The sun., 1898-01-13
HILLS AMBITION CHECKED.
HE'S NOT TO DICTATE THE ALBANY
"ARG US'S" EDITORIAL POLICY.

Tho Ex-senator's strong Desire to Make the Pm.
Dor the Democratic Organ In This State aud
TO Direct It Does Not Meet the Approval
OF Saerars. Flower. murphy ana Brndy.
ALBANY, Jan. 12.-Ex.Senator David B. Hill
returned from New York tonight Several
Democrats In Mr.. Hill 8 confidence got to talking
about his speech at tho dinner of tho Albany
Society in New York the other night. Mr.. Hill
then implied that the control Of Democratic leg.
islation had departed from Albany and was now
centred in the Fifth avenue Democratic Club.
Mr.. Hills friends said that there was a good
deal behind that remark.
1t was made known here tonight that Mr..
Hill on several occasions of late has importuned
the owners Of the Albany argus to allow him
to direct the Democratic policy of that news
paper. Mr.. Hill is a lawyer and his practice is
steadily increasing. but he has leisure moments
during the evening at Wolfert's Roost. Mr..
Hill at one time was newspaper man in
Elmra. He has the editorial instinct and
he believes in tho power Of the editorial
chair. The Argus ut times has not been run to
his liking. Frequently he has criticised the
policy Of that newspaper and declared that 1t
was not sufficiently alert and forceful. With
little time on his hands Mr.. Hill. his friends
said believed that he could improve the Argus.
ana 10 a CerUaln extent make IL Une DeInocTatiC
organ OF New York State.
With these ideas uppermost, Mr. Hill, 1t was
made known tonight. has consulted with the
chief owners of the Argus with o view to letting
him do about he pleased with that news
paper. 1t is positively made known that he has
had talks with ex.Gov. Roswell =. Flower, Sena-
tor Murphy. and through his friends Mr.. Hill
has communicated with Anthony N. Brady.
Messrs. Flower, Murphy. and Brady are the
chief owners of the argus.
In q word, Mr.. Hill, in his talks with the rep.
resentative owners of tho argus, desired that he
should be allowed from time to time to direct
the policy of the paper as to Democratic legisla'
tion at Albany this winter. and. in fact to direct
the policy of the paper on any matter affecting
the party.
1t may be stated on the highest authority that
Mr.. Hill request in this matter was perempto-
rily refused. The owners of the Ar0us. those
acquainted with the facts went to say. insist
ed that they were quite competent to direct the
Democratic policy of the paper, and that it would
be most unwise to allow any single Democrat.
even SO distinguished a one as Mr.. Hill,
to have free rein in discussing the management
of the Democratic party in the State. Messrs.
Flower, Murphy. and Brady, it was said, are
personally friendly to Mr.. Hill. but they OBJ
jected in the strongest way to giving him au-
they own.
"Mr. HILL" said Democrat familiar with the
facts. "is not altogether safe man with an edi-
toral pen in his hand. He has made few mis-
takes political speaker. He is considered to
be one of the safest of Democrats on his feet.
In directing the editorial policy of the argus he
| might say things which would not be advanLa-
Reous. Messrs. Flower. Murphy. and Brady
have other Democratic friends besides Mr.. Hill.
| and Mr. Hill would undoubtedly like to carve
| some OF them.
Another point; there other Democrats
| who have the welfare of the party at heart In
| the State besides Mr.. Hill, and he should not be
| officious in telling them what they shall and
| what they shall not do. He should remember
| that he has been greatly honored by the Demo
| cratic party. He was made much of as a
| legislator. He twice Governor of the
| State and was Democratic United States Sen.
| ator for six years. Moreover. the New York
| State delegation at the Chicago National Con-
vention in 1892 presented his name as New
York's Democratic candidate for President.
"His value a Democratic statesman is ap-
preciated, but this story about the Argus demon.
strates to the minds of other Democrats, those
equally as desirous of the advancement of the
party as Mr.. Hill. that other Democrats are
quito as competent to criticise their fellow Dem.
ocrats as Mr.. Hill. For this reason the request
of Mr.. Hill that ne be allowed to have carte
blanche to say anything he pleased in the argus
has been peremptorily refused by the owners OF
| that newspaper"
1t was also said that Mr.. Hills request was
| refused by the owners of the Argus because
they had no desire to allow Mr.. Hill to mako 1t a
distinctively Hill organ.