Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-10
HILLS WAR o. cLEvELAND.
How the Prssident's Friends I'm New York
Have Been prescribed.

nave been froscrtued.
correspondence Ct The Ev,ninr star
ALBANY. NY. April 6, 1888
It his been apparent for some time that the
leaders Of the democratic organization in this
state more commonly referred to as the .Hin
machine" we're becoming FESTIVE under the in
creasine evidences that the President would
not ignore his friends in New York. This I'M
easiness has been concealed more or less by the
responsible heads Of the state organization, but
was openly expressed by the rank and Gle.
Finally the leaders have been forced to take
cognizance Of the growing disturbance among
their followers. and their sction resolved itself
into the personal application by Senators Muir
ply and Hill and Lieut. Gov. Sheehan 10 Prrsi.
dent Cleveland for a definition Of his purpose
as to the disposal Of federal patronage in this
state
Lieut. Gov. Sheehan perhaps more clearly
than the other two gentlemen understands the
meaning OF discrimination against the state or
ganization. He will be a candidate for re-elec-
ton next year. No other avenue TO political
distinction remains open to him. and il his or
ganizatiou is weakened or destroyed his inAu-
ence IN this state will wans with his organ
ization.
The two United States Senators are provided
Tor, though they, too. feel anxious over their
power and prestige. Senator Hin processes to
accept the situation philosophicaily.
During the recent visit OF a prominent Al
bany county democrat to Washington he met
Senator Hill on Pennsylvania avenue. After
the customary greetings the Senator asked:
Are you looking for an officer
might ask for one il could count upon your
support"
III that is all you want" replied Fill, "you
| are sure OF Office. for all would have TO do
would be to oppose your appointment vigor-
ously and You would be nominated at once"
hs>xp -
look upon the situation lightly. He realizes
that discrimination against the state organiza-
tion in Washington means the gradual but sure
destruction Of the present political structure
and the erection in its place OF an organization
In harmony with the Cleveland leaders The
majority OF the members OF the state iegisla-
ture, now In session in this city, realize this
also, and they complain openly that il would be
unfair for the Cleveland administration 10 carry
out such policy; that it would be detrimental
II not fatal TO the supremacy of the democratic
party in this state and that harmony will never
be secured BY II. II was necessity alone arising
from uneasiness Of the organization democrats
that compelled Sheehan to undertake his deli
cate mission Of last Saturday
ORIGIN OF THE STRAINED FEELING.
It 10 not difficult TO trace the causes which
have produced the strained feeling between the
leaders in Albany and at Washington They 20
back to the time when Grover Cleveland was
first elected President and when David b. Hill
was governor of the state. Hills antagonism
did not begin at once upon Cieveland's depart
ure from the state. His ambitions did not sway
his actions for some time thereafter. but deli
cately at first be began to drop the Cleveland
men in the state administration and finally he
waged an open warfare. Ii was due to Gov
ernor Hills influence that William Purcell
editor OF the Rochester Union and Advertiser,
one Of the most persistent opponents Of Cleve-
hand In the interior OF the state, was made COM
missioner OF arbitration. Ii was due TO Gov,
Hills quiet methods that the caucus Of demo-
cratic legislators voted for Charles A. Dana for
regent of the state. 1t was by these things
that Gov. Hill sought to impress upon the peo-
pie Of this state the idea that the New
York democracy was cutting loose from
Grover Cleveland. The proscriptive
war began when Senator Hill endeav-
ored for months and finally succeeded
in ousting Robert A Maxwell, the present fourth
assistant postmaster general, from the Office Of
superintendent Of insurance. And. by the wsy
this incident illustrates the compreheasiveness
of Hills methods. Hill really had no candidate
for Maxweirs position. What he wanted was to
get Maxwell out because he was a Cleveland
msn and his Office an abiding place for Cleve-
land men: Senator German OF Maryland came
forward OPPORTUNITY with a candidate in the
person OF ex-senator James 4. Pierce of Brook
iyn, VINO Is by marriage connected with the
Maryland Senator Senator German pressed
Pierce's candidacy, furnished some funds
wherewith to carry on the campaign and Pierce
was nominated by Gov. Hill and confirmed by
the Senator.
This Circumstance was made the basis of
personal appeal by Senator Hills agents at
Chicago last June to Senator German when the
latter was wavering between the several candi-
dates for the presidency.
Hill followed up the BUSTING of Maxwell by
the removal OF James Shanahan superintendent
OF public works, one of the most trusted and in
fuential OF the Cleveland guards in the state
Lyman II. Northrup, commissions of the board
OF Claims, was also removed without other os sensi-
BILE cause than that he also a believer in the
fortunes and principles of Cleveland These
were the more prominent sacrifices. The same
policy was pursued throughout the state service
While Shanahan was superintendent of public
works the great patronage of the state canals
was in the hands of Cleveland men. His sue
cessor changed all that and inside of six months
af.er the change not lock tender even
remained who was not heart and soul" with
the state organization in all its aims and pur-
poses.
Then began the internecine strife for DEL
egates to the midwinte- convention of February
y, 1882. Because OF the precaution Gov. Hill
had taken in streng lhening his organization the
strugge was one sided. The leaders said what
they wanted from the thirty-two districts OF
this state-and they got 1t. Like the workings
Of Q gigantic triphammer the Hill organization
kept pounding the Homogeneous democracy Of
this state until it had been welded into shape
satisfactory to the master workman. When
by some mischance or miscalculatiou of the
primaries anti-Hill delegation was selected
the leaders secured contesting delegations,
threw out the regularly selected Cleveland del
egates and substituted the Hill men. In this
wise the midwinter convention was made prac-
tically harmonious, and the adoption Of plat
form secured without opposition, which named
every prominent ex-governor Of New York aud
every faction saint of democracy, but omitted
all mention OF Cleveland by name or indirec-
ton. The course of the New York delegation
at Chicago. its absurd pronunc:amento and
persistent opposition TO Mr.. Cieyeiand's NOM
ination are too we'll known to need mention,
but with the opposition which was brought
back from Chicago and carried to the polls
last November the public outside of this state
are unfamiliar.
1t is sufficient illustration Of the fact how
ever, that in Hills own county of Chemung
which gave Cleveland $40 plurality in 1855,
Flower 721 plurality Of 1891, gave Benjamin
Harrison 749 plurality last November. change
OF ], 40 democratic votes in q twelvemonths.
TIE PRESCRIPTION OF CLEVELAND MEN.
Since November the prescription Of Cleve-
land democrats has been carried on with UNI
erring precision. Mr.. John B. Riley, chief ex-
aminer Of the civil service commission. WAS
dropped Every orderly and employe about
the capitol Of ant-Hill proclivities has been
dropped until it is safe to say that out of about
5000 employees in thestate service there are not