Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-21
THE SARATOGA SNARL
New York Democrats Contend
All Night Over Office.
GAME OF HIDE ANDSEEK
BoOMS FOR GUBERNAToRIAI
NOMINATION PUNcTURED.
Tammany Force Exploits It's Feuds
pportunely-Leaders Would
Indorse Grout.
Special From a Stafr CORRESPONDENT

| special From a STAFF Correspondent
| SARATOGA, N Y. September 21-Af
| 8 O'Clock this morning the democratic
leaders were still in conference and dead
| locked over the selection of a candidate for
| governor. Some one suggested that a sleep
| might help straighten out the problem, and
, they adjourned with the understanding that
| McCarren, Victor ]. Bowling and William
| r. Sheehan should meet at o'clock and at
| tempt to compose the differences, reporting
to conference of all the leaders later i'm
| the morning
All yesterday afternoon and all through
! the night the bosses were at odds over the
nrst place on the ticket. Boom after boom
came up and was demolished. The Horn
blower boom presented by Tammany was
punctured by David B. Hill. He intimated
| that Mr.. Murphy must have taken him for
simpleton to think that he would con-
sent to Hornblower's nomination.
Factions All at Sea-
Then the same old game of hide and seek
between the factions was taken up again.
Tammany resumed its favorite attitude of
paying more attention to its own feuds
| than to any other consideration in the
game: Just as Mr. Murphy refused to act
| with McCarren a committee of escort in
| the convention, so the Tammanytes de-
clined to have anything to do with any
| proposition with which McCarren was af-
| firmatively associated.
| The leaders were ready to take Grout at
any time during the day. They pointed out
| that Tammany's opposition to Grout was
unreasonable because Grout had been the
candidate of Chas. F. Murphys own selec-
| ton for the office of controller of New York
city. They called attention that in pre-
vious election Mr.. Grout had received the
votes of republicans democrats and REFORM
ers for the same office and that he would
be strong drawing card to attract the In
dependent vote in this fight against Odell-
ism which the democrats intend to make.
Tammany Asserts Its Power.
But, no. Tammany would not have It.
because Mr. McCarren, Tammanys foe,
was against it.. If McCarren should be all
lowed to get away with the governorship,
where would Tammany's prestige be In
Kings county, where Mr. Murphy has f1f-
teen out Of the sixty-three delegates.
You can see. how the game Is one OF seIt.
interest all the way through, ana thaI
each little faction is looking first TO !ts
own selfish interests and permitting the
larger prospects OF the party to run sec
ond and not a very close second at that.
The demeanor of Charles F. Murphy All
through the night conferences was de-
scribed as one of sullenness. He did nos
make any threats about cutting the ucket,
but sat moody, silent most OF the ume
knew too well what his manner meant.
They were fully aware that the solid vote
of New York city democracy must be op-
tanned to Offset the state republican VOTE
and that Tammany would have to see 10
II that the booths below the Harlem bridge
must roll up something like the plurality
they gave Coler two years ago II this elec-
ton is to be won
Sheehan Talks for Parker.
Sheehan had Judge Parker over the long
distance phone half dozen times in the
night That kindly and mild-manneied
gentleman counseled moderation and har-
mony. He thought there surely must ba
some candidate upon whom all factions
could agree and avoid an open breach IN
the party when there seemed TO be a pros-
pect for success.
Then Mr. Sheehan told him how the Her
rick BOOM the Palmer boom, the SHEPPARD
boom and all the little boomlets had been
strangled, tomahawked or allowed to Ji6
of inanition at the hands of the factions,
and the good judge heaved deep sigh.
But he urged Sheehan to try again and to
keep on compromising, moderating and
planning while still hoping for way out.
Sleep Did Not Assist Conference.
When o'clock came this morning the
conferees did not meet Sheehan waited
in his room for an hour and still they
failed to gather. In the meantime he had
Judge Parker on the phone again.
Judge Parker refused to interfere in tho
fight, or to express preference for any
candidate.
Mr.. Sheehan asked him If he would allow
ii to be said that he approved the Grout
BOOM The judge replied that he would
not give his approval to Grovt's candidacy
if a considerable portion OF the demo-
resented by Tammany Leader Murphy, was
opposed to it.
Shortly after 0 clock Mr.. Sheehan came
down and announced to the anxious in
quirers that at that hour there was no
change in the situation, and that nothing
definite was In sight.
Closeted With Mr. Hill.
AT 10 O'Clock Mr. Hill, Mr.. Sheehan and
Mr.. McCarren closeted themselves in Mr..
Hills room and tried to thresh out a pro-
gram which would be successfully carried
out.
When they emerged Mr.. McCarren's jaw
was set and he looked grimly deter mined.
IT have not changed my mind about this
thing" he said. II am still for Grout and
believe we can get him..
I'VE are still negotiating, said Mr.. Hill,
land l hope we can get together.
McCarren Serves Notice.
McCarren has served notice on Hill and
Sheehan that he would take the contest on
to the floor of the convention IL necessary.
and he adds that they knew he would make
a good fight of it,
While these leaders were upstairs sweat
ing blood over the situation Tammany
Leader Murphy was parading the street at
the head of Tammany braves with a band
and escorting a large banner proposing
George B. Mcclellan for governor. 1t was
his artless Tammanyesque way of serving
notice on Hill that Murphy was still on
earth and capable of making trouole.
Morning Propositions Failed.
Every alternative proposed this morning
up to 10 O'Clock fell through and Grout
continued to be in the lead. They sug-
gested Martin w. Littleton of Brooklyn,
but Victor ]. Bowling, Murphy's leuten-
ant, said that Littleton was not big enough.
They suggested Herrick again and Hill
pointed out that the Albany county people
wanted Herrick for the bench.
Conference Three Hours
After three hours of hard work the con-
ference of leaders broke up at ~ o'cloch