New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-28
BAD FOR PERRY BELMONT.
NOT A wALKOvER IN HIS DISTRICT.
Ex-CoNGREssMAN JAMES w. COVERT TO CONTEST
HIS DENOMINATION.

Ex-CoNGREssMAN JAMES W. COVERT TO CONTEST
HIS RECONCILIATION.
JAMAICA, L. l., Sept. 27.-Recent events seem
to show that Mr. Belmont is In to tho devotion
felt for him by the Long Island Democracy For several
months Of the prominent leaders OF the party
there have endeavorng to induce exCongressman
Covert Mr. Bemonts predecessoro contest the nomin"-
ton Their hostility Perry is usual the loaves
and fishes Tho combination against him is so powerful
that difficult to how 1t can be broken even with
the unlimited supply Of cash which he has so freely
used In all his pre- vous campaigns 1t Is said to Include
Captain I. j. Merritt, OF the Merritt Coast Wrecking
Company. who lives whestone, and has always been
important factor In the politics Of tho district
County Clerk John H. sutphin. the chairman OF the
County Central Committee, and leader OF
popularity and strength; ex-Judge John j.
Armstrong who, since his retirement from
tho bench last fall. has occupied the
post Of general Democratic and counseor Super
visors Dykes OF Flushing MCGOWAN, Of Nswtown and
Foyd-Jones, OF Oyster Bay; Surrogate Townsend and
his brother Colonel Robert Townsend; Assemblyman
Joseph Fitch, who expects to return from his wedding
trip In time to take part In the fight Sheriff Mcheh
and Collector James Fl. Quinlan. of Flu shing. All
these are Queens County politicians and they
are warmly supported in their opposition to
Mr.. Belmont by John ODopnel, the Editor
OF The Jamaica Standard widely circulated ana IN
fucntial paper In Suffolk, where Mr. Belmont Is sup
posed TO have home. and wherc his father does III
fact keep stable OF horses the opposition to him Is
strong, though as yet rather suppressed ExCongress
man Reeves Is said to be against him.
Mr.. Covert has reluctant to enter the fight lie
is poor man, and he knows how generously the Bel
mont greenbacks have ioated through the district In
the last three campaigns. After spending four
years in Washington, Mr. Covert allowed him
self to be persuaded to go Albany state Senator
when he finished his term, Homer A Nelson anu other
prominent Democrats urged him to stand for the nom-
nation for Attorney General but he resouely declined
TO have anything to do with politics ana rcturhed
to practice OF his profession He ha, always car
red his district by much more than the usuai Demo-
cratic maortes. At last he mas announced his cind
dacy agaust Mr. Belmont and the result ia gathering
of ominou. clouds about the Democratic horizon Mr.
Bemonts friends have persisted in denying that the
Senator the field anl consequently letter was
written to Mr.. Covert Friday by James H. Qunian
asking him his relation to the canvass definitely
lie replied in tho following terms:
LONG ISLAND CITY, September 27, 1856.
MY DEAR SIR: / am much eratiied by your favor Oh
the 9th apprsing me OF desire you nave nearu ex-
pressed among some OF my former constituents III the
1st District in favor OF my return to Congress- foe
some time past yielding to the Of o'n az he
Ing the candidate for the Democratic nomination. ana
ann poory EQUIPPED in some respects for the contest
and must rely great measure upon the loyalty anu
S
fortunate enough to be nominated and elected shalt
certainly hnd additional pleasure In discharSlhg my
duties because unlike prey0u, terms Of service s
III he Democratic instead or Repuolican Au-
minstration in Washington. Very faithfully yours, yours
JAMES W. COVERT
To JAMES H. QUINLAy Reeeirer Of Tares etc. Flushing
ILL.,
Mr. Belmont was brought into political being by two
men, Captain Merritt and Delaney Nco. now one OF
| tho Assistant Dstrict-Attorneys OF New-York Mr.
Nco and Mr. Belmont were social friends and students
together Mt the Columbia Law School, Captain Merritt
| managed Mr. Belmonts campaigns aud stood sponsor
for him to other political leaders, with the aid OF
udicious expenditures estimated by the local poiti-
clans at from $4,000 he has heretofore con-
trived secure the nominations for Mr. Belmont and
5000, the election followed as matter OF course Two
years Captain Merritt was seriously disafiected
treated him with radencss and neglect As result
formidable opposition to NJ Belment az once nee
James A. Oakley: 1t grew to such % Nh %en1cioE AdotI
with Captain Merritt sought Mr. Nicol succeeded
on the day convention in bringing the lrate
old captain around ana he at ne
ton. Democratic Administration came In the iol-
the Congressman's He and his father had been
strong opponents OF Mr. Cleveland at Chicago ana the
pacs But u even When did Mr. Belmont
dissatisfaction by his appointments than oy ms M n
friends he assumed that they should be satisfied win
nothing ana used what places he could get as means
OF conciliatng his enemies This course bitterly M
offended Captain Merritt who mad no request OF nis tSa
to make but who Objected he naa awovs
But the young staesmans last prop deserted hlm
|
field became Assistant istrct-Atorncy of New York
AlrnOst immediately bo got into row with al OF Mt
Nicolrs friends by giving the post Office to A. W. smith.
editor of local paper In the service OF
| ney by Governor Cleveland for bribery. ana VINO
wa. especially offensive to the merritt ~. NcO uoni
| has been growing daily, and now that IL has
such popular leader Senator Covert abont whom 10
crystaz 1t ia hardly possible Tor the young congress
| man to hope for a fourth term -.
Senator Covert met Mr. Belmont last Saturday IN Long
| Island Are you really candidate against me I y
asked Perry am quite ready to be nominated Mas Ma
| belmont al supposed everything was pleasant until
the other day and really don't think you ought to ds
i furh In yyay.O