The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-18
THE AyrI-sxAppERy soRRom.
Their Bitter disappointment at william A.
Poueher's Not ecoming CoIleetor.

ALBANY. Aug 1G-The failure OF President
Cleveland to make William A. Poucher Col
lcctor OF the Port OF New York has been n
knock-down blow for the upstate anti-snap-
pers from which they have not yet recovered.
The inside history OF tho matter needs only to
be given to show tho depth oftheIr heart burn
ings and the extent OF their disappointment.
| About three weeks after the Adjournment of
| the Chicago National Convention. the State
| Committee appointed by the Syracuse Conven-
| ton was called to meet in New York. At
| that time no plan Of campaign for the Presi.
| Dental flzht had been agreed upon {: aud IL was
| thought by many anti snappers that their pro-
| ylsional State Com mittee should take personal
| control OF Mr.. Cleveland's interests in this
State The upstate members. headed by
| Kinney OF Utica, Poucher OF Oswego, Locke OF
| Buffalo. and Beach OF Syracuse. were for be-
ginning hostillties at once. and for remnnding
| the regular State Committee. headed by Ed
| ward Murphy. Jr. to n subordinate posi-
ton. When. however, the upstate dele
| gates arrived at the william street conference
three obstacles barred their way. The first OF
| these was the total failure OF tho Kings county
| anti-snappers to organize They wanted more
time. and they acknowledged that to usurp the
political prerogatives Of tho regular Democ-.
racy Of Kings. without any ves.ige OF organ
lied substitute for It, would be TO doom the
whole scheme to ridicule and disaster at
the outset
The New York city anti.snappers. OF
whom much was expected. were found too
in condition Of collapse. Ex-Mayor Grace.
the king pin OF tho whole movement. had
suffered serious domestic bereavem ent.
which took him entirely out OF the reck-
oning. for a time at least. The influence
OF William c. Whitney was strong enough.
with Mr.. Anderson. Dewitt Warner. C. c. Bald.
win. Mr.. Canda ]. II. Woodward. and other
gentlemen who were pro- levelandites, but
not anti organization m n. to hold Thorn back
from any serious break More than this. 1t
was found impossible at that time to secure
from any authorized representative OF Mr..
Cleveland his formal assent to the programme
which the active anti-snappers thought should
be put into effect at once.
These three things combined compelled an
embarrassing delay at critical period: but
the upstate anti-snappers were given to
understand that they would lose nothing
by waiting and that. In the event OF
Mr.. Clevelands election. one OF their
number would certainly receive the ap-
pointment OF Collector OF the Port OF New
York. the most important Office in the Presi-
dents gift. Notwithstanding this many OF the
hotheads bitterly resisted the adjournment:
but after an acrimonious debate OF several
hours It was carried; and the provisional State
Committee practically disbanded. 1t never
reassembled. and SO far as the question OF Or
ganized effort was concerned. this was tho end
OF the Syracuse movement in State politics.
Such was the condition Of affairs whom a
few weeks later. Mr.. Cleveland met at the
Victoria Hotel Mr.. Muir ply. Mr.. Sheehan. and |
MIR. Croker. and entered into the arrang ement |
with them for the distribution OF Federal Of |
foes In New York which has since become |
historical as the Victoria Hotel compact" It |
ont ha hrf doaa ~ an ~ fro,
pers. and left Them in advance Of tho election.
with no stipulated arrangement for their
recognition. except as private individuals.
The Brooklyn antlsnappers accepted the ad-
journment OF the State Committee as q pretext
for giving up their hopeless fight against the
invincible Mclaughlin. The New York city
anti-snappers considered themselves be-
trayed by their leader. though had they been
cognizant OF the real facts OF tho case they
would have absolved Mr.. Grace Of any intend
ed neglect OF their interests. AS it was. most
OF them went over. or back. to Tammany Hall:
the others waited till the clouds should roll
by. relieving the tedium by occasional visits
to Mr.. Grace's office on Hanover square, The
upstate anti-snappers. however continued
to be full OF fight, and waited only for the word
OF command to begin hostitios
In the Inauguration festivities OF March in |
Washington. the anti snappers. as such. took
no part: but soon after the installation OF Mr..
their representatives got together
heartiness submitted the name OF William A.
boucher for Collector Of the Port Of New York.
promise to appoint Mr.; poucher. Others.
haad f bat Sas @aae
either BY Mr.. Cleveland, or by Mr.. Carlisle. with
tinely declare. Th The prosra@me outiinei
DOint In the CuatDm IonEp n nj ri |
mschine throuChout the State. BisselI.
master, was to look after the Post ONCE ap-
p9intments. with the same object In view: and
October. the anti snap administrator men
were to enforce their claim to representa-
Democratic party machinery in New York.
There ov Were t no ottlsvngs from any 9-
Poncher. following the selection Of Mr. Max.
vel! would rot 20 made. but within twenty
Poucher was arranged in Washington n.u' con- on.
.erted mugwump assault was made in New {
city by 9 the pres
ased On his egisativs, rSe0rd Some ON one in
happsrs could not make out T The a" Attacks
,pon Mr. Pouchor delayed his appointment as
estivo and even truculent. They Insisted that q
he appointment, to have any political value. t
ummer. Collector Hendricks had already re- v
igned. and was anxious to get back to SYRIA II
use. There was. therefore no apparent rea.
on for any delay that tho anti snaRpers could
ee; and several ofthem went onto Washington
o find out what WAS the matter.
What they found was this: Mr.; Cleyeland n
vas reluctant TO appoint Mr.. Poucher: he was
quaIly reluctant to appoint any one else. He p
avored the middle course Of letting Collector v
hendricks hold over until after tho special 4,
ession OF Congress was, disposed of, and the n
urchaso 81 ause in tn" Sherman law repealed. t'
10 had made Tammany man. Mr.. Dayton. p
ostpaster and had recoGniz"d tho State o
In liar In utr at
'tth THO NI,torin Hotel agreement. lie be- &
nough. tho ono obstacle TO the success Of this t.
rogramme was lepubllcan. This !epubli- Ia
old over. Ho ms istcd on getting out. lie re-
used peremptorily to help compose Demo-
ratio 1uarrels by acting MS stopgap
nth after election; Appraiser cooper re-
usIness began to suffer and, there were u, ~
'ud colnp!ai from New York importers. :.
urther delay could mean only scandalous W
onditlon OF thing. In the Custom House, and ne
ler his determination met only with refusal. III
Hendricks Is n willy statesman. He Is suave l."
Jtu hail llu