The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-01-08
DEPUTY GoyERNoR FLOWER.

A very grave mistake has been made
by the recorders of public events in the
publication of the results of the late
election in New York. The announce
ment that one Roswell p. Flower was
elected Governor of the Empire State
was supposed in November to be strictly
in accordance with the facts. The pa
pers of to-day, including the Press,
will relate the story of his Inauguration.
1t has recently been shown that Mr..
Flower was only elected to position
not defined in the Constitution, but now
very clearly defined in the public mind
that of Deputy Governor. The real Gov
ernor of New York, although Mr..
Flower will exercise the nominal func-
lions of the office of chief executive, is
to be David b. Hill, better known as
Ozark Lantern" Dave. Hill will COIL
tinue Governor the next two years just
as certainly as the sun rises. When the
proof of this assertion is briefly related
there can be no dispute of this propo-
sition.
The Deputy Governor, being entirely
inexperienced in State affairs, has been
overpersuaded to appoint as his private
secretary the ardent young friend who
has served Ozark Lantern Dave in that
capacity for several years-Colonel I. S.
Williams. That settles all question
about the real Governor knowing what
his deputy is doing and gives to Hill the
opportunity to stop his Deputy Cover
nor in anything in the way of an indie
pendent thought which he may have or
action he may contemplate. Colonel
Williams has been like a pocket in
shirt to Hill. He will be the prompter
of Flower, because he knows the inner
consciousness of his former master, and
when he cannot steer Flower according
to his knowledge of what Hill would
wish, he can report to the real Governor.
1t was noticed when Deputy Governor
| Flowers military staff was announced
that nearly every one of the officers had
been on Hills staff including Hills own
particular friend, who has great political
power, the Adjutant General. 1t is
known that Mr.. Flower has agreed to re-
appoint Charles NJ. Preston as superin-
tendent of the Banking Department and
Edward Hannah as Canal Superin-
tendent, and a large number of other
Democrats now in Office, all of whom
are dyed-in-the-woo Hill men and con-
troll patronage and possess power which
is of vast importance. The d:ctation of
the new Speaker of the Assembly is an
other act by which the real Governor ex-
poses his hand and the title of Deputy
Governor becomes fixed on the Wall
street banker. The Speakership will 90
to DR.. Bush of Chemung as surely as the
Assembly meets. He is Hill's henchman,
and can be relied upon to appoint Hill
committees and forward Hill legislation
and to obstruct all other.
More than all, however, is the decision
of Hill to remain resident of Albany.
His lease of the Bateman residence in
that city and his declaration that he in
tends to spend much of his time there
during this winter is proof positive that
he intends to remain Governor and dom
mate the Democracy of New York and
the whole Empire State, as far as he can
exercise his wanton power. This is not
pleasant outlook for the reputed Gov
ernor of this great State, but there may
be few independent breaths in Deputy
Governor Flowers body which will find
their way out in rebellion against the
plans of Ozark Lantern" Dave. Mr..
Flower canuot be presidential factor in
his own party if he is merely Deputy
Governor,-New York Press.