New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-01
A DANGEROUS SCHEME.
THE DEMOCRATIC BOSSES SAID TO BE
PLOTTING A GREAT CRIME.
prRsnsrENr RUMoRs THAT THEY HOPE TO
STEAL THE SENATE AGAIN-ARE THEY DIES.

prpsnsrENr RUMoRs THAT THEY HOPE TO
srrA1, THE SENATE AGAIN-ARE THEY DIES.
PERATE ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT TT
David B. Hill, Edward Murphy jr.. William
r Sheehan and Isaac II. Maynard. with the as
sistance of a choice lot of Democratic political
thugs stole the Senate of this State two years
ago from the party to which it rightfully be-
,onsed. Judgment has been passed on that
theft. and the result is that the Republicans now
have nineteen members of the Senate and the
Democrats thirteen. Lately. however, persistent
rumors have been in circulation that the same
set of worthless who were responsible for the
theft Of 1891 had determined to secure the Sem
ate of 1s94-95 Two years ago they did it by steal
ing returns and arbitrarily counting in a Sem
ator, who since has died, who did not come
within 100 votes of an election. 1t is now re-
ported that they intend 10 get control or the
Senate in an entirely different way. This time
bribery. it is said will be used to capture three
seats thus making the Senate tie.
1t is difficult to believe, however, that the
men now in control of the Democratic State ma
chine will dare to allow this to be done, for
they ought to know that the people will not
permit 1t if it should be undertaken, and the
men who. 1t is said. would go over to the Demo-
Gratis hardly would dare to show themselves at
Democratic State machine. The career of
O'Dair, the member of Assembly who was
elected by Republican votes, and who earned
the title OF traitor is still pretty fresh in the
minds of politicians. O'Dar was Stunned by
nearly every one in the Assembly and few Of
the members of the party which he supported
associated with him.
THE ALBANY CONFERENCE.
The conference which was held in Albany on
Wedn .ssay, between Edward Murphy. jr.. Lieu
tenant Governor Sheehan, Governor Roswell p
Flower and others, is understood among poll
ticans to have had great deal more to do
with the plot TO secure the Senate than 1t did
with the action of the men who launched the
new Democratic State machine. Some of the
newspapers which are in the confidence of the
men who were at the conference published yes
terday articles declaring that the conference
was all about the new Democracy. 1t Is thought
by many that this was merely blind to cover
up the real plans of the conspirators Money
would be needed, it is suggested. to carry out
the scheme which Murphy, Flower and Sheehan
are said to be trying to put through, and some
politicians thought yesterday that the confer
ence was probably one to secure funds with
which to operate.
Those who think that the Democratic bosses
are really at work on a scheme to steal the
Senate reason this way: There various rea-
sons they say, why Roswell P. Flower does not
want to serve as Governor with Republican
Legislature He knows that a good many re-
form measures will be placed before him and
that he will be compelled either to sign or to
veto them. Many of the measures Will be those
repeating laws which he has signed at the die
fation either of Hill, Murphy, Sheehan or
Croker If he should sign the bills repeating
these laws he would lose the support OF the
machine, and if he should not sign them he
would lose the support Of decent people, which
he dearly Graves and which he has been trying
recently to obtain. a Senate which was Demo-
cratic tied could prevent these bills getting to
him, and while he could pose as reformer. the
wicked Senate, controlled by William +. Shee-
man, might stand between him and reform
measures. Sheehan would no. stop at this sort
of work He showed when he allowed Charles
a. Walker to be seated in 1892 thai he had no
conception of common decency. Mr.. Sheehan
now is in this city and 1t was learned Yesterday
that he saw several prominent Democratic poll
ticians and that he held long consultations with
them. He came here Immediately after the con-
ference at Albany What he Is really GONG here
could not be learned.
ARE THEY MAD ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT TTI1S9
1t is charged that perhaps holder scheme
than bribery may be resorted to. The Clerk of
the Senate Of the last session makes up the
roll Of the incoming Senate. 1t is expected
that he will prepare the roll in accordance with
the certificates which presented to him.
He is expected under the law to do that. Sup
posing however. he should choose to put on
the names Of three Democrats and refuse to
put or the names Of the Republicans who were
elected in their places Mr.. Sheehan, as Lieu
tenant Governor, would refuse to hear the prot
ests Of the Republicans, and as each branch
of the Legislature is the judge Of the quain-
cation and election of it's members, IA resou-
ton to seat the three Democrats would be
voted on and carried, and nothing beyond brute
force could get the illegally seated members out
OF the Senate OF course this would be a bold
stroke, and even Sheehan might quail. but the
machine is desperate and it would rather lose
almost anything than lose the Senate. Boasts
have been made by Hill men that Mr.. owens
and Mr. Bradley who were elected by the Ke-
publcans from Brooklyn, would be found Vot-
best possible authority. Mr.. owens already
has pledged himself to the support OF ms
party and it is understood that there is no ques-
ton as To the position of Mr.. bradley MS
friends declare that he will vote with the Re-
pubcans as by their votes he was elected.
Colonel Robertson of Westchester county mas
been a lifelong Republican. and the charges
which have been made by some OF the Demo-
cratic leaders that ne will be found with them
Is an insult to him. Colonel Robertson served
In the Assembly several years ago. He then
elected as a Republican, as he was elected
this year to the Senate.
Some of Mr. Sheehan's friends have been say
ing that the Republican who was elected 10 the
Senate in the place of Senator Endres in Erie
County, would be with Sheehan on the organl-
Zation OF the Senate. 1t Is more than likely
that they have imagined that he could repeat
with this member the same performance which
he carried out so successfully in the case Of one
Senator who was elected as an Independent Re-
publican some time ago. The last reports from