The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-16
tspectal to The Herald,

NEW 4OItks sept 10--NO matter
what action Senator Hill may take at
the Democratic state convention in
Saratoga tomorrow he cannot regain
at once the prestige he has had in the
Empire state for the past twelve years.
He has lost it in the last few months
The Hill machine is broken 1t can
not dictate now. The senator must
either join the boiling Democrats with
a few followers, or must put himself
in harmony with a policy of the party
that will not be shaped by him and viii
be carried out regardless of his per-
sonaI wishes.
A new power is in the ascendant in
New York Democratic politics. Now
it is Murphy and Sheehan who are in
the van; but no one can tell what new
leader will arise and carry the banner
for the next ten years. Hill is not
dead politically. He may regain the
power. But at present he is deposed.
A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.
1t. now seems a foregone conclusion
that the Democratic national ticket
and platform will be ratified by the
Buffalo convention. Tammany with
its 100 votes. seconded by the dele
gates from Kings county, 70 in num-
Der, making over a third Of the mem
bers of TIE convention, will be for free
silver.
Around this nucleus will gather all
the silver forces Of the state. Senator
Murphy has been waging a battle royal
in the interior with the Hill forces.
Hills Heutenants wished that no ac-
ton should be taken until the con-
ventiOn met. but Murphy's friends
stoutly maintained that the silver
forces should elect and pledge dele
gates.
No more bitter battle could have been
waged in Utah among the Republicans
than that which was waged here in
some Of the districts. So strong was
the feeling in Albany. Hills home, that
the silver men declared they would
not send the senator as delegate to
the convention unless he announced
himself unequivocally in favor of the
Chicago ticket. The only compromise
that could be forced by the machine
was his election under positive instruc-
tons to endorse Bryan and the plat
form.
A BLOW SEVERE.
This blow was the severest that could
have been given to Hill. The mighty
boss was repudiated in his own dis
trict. He showed his anger when he
Immediately declined to serve. But it
was not the only blow. County after
county elected free silver delegates.
endorsed the Chicago platform and
nominees and sometimes instructed
delegates. [ do not remember one that
paid attention 20 the request of HILL
not to take action until the conven-
ton met.
No one yet knows what Hill will do.
He has made himself a formidable
rival to the sphinx. But no matter
what his action it will be a mOurnful
sight when he falls. He has been an
able leader in the past and his motto
II am a Democrat has won for him
the affection of Democrats throughout
the country His work in the machine,
too, in New York has made it a bull
wark against the powerful machine OF
the Republican bosses
The rise Of Hill succeeded the retire
nent of Samuel J. Tilden from active
leadership in the state. That forceful
leader had drawn about him number
of young lieutenants whose names are
now prominent in the nation. Among
them were David B. Hill, Daniel Man
Lamont, William G. Whitney and Ed
ward S. Apgar. These were the men
who determined that Grover Cleveland
should be nominated for Governor OF
New York III 1882. Edward Murphy. jr.,
then mayor of Troy, cast the six ball
lots that nominated Mr.. Cleveland.
1t was during the Cleveland state adj
ministration that the Hill machine first
took definite form. Mr.. Murphy and
Mr.. Hill. on one hand, and Daniel Man
ming. then leader in Albany county. MI.
Lamont and Whitney, on the other,
found their interests clashing, with the
result that when John A. Mccall was
appointed superintendent of Insurance.
for the state, Mr. Hill, Mr.. Murphy and
Mr.. Croker. as Tammany leader, be-
gan the fight against Cleveland that
was carried into three national con-
ventions-
MACHINE PERFECTED.
With Hugh Mclaughlin in Brooklyn.
Richard Croker in New York, William
c. Sheehan in Buffalo, Edward Muir
ply in Troy, and a dozen minor lead
ers in the various counties, the ma
chine was perfected TO such a degree
that the Cleveland element was thrown
into a sad minority, Hill was nominate
ed for governor and elected and Muir
phy was made head Of the Democratic
state committee.
Hill was the most conspicuous lead
er. but it has always been mooted
question among those acquainted with
New York politics as to which was the
most powerful in the prosperous days
of the Democrat y-Hill or Murphy. lc
is a question that may never De set
aT1f