New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-30
DEMOCRATIC GIANTS AT WAR
, MIGHTY STRUGGLE on BETWEEN CLENE-
LAND AND MURPHY.
THE TPoY STATESMAN HAD HILLS PROMISE OF
THE srHATORsHIP TWO YEARS AGO-THE


CONTEST WILL EE \ DESPERATE ONE.
She cchoa, OF tie explosion ia the Democratic
Marty which Mr. Cleveland's declaration OF hoStil
inv TO Mr.. Murphy candidacy for United States
senator caused were beard in every Snapper and
uuswump camp Yesterday. Many of the politicians
- both sides. who 1T the first hlush of the an
,ounoemcnt expressed their satisfaction At the pres
mac of good square night Within the party. began
% look frightened The size OF the conflict !oomed
-, before them. A number of timid partiSans,
bo.h Mmmanyitcs and An i-Snappcrs, ran about
tho town yesterday assuring interested listeners
.hst the oh man didn't mean if that lie really
orad little who was Senator; that he had per
ANAL dislike for Murphy, and that he had issued
his proclamation ON the subject only to square
bin,ef with certain III his supporters. These
weak brethren We're most alarmed about the offices
which they saw vanishing from their grasp.
But the level-heaied and clear,Siehted men of
the party saw plainly that the old man" did
mean it and that his tiumpetblast OF defiance 10
the Snapper machine will be followed by the
most serious breach that the Democratic party
of the Empire State has probably ever known.
The -rue story of Mr.. MuIphvs candidacy for
the Senate has never been told 1t began in re-
ality more than two years ago. after the Demo-
Gratis found that they had a majority of two in
tho legislature of 1891. Mr.. Murphy wanted
rho nomination then. and IT was on the point Of
heinr conceded 10 him when Governor Hi, sud-
denly gave notice that il was the will and desire
Of the Democracy of the State that lie should
stem from the Governors chair TO the place made
yoc,nt bv the EXPIRATION Of senator fVartss term.
IIlrs mandate was al powerful with the State
machine which he had constructed for his own
use and there was no one strong enough to for
lid hi. rape OF the Office, but Edward
Mummy. IT., then as nov chairman OF
Of the Democratic State Committee, was deeply
disappointed and grievcd. To placate him Mr.
Uiu made MIN tie promise that the next Senate
vacancy 81 ;uld 90 to him. LIVER SINCE then TINS
has been an open secret among Mr.. hilPs cocrie
of OOnfeierates
One week before tie election, when the Dem
oc,sts felt sure OF the State, The Snappers began
70 set their machinery IN motion. Mr.. croker
c,uod On acknowledgements Sheehan at Dem
ocrs,io State headquarters, IN West Twenty
fourth It,. and ead 70 him. In the event OF the
State going or way who arc you for ae Senator
well Mr.. Croker replied the Lieutenant
i,overnor. 81 think that you have in your mind
the same man that ! have
who's that ." asked Mr.. Croker.
Ed Murphy. ,r
That's right" was Cookers answer we
ere for him. o.
spit Mr.. Croker and Mr.. Sheehan. The day
at,.r the election. the Northumberland tele-
nbonsS from Buffalo to Troy congratulating MT
Murnhv on the probability of his being Onited
States Senator from New-fork
Notbinr was said TO Mr.. Cleveland about this
candidacy until Mr.. Murphy's visit TO New-fofK
in the week after the election. when MI Murphy
and Lieutenant Governor Sheehan called on the
President-elect The subject was then broacheo
bv Mr.. Sheehan Mr.. Cleveland said that ne
thought il little early to bring out candidates
for Senator, and showed other symptoms OF want
Of sv,nnatbv in Mr. Murphy's cause, but they
were not violent Mr. Murphy and Mr. Sheehan
told their friends about the way Mr.. Cleveland
had received the notice which they had served
on him. and while the Snappers were somewhat
disconnected they hoped that Mr.. Cleveland's dis
inclination to enthuse over Mr.. Murphy would
blow over before the caucus was held.
4 week ago Colonel Lamont called on Mr..
Croker and expressed surprise at the pertinacity
with which Mr.. Murphy's friends were pushing
him for the Senate in spite of their cognizance
Of the fact that Mr.. Cleveland not in accord
ance with the scheme. Mr. Croker refused to
discuss the subject with Colonel lamont ms
was the first positive inkling given TO the Hill
Tammany faction that Mr.. Cleveland had made
up his mind to fight Murphy's candidacy. But IT
Mr.. Croker said Yesterday that he had been
heart and soul for Mr.. Murphy from the first, ana
that he would remain so no matter what might
happen. Lieutenant-GovernorS heehan sent word
after Mr.. Clcveland's deiiverance of Wednesday
that he could be counted on to stick to MT
Murphy Senator Hin had not been consulted al
the time the announcement of the purpose to run
Murphy was sprung at the Hoffman House Few
nights after the election but he has now declared
his intention to fulfill his pledge Of two years
ago and help elect Murphy. The Snappers are
IN a compact shape, and were encouraging eaoh
other yesterday 10 present an unbroken 'front.' 70
Mr. Cleveknd's effort to stampede them. Whhe
none of them were ready to give their views for
publication, II was evident that such men ae
Senator Hill, Governor Flower, Mr.. Whitney, Mr.
Cochran Mr. Croker, Mr.. Sheehan and other in
euentiaI Democrats believed that it was the be
Ginning of a fgAt which would not ond in the
next generation
Mr. Whitney was quoted yesterday as saying
that Mr.. Cleveland had taken his present course
without consulting hun, and that he believed II
a ereao mistake. Mr.. Whitney himself declined
10 say anything for print.
L. Is well understood among Mr. Cleveland 5
select company of Mugwamp and Anti-Snappcr
friends that the President-elect went INTO the
Senate contest with full knowledge OF the so
Idity OF tho Hill-Tammauy- Snapper c0mpihauoh
on Murphy, and they say he courts the hsn,
BECAUSE IL will be big one. II is binted tha'
NJ CLEVELAND will say that this is battle
NJ his seeking, Ms the opposition arrayed Itself
AGAINST him after they had been informed how
distasteful Mr. Murphy's candidacy was to hliil'
and. as they went ahead with the Murphy can
vass after being warned by Mr.. Cleveland, there
was nothing left for him to do except to assert
himself
Speaker Crisp Senator German, Senator MIC
Pherson, and tome other representative Democrats
called Oh Mr. Cleveland At his law Office III 'i'e
Mills Building yesterday. Speaker 'risp aiSo
called OIL Mr. Croker and had long conhdeh'ia'
talk With him. III view of the cattle which -