National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-15
rue srALwARr DEsrRrroN.
How the Friends OF ConkIing Put in
Their Work In Oneida County.


UTICA, Nov. 13.--Tho stalwart deser-
ton to the democracy in this county was
not sudden movement, as indicated by
tho manifesto Of Oct 90. The manifesto
was sudden conception, but the plan to
turn tho county against Blaine was caro-
fully worked up during tho canvass. 1t
strengthened under tho visit of Mr.. Conk-
ling and that of his callers, George G.
Gorham and John II. Smyth. 1t took
form in keeping stalwarts of the con-
kIess and county tickets. Especially, it is
alleged, was this tho case with tho con-
gress ticket. State Senator Ii. j. Cogge-
shall was candidate for tho nomination
FOR congress. He had nearly all of che
Utica delegates and n large number from
tho towns. There was strong feeling in
favor Of his nomination, for the reason
that IL would be good politics. Ho Is a
stalwart and strong with tho boys. His
nomination would have strengthened the
electoral ticket, and would have boon in
accord with his ambition. Just why he
was not nominated has never been written.
This explanation Ia givon by ono who
claims to know tho truth:
The day bofore tho congress district
convention Mr.. John L. Smyth paid
| quiet visit TO Utica. II is not known that
ho wont further into town than tho in
terror of Baggs's hotel. There he met
leading members of the anti Blaine stall
warts; also q number of democrats
friendly to Mr.. Conkling. 1t is under
stood that Congressman Spriggs and Mr.
Coggeshall and other stalwarts had a con
ference the same day. What was snid by
the ono to the other and what was said by
MIR. Smyth to those who called on him is
not related but Mr.. Coggeshall, who had
| up to that timo been Sin tho hands of
his friends" ceased from that day to be q
candidate before tho Boonvillo oonven-
ton. He attended the convention tho
next day ITO prevent his namo being
used" before that body. He was not en-
tirely successful, as his name was pre-
sented and sixteen delegates voted for
him. Other delegates, in casting their
votes for other candid ates, explained that
they did so on the assurance that Mr..
Coggeshall was not can didate and would
not accept nomination. 80 tho Half
Breed Cookingham was nominated TO be
| beaten, nominated to preserve the repub-
lican ticket from any attraction for stall
warts.
From that day forward the fight against
the republican ticket by the boiling stall
warts of Oneida was without reserve.
Less than ono-fourth of them brayed tho
| iuture by publishing their names. Tho
Others fought from tho ambush of pro-
Tossed loyalty, and did good execution.
Deducting the ST.. John vote, s9i, from
Gardeld's plurality, 1,0l6, there remained
1862 votes on the republican record Ono
hundred and forty-six signatures were
attached to the stalwart anti-Baine man
ifesto. Tho change of four times that
number of republican votes would wipe
out tho remainder of the republican ma
iority and give larger democratic ma
iority than Cleveland received. Mr..
Conkling got in his work in Oneida
county, but without the withdrawal Of
prohibitionists and the aid of DIR. Burch-
ard Blaine would havo had a winning
plurality in the county.
A special 20 the Star last evening says:
lin the lobby of the Hoffman house o
group of gentlemen, among whom were
Roscoe Conkling and George @. Gorham,
were talking as to the causes of Blaine's
dofeat. Mr.. Gorham, turning to Mr..
COnkling, said: "You withered him
with hot blast. of your silence" Mr..
Conkling said that as Blaine had scuttled
the republican ship before tho meeting of
tho Chicago convention, it was eminentl y
fit that he should be put in command of
it as IL was going down. Another one of
the party remarked that the action of tho
national republican committee was like u
man hanging on to d lottery ticket after
the drawing.