Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
A BIG FIGHT ON HIS HANDS.

Collector Fassett's Opponents at Elmira
Hope to Destroy His Power.
ELNrRA. N Y, August 15.-The ::27th district
senatorial convention is to be the most unique
in state history. if today's county convention IL
any criterion.
The republicans today are divided among
themselves. and the fact is peculiarly signif-
cant because this is the county of Collector Of
the Port Of New York Fassert and Gov. Hill
At Households today. where the Chemung
county convention was held to name delegates
to the state and senatorial conventions, 1876
delegates were expected to be in their
cases and these were divided up as follows:
Fassett faction 40. Flood faction IS. The fact
that Mr.. Fassett has been made collector
seemed rather to strengthen than to diminish
the night which originated some years ago when
Mr.. Fassett supported Levi p. Morton for SEN
ator as against the choice Of then Assemblyman
Van Duser, who supported Mr.. Evarts.
The widening OF the breach was caused by
the fight against Mr.. Thos. g. Platt's influence
and Mr.. Fassetts proposed senatorial candi-
date, Charles Ball, q clerk Of the senate last
year. Mr.. Fassett, however. and his followers
assert that the opposing republicans are friends
of Gov. Hills and that the split is caused in the
hope Of obtaining a democratic Senator from
this district.
The Ecening Star, penny independent news
paper of Elmira, prints an open letter from ex-
Assemblyman Van Duser, in which he accuses
Collector Fassett OF trying TO defeat him in 1884
az the instance Of Thomas Platt and Of
swinging over from Evarls to Morton at Mr..
Platt suggestion after promising to support
Eyarts for United States Senator. The letter
claims that Mr.. Fassetti is irving to make deal
with democrats to get the county.
Mr. Van Duser was seen this morning by a
reporter. He said: The letter IL an
answer to an open letter sent to me
ell I'D, xhoS
he defeated the denomination of Con-
gresham Flood because Flood declined
TO let him name the postmaster. Mr.. Flood Is
now determined to test Fassetts power and II
he attempts to run the convention this after
noon We viii withdraw and hold one of our own.
We are averse to a split this fall. but We do
not propose that Collector Fassett shall run the
place for Tom Platt.
Congressman Flood, who 10 leading the op-
position. said: If l had been nominated
should have been reelected; al it was Mr.. Fas-
sett succeeded IN electing democrat We do
not propose to have any deals with democrats.
The statement that We are waging this fight by
order Of Gov. Hill is false. 1t is decidedly
more probable that Collector Fsssett 10 in
league with tue democrats than We"
Postmaster Floo0 also spoke against Mr.. Fas-
sett and said that the republicans Of the dis
trict were trying to show the people of the
state that they could not be controlled by Mr..
Platt.
Gen. Charles J. Langdon, who was on Gov.
Cornells staff, and j. L. Radin are also against
Mr. Fassett
Abner c. Wright, chairman Of the county
committee and Fassett adherent, said: 1T IL
the usual old fight; all because one man wants
to run things Mr.. Fassett has tried his best
for harmony, but the Flood faction are work
ing in the hands OF Gov. Hill and his cohsr-
ents. We will listen TO the contests after the
convention 10 organized"
BOLT FROM THE CONVENTION.
The contestants refused at noon to 70 into
convention, claiming that Mr.. Fassetts chair
man would not give them fair show, 80 they
| retired to the skating rink and organized con-
yention Of their own
The anti-Flood and Fassett men held THAR
convention IN the hall. Abner l. Wright was
made chairman. There was no trouble Of any
kind and the delegates were elected without
opposition. The convention conceded twenty
seven seats to the Flood men, but they did not
appear to claim them
The Flood convention met at o'clock and
adopted long resolutions declaring their indie
pendence. The resolutions denounce Collector
fassett as a leader Of . ring controlled by
Thos- Platt and state that the party should be
managed for the public good aud not for the
benefit Of a single man. The resolutions con-
clude a. follows:
I'VE pledge ourselves to support the repub-
lican ticket, and while We rejoice with Mr..
Fassett's friends in his promotion to the re-
| sponsible and honorable position OF collector
OF the greatest port on this continent, at
the same time cannot refrain from
| expressing our admiration for his predecessor,
Col. Erhardt, who refused longer 70 hold that
ONCE because an irresponsible political boss
was permitted to interfere wSeh his appoint
ments and the general conduct Of his Office"
\ President Harrison's administration VA
1 commended.
! Some very bitter speeches we're made by the
delegates and Piatts name was vigorously
1 Kissed
Delegates were elected to the state conven
/ ton and the senatorial convention.