The times., 1898-09-28
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

tuiS year, III ilapy respects, reseIhpies the
conditions whidA existed In 1882, when
Secretary of tlh Treasury Folger was
nominated by the Gs o. p. for governor of
the Empire State. Then, as now, Re-
publican governor, Alonzo b. Cornell, was
contending for a denomination. Cornell
was almost as much of a political acci-
dent as Frank g. <Black. He owed his
election in 1879 to the bolt led by John
Kelly, the leader of Tammany Hall,
against Governor Robinson, the regular
Democratic nominee. Kelly had himself
nominated and polled enough votes TO de-
feat Robinson and elect Cornell. The lat
ter soon acquired what is known as the
big-head and started into business for
himself Independent of the machine
Roscoe Conkling was at the time the
boss of the Republican organization of
New York. His most graphic description
of Cornell, which has stuck to him down
TO the present day, was that lizard on
the hill" Governor Cornell, however, was
able, with the outside assistance of the
Hon. James G. Blaine, to make a stub
born night for denomination. Folger was
nhally nominated by the aid of a forged
Geographic proxy, but he was the worst
beaten man up TO that time who ever
ran for public office. The outcome of the
matter was split in the Republican par
ty in the State which has never been en-
tirely healed to this day. 1t caused
the loss of New York and with II the
Presidency to Mr. Blaine two years later.
Insiders in the workings of New York
politics perceive in the present situation
a similar fate for Col Roosevelt and his
party to that which befell Cornell and the
q. o. sixteen years ago. 1t is a case
they believe of history repeating itself.
Governor Black is surrounded by a CO.
terie of most vindictive advisors. They
would a thousand times prefer to see the
Democratic gonfalon flying over the State
capitol at Albany than 10 have Col.
Roosevelt, or any man not of their choos-
ing, carry off the prize. Unless all signs
fail they are determined to carry out
this program. If the Democratic ticket
TO be nominated at Syracuse today meet
the approval of the rank and file of that
party ii ought to win by large ma
jority.
1t is a curious coincidence that Folger
was nominated at Saratoga in 1882 and
Grover Cleveland at Syracuse. where the
Democratic convention meets today.
Opinions differ as 10 the strength Of
Roosevelt as a vote getter. He will un-
questionably lose in some quarters and
gain in others; but whether he will gain
more than he will lose is. perhaps, an
open question.
Such veteran Democrat, for instance,
as Gen. Ben. lie Fevre, formerly a
representative in Congress from Ohio but
now a resident of this city but voter in
New York, gives as his opinion that
Roosevelt will be hard man TO beat
THE fact that Roosevelt went TO the
front" said Gen. lie Fevre yesterday
''and risked his life ifor his country will
count more with the masses than any
thing that can Nbe brought against him.
If l had a brother in foreign land who
is stricken down with fever, and friend
| steps in and nurses him successfully
! through his Illness, do you think that
am going to inquire into the fact that the
| nurse slept now andh while on duty?
| Assuredly not. My gratitude goes out TO
! the man who saved my brothers life. Col.
! Roosevelt. in my judgment. is a most for
midable candidate. He will be a hard man
TO beat and thereais no use Disgusting that
| fact.
| Neither do / think Gen lie Fevre
added that the Democrats can make
much political capital out of the so-called
mismanagement of the war. 1t does not
strike me as being a promising field for
! political investment. The chief error of
/ the Government from my point of view
| in this late war was in not selecting older
4
/ termaster and commissary departments
| The young men should be enlisted in the
| fighting ranks. II Is only us old fellows
! who know about transportation and the
! handling OF provisions.
THE equipping of an army of 20O 900
| or more, consisting chiefly of raw re-
| cruits, must necessarily be attended with
! some mistakes There are very few of US
perfect men, who never make mistakes,
| left; and the number is growing scarcer
and scarcer every day. My own health
is not very good"
The meeting of the Democratic State
| convention of New York at Syracuse to-
day will be a most interesting event. The
fact that no candidate appears upon the
surface in the lead for the Democratic
nomination for the head of the ticket is
! in itself quite significant 1t indicates, in
the judgment of the students of the po-
| litical cheesboard, that Mr.. Croker is
| running the show. 1t has always been
the favorite method of Mr.. Croker to
keep the masses in the dark as to his in
| tentions up to the last moment; in fact,
even many of his closest friends have not
been advised of his program within half
| an hour of the time to make nominations.
| Such is the discipline of Tammany Hall
| that Mr. Croker has found it possible 10
| pursue this course successfully. 1t re-
| mains to be demonstrated whether it can
| be applied to a State convention with an
equal degree of success.
The plain truth is that no one outside
of three or four people were in a position
at Syracuse last night to predict any de-
| gree of certainty who would head the
| Democratic ticket Great is discipline
and great is Mr.. Croker.
1t looks as though Mayor Van Wyck's
name had been withdrawn from the Dem
ocratic slate for governor In fact, it is
not believed that it was ever seriously
| considered in that connection. 1t is
| known that Van Wyck has no ambition
to continue in public office. He wishes
to return to the bench and get away
from the rough and tumble and scramble
of every day politics.
If one could venture to hazard a guess
at this distance 1t would be that Johr
b. Stanchfeld, Elliott Danforth, Roswell
P Flower, Judge Robert Earl, Judge d
Cady Herrick, William Sulzer or David
] ID would honor