New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-07
THE DEMOCRATIC CANVASS
HILL LOSING AND COOPER GAINING.
SOME INSIDE FAcTs-EvERYrHING DEPESpIyG on
A UNION IN NEW YORK.

tFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUSE.l
ALBANY, Sept. 6.-The contest over the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor Is becoming more inter-
estng the tune for the convention draws near For
months Governor Hill was the only candidate in the
aed. He began to work for the nomination the day he
succeeded Cleveland as Governor. He at once made
bid for the support Of class Of voters by his advo
caey OF the Freedom of Worship bill, though he had to
go out of his way to do It. To the work
men he threw out bait by opposing con-
tract labor In the prisons, though Offering no
suggestion as to aow that labor could be proftably
employed to relieve the prisons from again becoming
great burden upon the people. His message recon-
mendng change In the census law OF 1855 in order to
enable the Democratic county clerks In New-York,
Kings, Albany and other counties 10 appoint census
enumeraors and his refusal later to permit any
TO be taken because tho Legislature ignored his
request other steps his canvass the nomina-
on He went still further when, the support
Of Boss" Mclaughlin he vetoed the Brooklyn reform
measures which were approved by the best his
own party as well as by the Republicans. No oppor-
unity has been lost by him to visit local leaders
their homes and solicit their support secret visit to
the house Of Boss Mclaughlin In Brooklyn frequent
Journeys to New York, trip to NewPaltz and visits to
saratoga, Rochester Buffalo. Niagara Falls. jamestown,
Eniira syracuse, Binghamton and other points have
followed 10 his lively chase for delegates He does not
assume an attitude OF Indifference but openly declares
that lie wants the nomination. and that he Ia not afraid
" say oo hcA Tue ouppOrL OF every person
aep him. In certain this outspoken advocacy
II his own claims pleases the party workers. par.icu
arly the Governor does not disguise his lack Of faith
Civil Service reform.
There not much doubt that up to the time OF tho
meeting OF the Democratic State Committee the Gov
confident OF his nomination. He sent his
law partner W. L. Muller, OF Elmirs to rep
resent him at that meeting. lie had
planned TO have ex-COngressman c. G. B. Walker
OF Corning made chairman OF tho committee succeed
Secretary Manning, who had resigned Mr.. Walker
supporter OF the Governor and his choice chairman
Of the committee would nave added TO the Governors
prestige while being Of practical benefit The chairman
d that commlttee calls the State Convention to orer
ana recognizes such delegates he chooses to make
motion for the election Of temporary chairman tho
convention, IN case Of contest and decides the vote
The temporary charmann the appointment OF commit
tees and in other ways be OF considerable assistance
70 his faction should the convention be closely divided
All this was recognized By the astuts
workers OF the County Democracy who are
opposed TO HILL They did not deem it wise to
nave any contest in the committee the choice OF
chairman, and they did not want Mr. Walker elected.
So according TO the story privately related by OF
their lumber. they invited Mr. Muller into a occa-
pied By Hubert o. Thompson and others OF the County
Democracy and assured him that they opposed
TO El. and furthermore, that they regarded ths Cow
ernors nomination as certain. In that event he would
want Mr. Walker for chairman OF the committee to con-
duct tho canvass. But If Mr. Walker was made chair.
1t might create antagonisms aud prevent his
reelection just az the time when tue Governor would
want him most They advised Mr.. Muller that sc-
count not TO have Mr.. Walkers presented for
chairman at that time but to permit Secretary
OBrien to be chosen for the temporary vacancy.
Mr. o. 3ren being ostensiby for Homer A. Nelson for
Governor, who they said impossible candidate.
his election could not fnjure Hill. Mr. Muller thought
good reasoning and he agreed to the pan which
carried out. Now the County Democracy chuckng
oser the way they fooled Muller. Secretary Csfssn Is
associated with Thompson 10 the aqueduct contracts
His peouniary interest In keeping good terms with tho
men the inspectors, engineers ami Others
supervise his contracts besides the fact that he
always worked with Thompson make it self evident
that the claim OF Thompson that he can have oBrens
assistance whenever he wants it is well founded.
It did not take long for tho
Governor to discover, after the State Committee got
through work that he had dangerous antagonist in
Edward Cooper. He knew within twelve hours that
Hubert o. Thompson had been 10 Lake George In con-
sutation with Boss " Mclaughlin, and his eyes
opened also by the fact that Roswell P Flower had sud
denly become active candidate. When the Governor
was al Niagara Falls Flower also there On tue
hotel piazza the presence or several persons, Mr
Flower declared that he would not be candidate for
Governor this year. lie repeated this declaration
otlor times. but something changed hs mind after
tue meeting OF the State Committee he went actively
to work IN search OF delegates and soon msde
IL evident to Mr.. Hill that certain counties
put down as certain fer Hill for Flower. Mr..
Flower remained at Saratoga for two weeks In that
time many Democratic workers visited tho
Springs aud Mr. Flower could be frequently
heard talking to those known be for
IIill In way that peculiar One OF these men
said afterward that Mr.. Flower told him that he WA
hot candidate in the sense Of seeking the nomination
but If It came to him he would at about ri,
N 900 - tfah 70
lively canvass. The countryman supposed toreyolve
this over in his mind divide 100000 by I2S and thus
ascertain the sum that would be AT the disposal Of his
Assembly district II after that he did not 80 nome aBi
work for Flower then there would have tobe go0i
reason for It.
with Flower undermining Hill In the country aud with
probability that Newfork AID possibly Brooklyn viii
come up solid for Cooper the Governor has grown anr
ions OF late His early plan of battle TO rely tho
assistance OF AttorneyGeneral Bron Ia securing tia
delegates from Jefferson, ST. Lawrence and that part OK
the state and Oh state Treasurer Maxwell in getting
those from Genesee, Livingston and some other west
cru counties and his local strength aud work In
the southern tier while his yetoos of the reform meas
ures and the Brooklyn Bridge bill were relied upon 70
hold Mclaughlin TO his promises Tor sold Brooklyn
deegation The Governor did not anticipate any union
possible, because OF the Presidents ostraeisin Of
Tammany Hail. and though he had no claims on Ians
many and never worked with its leaders yet he felt
sure Of Tammanys support IL the County Democracy
supported any other eahdidate.
In Monroe County the Governor had the warm friend.
ship of Mr. Purcell, but since the latter denounced TIC
President as "moral eper" and withdrew from poll
ties IL necessary TO be sure oi the delegates from
that county TO have also the support OF ex-senator
Ranes That supposed TO have been satisfactorily
arranged by promising Mr. hdines the NOMINATION ior
Lieutenant Governor
Under such plans the Governor went along In good
snrits but after the meeting OF the State COMMITTEES he
became convinced that the poet was right IN saying
lint 'the best laid plans OF mice and msn
Gang aft aglee" Instead OF Mr.. OBren controlling the
Jefferson any other delegates he will have To be pas
sye supporter of Flower or else be VIII be thrown over
,iooetter and have chance FOR a denomination as
Attorney General Flower Will have Jefferson solid
Danel Magone controls the st. Lawrence delegates He
ia ont with Hin and has promised to support Flower.
Lewis Oneida and other counties In that part OF
the State are counted for Flower. AZ the meeting Oh
The state Committee Thompson sas Maxwell and sup
nosed that the state Treasurer would no longer
he tor Hill Later Mr.. Maxwell learned that Private
Secretary Lamont helping l.. j. fzgerald of Cort
land in ms candidacy for state treasurer. MaxNeu