New-York tribune., 1884-03-03
NEW-YORK CANDIDATES.
A RACE BETWEEN FLOWER AND CLEYE-
LAND.

Flower has been permitted to plough about the
State without hindrance OF opposition from his fell
low Democrats while seeking to unearth delegates
to the National Democratic Convention who will
favor his nomination for President, but we'll
informed politicians here say that measures have
just been taken by the Tilden-Ceveland men to in
terfere with his plans. Governor Cleveland is to
be put forward as his rival. Before Mr.. Flower
fades from view as the most prominent Of the New
York Democrats seeking the Presidency IL he Is
thus to have his glory dinmed by the shrewd mon
who have generally controlled Democratic politics
in this State since 1874. his political career should
be briefly sketched. Besides his proceedings in
this State the last three months have not received
the attention they deserve. They may have the
effect of continuing him in his position as q prom
inent Democratic candidate.
MR. Flowers CAREER.
Mr.. Flower first became eminent as q Democratic
politician in 1877, when through the influence of
his brother-n-aw, Allen G. Beach, and John Kelly,
he was made chairman of the Executive Committee
Of the Democratic State Committee. The Execu-
tive Committee as is well known, has charge of the
campaign "barl." Mr.. Flower also had barl
of his own. In that campaign he obtained n list OF
the Democratic voters in this State which has been
OF great use the present year to managers OF the
Flower literary bureau in New-York. Next Mr..
Flower appeared as the opponent of William Waldorf
Astor as candidate for Congress In 1881
and defeated his opponent owing to Republican
disaffection. His career i'm Congress is well
known. Politicians think that it was in Washing
ton that he was first stirred by the ambition to be
President. lie gave many dinners and thus acquired
a National acquaintance which may be of much use
to him. In 1882 he came forward as a Democratic
candidate for Governor Of New-York, striving to
unite in his favor all the anti-Tden men. He at
the same time tried TO win TO his support all the
Tilden men, but failed in this negotiation.
At the state Convention which followed, the Til
den men swung over to Grover Cleveland at an op-
perfume moment and nominated him. Not
discouraged by this defeat, Mr.. Flower
in 1883 attempted TO grasp the leader
ship of the Democratic party in the State, TO nOmi-
nate tho State ticket and depose from the chair
manship of tho Democratic State Committee
Daniel Manning. In all these aims he failed, al
though he rolled op formidable opposition to the
Tilden leaders by combining into ono faction most
of the Democrats who were opposed to item. In
this attempt however Mr.. Flower must have in
CURED the Hostility of Governor Cleveland by en-
rolling in his faction those who were opposed to
INN through not having obtained Office
WORK or A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
Although defeated at the Buffalo Convention, Mr..
Flower did not relax his etferts to gain "a
prominent position in the Democratic party.
III
candidate for President. This he indeed an
nounced before tho Buffalo Convention met and
gave this aim as one of his for desiring con-
troll of the Democratic State Committee He has
subscribed to a large number of Democratic news
papers in this state sending personal letters TO the
editors in making subscriptions. Besides,a literary
bureau has been opened in New-York to circulate
his speeches in Congress and favorable press
notices There is evidence that some ones "barP
is open in his behalf. The Utica CbserrT has ex-
pauded into an cight-page newspaper aud prints
extracts in Mr. Flowers favor. In The o.
seyyer IL is claimed that sixty-twO news
papers urge Mr. Flowers nomination
for the Presidency Copies of The Observer contain
ing the favorable news clippings have been sent y
the Flower literary bureau all over the State.
Mr.. Flower also gives dinners in New-YOrk to Dem
ocratic politicians from the interior of the State
who happen to go to that city. There was confer
encc of Democratic politicians of this state who
favor Mr. Flowers candidacy ar his house in New
York on February -. Among those who were pres
cut were ex- Controller f. Z. OlcOtt, VI. II. NOrthrnp,
editor of Tho Syracuse Courier, eX-Mayor Murphy, OF
Troy, and James c. Truman, OF Blng namtOn.
Those at the conference decided to push MIR. Flow
er's candidacy. Mr.. Flower is also believed TO be
pushing hls candidacy outside of the State, espe-
ciay in the West.
GROVER CLEVELANDS NAME URGED.
As stated above, the Tllden men hayo decided to
at once put forward Governor Cleveland to oppose
Mr. Flower. One Of the most prominent of the
Tilden leaders said to-day: "Ihe delegates from
this state TO the Chicago Convention will not be
Mr. Flowers, but will be composed mainly OF Ill
den men in favor Of the no nnaton of Grover
Cleveland. II should be said that Governor Cleve-
land is not n candidate for the nOmina-
f,r La
tented with his position as Governor anu
that the important legislation which he Will
have to consider before the adjournment
of the Legislature will be disposed Of rs he thinks
will best the interests OF the state without
regard to the effect of his decisions on ne compost
tiOn Of the NewYork delegation to the Democratic
National Convention.
John Kelly may be gracious or threatening, the
Governor viii deal with the Roosevelt bill depriy-
inc the Board of Aldermen Of NewYork of the con-
| frmatory power as he may deem the interests OF
New-York City require We think that his largo
| President he will obtain the votes OF a
large number of independent voters. 1t
| NAV be said with authority that the lllden lntiu-
euCe of the state Is all with Cievela MT, and that
while Mr. Iilden himself is perhaps taking
no active part, the politicians with whom ne ad-
yises and who are known to be III his confidence
are all friendly to Cleveland. The stories OF con-
1erences Of iilden men in Now-York and elsewhere
| declaring for Flower are absurdiy unrde-Air.
! Flower has never received Their support.
"A prominent member of The IamInany nan
! General Committee who was in tho city last week
zation, ziit bolted Iucius Robinson in 1879, his
a. if were cancelled their debt of gratitude to him.
| As to Mr. Cleveland, he said that, while iammany
thou ght Cleveland had erred in some respects, he
| was considered good consistent Democrat ana as
| an organization Iammany Hall would support Llm
Loyalty if nominated, aud many of its members
would support him for The nomination, beheNlh8
him the strongest candidate named.
MR.. PAYNE NOT A CANDIDATE.
'TIr PAYNE has written letter which shows that
nc is not a candidate. We think that the Ohio and
the New-York delegations will be found acting
together for Cleveland William {. Whitney,
of New-York, son-in-law of Mr.. Payne
is one of Mr.. Cleveland's most trusted
! friends. The appointment of Peter b. olney, as
District Attorney and of Mr.. Baldwin as Aqueduct
| Commissioper on Mr. Whitneys recommendation,