Morning journal and courier., 1891-08-12
THE ELECTION CONTROVERSY.
New Light on Some Of the Matters
 Involved.

| New Light on Some Of the Matters
 Involved.
 A Willimantic correspondent of the New York Times says:
 It has not been talked about, outside of a limited circle, that conference was held in New Haven on the afternoon before the long adjournment of the legislature was ordered, in which General Merwin dis cussed his interests and desires concerning the governorship.
 Those present at this conference were Lynde Harrison, Chairman Herbert E. Benton of the republican state central committee, and Hugh Daley of New Ha- ven, also of the state committed. In the course of the deliberations Judge Harri- son stated that the ''For'' ballot issue, as involved in the Branford case, would be argued the following week before the su- preme court in Bridgeport, and that de- cision could be expected within & few weeks at the latest. Should the decision prove favorable to the republican view that the ''For" ballots were legal, the leg islature, he held, ought to be in session fo
 
 interpretation of the law Chairman Benton also stated that he intended to send out circulars to the chairmen of re- publican town committees throughout the state, requesting an examination of the ballots, when the boxes should be opened on May for the purpose of ascertaining the facts concerning the illegal And so- called rejected double" ballots.
 All the members of this conference agreed that unless positive evidence should appear at the opening of the boxes that the votes in dispute were illegal, the minor state officers should be seated at orce. This was considered strong additional reason why the legislature should be in session in May, only short recess being taken General Merwin requested Chair man Benton to visit Hartford the next morning, reaching the capitol st an early hour, and to state the results of the con ference to republican members of the house, urging the reasons that had been considered in favor of a short adjourn ment.
 Chairman Benton was in Hartford as desired by General Merwin and presented his reasons against a long adjournment There was a vigorous minority in the re- publican caucus, including Judge olin H. Wood, of Manchester, opposed to protrac- ted discontinuance of the session Ii was oyerridden, however, by the Bulkelsy ad- herents, and a recess until November was voted under the caucus lash MT Benton was advised with by the minority, who were willing to unite with the democrats in support of short recess, not exceed. ing month or six weeks at most. Chair. man Benton, who was in Hartford to rep. resent the interests of his chief, counseled conformity to the caucus dictum.
 The supreme court decision was ren. dered within few weeks of the adjourn. ment and sustained the republican posi-. tion relative to the validity of the rejected prohibition votes. The ballot boxes throughout the state were examined May 9th and nothing was found which could destroy the msiorities of the minor demo- cratic candidates for state offices. Had the advice and desire of General Merwin been accepted, the democratic officials would have been seated in May and the field cleared for an honorable sdiustmsn; of the issue involving the rights of him. self and Judge Morris. Ii is not charged that Chairman Benton intended to betrAy the interests of General Merwin, but, coming fresh from the conference in New Haven, which is now described for the first time, 1t was his duty, as the partici- pants in that conference believe 10 this
  wins views.
 There is another chapter concorning ihs republican situation st present. which hai not been written out correctly. It goel back to the days of Governor Bulkeley's veto of the secret ballot law in 1889 More than year and half ago @ venom. ous attack was made against Judge Harri. son of New Haven and Judge John Nj. Hall of the superior court on account oi the part which they took in formulating the present secret ballot statute in thi. state. Judge Hall was charged in this st- tack with selling his influence in the sen. ate, of which he was the leader in 1889, for the judgeship, which was conferred upon him by Governor Bulkeley. The at- tack was written by one man and edited by another, who had taken considerable part in the secret ballot contest, but neith. CT of whom was invited to the council which devised the measure now on the statute book
 After Governor Bulkeley vetoed the original bill it became evident that his DO. sition would be an unenviable one in the state unless a substitute was prepared and passed. He hastened to the republican headquarters in the Allyn House, and SO licited the presence of the party leaders al the Hartford club rooms to canvass tn.  conference were Governor Bulkeley, Sam | uel Fessenden of Stamford, Judge Harri son of New Haven, John NJ. Hall and E | s. Day of Colchester, then chairman oi | the republican state central committee There were three bills from which selec | tions could be made in devising the ac that would practically meet the public de mands- The originstors of the bills ir | question were Senators John Nj. Hall ana | E. S. Cleveland and eI-Senator NJ. S | Chapman of Manchester. The governor I favored the latter's measure, but the besi | points of the three were finally agreed | upon.
 John Addison Porter, who had been an active promoter of the Australian law and through whose influence with Judge William B. Glover of Fairfield the bill had been introduced in the house, was not in vited by Governor Bulkeley to the council in the Hartford club rooms. This over | sight of the governors was the occasion afterwsrd of the attacks on prominent members of the conference, including Judges Hall and Harrison. The break be | tween the latter and Mir Porter, which hal been a matter of publicity for months l was caused originally by the abusive arti | cles which the Hartford editor published concerning the personal and public integ rity of Judge Hall of this city. Thi | quarrel over the secret ballot law has beer an active factor for months in the politicA animosities that have existed among thu republicans in this state.