics TO crowd out an opponent and demOralize
his followers Mr.. Littlejohn declares stoutly that
he does not intend to withdraw and IS confident
that he will be elected. Three Assemblymcn, those
from Onondaga County, who have sometimes been
cassed as followers of Mr.. Litleohn, It is now be-
lieved are actually supporters of MIR. Sheard MI
LittleOhn states that he only eqtered the canvass
at the solicitation of over hundred poltical
friends and that from the letters be received he
believed that he would be supported by majority
of the Republican Assembly ymen. Still II he should
be defeated he would most Loyalty support the
successful candidate