The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-10


Wipe Ont the Rivalries In New York
Henry watterson the Go.Bctwcen
and the Governor Was Brought to
Terms.
New J'o,I Special to he Cincinnati Commercial
Gdscffe.
A remarkable explanation, and an au-
thentic one, why Governor Hill accepted
a United States Senatorship will be pub
lishcd here tomorrow. Mr.. Hill took
that unexpected course because Of letter
that was written to him by the Hon.
Henry Watterson. That brilliant journal
ist aud consort of the star-eyed goddess
was chosen as spokesman by the majority,
IL not the entire body, Of Democratic
Senators in Washington as the result OF a
caucus held by them for the purpose of
simplifying the situation in the Empire
State. The letter of Mr.. Watterson ex.
pressed the sense Of that meeting. 1t told
Governor Hill that his friends represent
ing all the Democratic States, were each
of the opinion that their constituents were
practically unanimous for Grover Cleve-
land and that even il he (HilD could
carry his own State he could get no other
State delegation in the National Conven-
ton.
The letter stated that whether the idol
of the Democracy in the various States
was the real flesh and blood Cleveland
or whether II was an ideal Cleveland set
up in the popular mind, the fact was the
same. Therefore, the letter continued, it
was the opinion and advice of these Sena-
tors that Hill should take the Senatorshlp
in order to spare his party tho disgrace
and shame of dissension and difference in
the Empire State, and himself the humil-
iation Of certain defeat as the outcome
Of ii.
The letter went on to say that by taking
the Senatorship Mr. Hill would intrench
himself in a strong position for 1895, and
that in order that he might make this po-
sition positive II had been agreed that he
should have the fullest opportunities to
display his ability Immediately upon
entering the Senate-that is to say he
should not be obliged to undergo the
usual probationary term of inactivity
which custom imposes upon new Sena-
tors. Thelet was most complimentary,
friendly, firm and explicit, and Governor
Hill had every additional assurance that
1t voiced the sentiment of the Senators.
Blodgett of New Jersey was the most
notable absentee from the caucus. Cor
man of Maryland was conspicuous in
directing its action.
Governor Hill, therefore, pursued the
only course left to him as sensible man.
He explained his behavior differently to
being that he accepted the place to save
serious scandal. Though that is not the
fact, it certainly is true that he believed
there was danger of q very nauscotis per-
formance. A plot was on foot in favor OF
one of the many who wanted the place,
and the plan was that if any man but he
were seen to be likely to get the election
there was to be purchase Of three OF
| four AssemDlymen at $50, 1000 apiece to
bolt the Democratic caucus and Join the
Republicans, who were quite willing Ia
| vote for this special person. It was even
suspected who these reasonable Demo
| Gratis were. However, Hills willingness
to take the Senatorship prevented the
carrying out of the plan, for there is no
Democrat in his well-managed organiza-
ton who would dare to bolt his leader.
There was more than one greatly disap.
! pointed candidate. The one best known
to the whole country is the protection
| Democrat, Smith NJ. Weed. The papers
show that he feels his disappointment
| keenly. His home organ threatens q
| disclosure that 1t fancies will hurt Hill
! very much. II Is known what the threat
ened disclosure is. Last autumn, when
Mr.. Mr.. Hill had no idea the Assembly
| would be Democratic, he promised Mr.
| Weed the Senatorship. That everybody
knows, but what Is not known Is that at
! the same time Mr.. Weed was induced 10
| contribute $40, 600 to the Campaign fund
| This is the. fact that the Weed organ
threatens to make public, though how il
will endeavor to connect Governor Hill
with Mr.. Weeds donation to the party re-
! mains to be seen.
The published explanation tomorrow
will also say that Governor Hill's action
in causing his organization in this State To
give the u, s. Senatorship to him has
| pleased the MugwumpS, who had
! clamored for II because it shelved Grover
| Cleyelands most formidable rival for the
Presidency. For that very reason 1t was
an inexplicable movement in the minds
Of all Democrats throughout the country,
Every one in politics knew many rea.
sons why Hill should not have made
himself Senator. In the first place the
term of his Governorship laps over that
of the Senatorship. In the second place
he has perfect 'machine" or organiza
tion, which is running smoothly and |!
complete and strong at all points, so tina
1t would have seemed natural that III
should remain in his place as Governor
Democratic Convention, in order to keel
control of the party, and insure Hill
delegation from this State. In the thirt
place there Is the superstition that no one
except Garfield (whO never took his sea
in the Senate), was ever taken from tn
Senate to be President. Fourthly, 1t wa
| perfectly understood that he promise,
the place to Smith M. Weed year ago
and offered it to Frederick P. Olcott fey
days before he took it himself But tn
fifth reason weighed most heavily witt
his nearest friends. That was that Nj
Hill has not got the means with which +
deport himself as Q Senator. Heis YER
poor man, almost a penniless one, an
will have nothing, except his salary, whe
he goes to Washington.
The customary ostentation of the avel
age Senator-the ''open house." the dir
ner-giving, and the tour of the parlors @
society viii not only be beyond his mean.
but they are above all else excessively di,
tasteful to the Governor. Further yet,
has always said, and he said it TO ever
one early this winter, that he had no tast
for legislative work. He tried it in til
Assembly at Albany with Samuel J. III
den, and he said he resolved at that tim
never to sit in q Legislative body agaii
Yet he caused himself to be made Senat,
in Mr.. Evarts' place, and did so whc
I every Democratic friend and journals
was exposing the fact that the Mugwum
J press was urging him to the act, in ord,
TO get him out OF the way OF Grover Clev
land The thing seemed inexplicable bl