New-York tribune., 1890-01-03
ONE OF GOV. HILLS TRICKS.
HIS CUNNING ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE THE
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
GROSS DECEPTION PRACTISED TO SECURE PRoX-
les FROM LIFE MISUNDERSTANDING TO
ELECT EX.sTATE'TREAsyRER FITzGER-

les FROM LIFE MEM Mbi4isS-i M l-'' ~
ELECT EX.srATElTREAsyRER TITzGER-
AID PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY.
IRON THE REGULAR coRREsrorDENr OF THE rRIBUNE.l
Albany. JAN "A remarkable attempt to
convert the State Agricultural Society into
political machine to advance the fortunes OF
David B. Hill as a candidate for President IS now
in progress. Mr.. Hill seems to have an eye upon
all the various State societies, to discover If he
cannot use them politically. His latest success IN
that way was to gain control of the New-fork
State Volunteer Firemcns Association, and to use
it TO advance the interests Of the candidates OF
the Democratic party at the late State election.
He has rewarded the president OF that association,
George W. lr,sh of Cazenovla, for his pllancy IN
permitting the association to be made part Of
the Democratic machine by giving him
clerkship in tie Office Of the State Treasurer.
The effort of Mr. Hill to capture the State Agri-
cultural Society is one that is being made with
all his strength, but at the same time with all
his cunning; for cunning is needful, in conse-
Qucnce of the fact that amajorlty Of the hle-mem-
bors of the society are Republicans Only small
number of these iic-menbers ever attend the
annual meeting Of the society, at which its officers
are elected and they therefore send their proxies
10 the secretary j. 5. Woodward, and he casts
their votes for the men they desire them 10 ba
cast for at the annual meetings. Mr.. Hill Is aware
of this somewhat careless method Of doing the
business Of the society, and ne therefore thought
hc would 80 INTO proNy-collccung himself lie
Las friend in this city, James .. Woodward, OF
the type known as Hill Republicans Any one
can scc at a glance that j. o. Woodward and j. s.
Woodward are names that considerably resemble
one another. In fact, the resemblance is 50 close
that Mr.. Hill may he said to have congratulated
himself that hc discovered it. The following
letter therefore was prepared and sent 10 the 800
members Of the State Agricultural ciety:
Albany. Dee. T. 1850.
Dear SIR Inco.ed please find blank proxy. n you
intending to Dee present az uc ut'tnc or election
~ officers tho Nrw-YorH stat" Arrau.tnr Society.
should ic pleased 20 have Your proxy for the pnroe ~
,ollne for ule Hon Lawrence j. ftlcrad. ot Cortland
',- president ~ said a--oc.lon. si is unnecessary Tor
~. o say 20 you that Mr. fiueer,d is ono OF ue largest
and Influential farmer, n th" stat. owning over
rnIren hundred acr.- of aud. stocked with thoroughbred
1tt. aud sheep also nearly ono hundred troltne-ord
horses, The administration ~ Mr.. It2r'flt. "a, pr'-l-
l.ut OF uo Cortland County Agricultural Society was
marked vi'h signal -ucce,-.
Mr. Fiu-.rd .,.. In the central part OF the S'o'e.
and no ou, - erat,r familiarity "lth tine agricultural
interests Of uc STATE. ll., election As president would
n-Ir. - continued prosperity and keep unhroaen ule
correct principle established in 1874 of ono torn for pr
,pt u th, above consistent with ,ew-. please
a. respectfully your, JAMES o. WOODWARD.
The Fitzgerald referred TO is the retiring Demo-
cratic state Treasurer. an ardent lill Democrat.
One of Nr FiH-cril1s latest acts 10 aid Mr.
Hu was. i'm company with Controller Wempic
and Secretary Of Stale Cook, 10 deprive " The
Albany Argus Of the State printing. Mr. Wood
wards circular depicting Mr. tiiE1culd as
f~acr" is highly amusing. lie may own the
r D.. oils, .rfttf Loo. fsfru
for an of Mr. Fitzecralds business faculties are
needed 10 conduct the operations of the Cortland
Wagon Company. big concern. Perhaps Mr..
FITZGERALD may desire the presidency of thc State
Agricultural society i'm order TO +nl some of his
wagons and slci.he 10 the farmers. bur hc Will
be- Mr. Hills political representative mt the head
Of the society: aud il Will De uSrd, il possible,
nc>t fall 10 aid Mr. Hill i'm ccrtmg "a United
States senator AS for j. .. Woodward. it Is
~lid hc is ~ hc rewarded, if Mr. .Iill is Success
ful with The office of secretary of.tLc state Aeri-
cultural society. ou officer who is paid hy t.c
state $1,000 annually The present secretary, j :.
Woodward. has farm near lockport, ami has
hHd practical training rs farmer; while J. ..
Woodward has been n city resident I'LL iis llic
\ large number of the members of the state
Agricultural Socicty, il is said. have been de-
,citcd us Mr. llll doubtless Thought they would
hc by the similarity of names. j. q. Woodward
and j = Woodward; and tine result has been
that tie Governor has secured large number of
proxies 10 and him ion the election of Mr. F.tl-
gerald TIE Governors friends ho0st that among
other Rcpuhlic1us who have lc'n deceived 10y
these circulars of j. .. WooiW. .rd is Nicc-Prcai-
dent Morton, who Is member of the state
Agricultural Soc.cty. II may Dee predicted that
when Mr.. Morton understands the nature and
intention of this deception hc &il cancel bis
PROXY. and Will send h. 10 j. y Woodward. the
man hc obviously intended should receive it..
The conservative mcmhers of thr State Arr
cultural society favor the reelection of James
Wood. of Nj kisco. the present able president
of the society Mr. Wood has never hrou-hi
rny politics into Tie society, ard mo- ore ne'i
fear that hc ever viii. The two opposing forces
tie farmers. led by Mr. Wood. and tie !. litci1rS
by Governor lIill-Will clash swords at the am
nual election which Will take place here in
Albany ON January =. next