Year: 1874

A SURVEY OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS FIELD FROM


THE UTICA POINT or vIEw-MoRGAN, CoNk-


LING, CUsToM-HoUsE. FENToN.


tFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNEl


UTICA. " Y, Aug. 15.-Perhaps in this home of the
Master we know little more about New-York poll
ties at least of the Administration variety, than
your correspondent lately able to gather in Al
bany. 1t is a mistake to suppose that those who
control the Republican machinery have even
yet made up their minds to permit the
denomination of Gov. Dix. On the contrary,
one of the specific objects i'll view when our Sena-
tor left Utica lately and the practice of the profes
sion whereby he lives, to visit Mr.. Murphy and the
President at Long Branch, to consider this very
question: Is or is not the Custom house strong
enough to set at defiance the general desire III the
ranks of the Republican party for the denomination
Of Governor Dix Our Senator took with HIM the
records and reports from the different countieswch
showed conclusIyely that the Custom-house wing
was sure of the control of the Convention
OF course, there must be more OF less
uncertainty about these calculations, since the del
egates are not yet chosen but the rfet quite
warranted in his belief that the gements had
been satisfactorily made, and he was certain of the
control. If the voters could be managed as easily
as the delegates he would haze no doubt Cornell
would at once be put in Governor, with special
friend of the Custom house for
Cornell would then be taken as Senator to succeed
Gov Fenton and the Lieutenant-GOyernOr would
20 into the place for which the managers had at the
outset selected him. But the Administration ana lts
representatives i'll the Custom do not 1eei GER
tain of the State and do believe that Dix IS by all
odds the strongest candidate they can put up Hence
their uncertainty and the anxious consultation at
Long Branch.


There is another element of trouble 1t has cropped
out that the CuStom-hOuse is neither harmonious
nor entirely loyal. Gen. Arthur is an old subor-
duate of Gov Morgans and the stately, deliberate
Ex-Governor, calmly contemplating the scene from
his cottage by the sea at Newport has been at least
ready TO take advantage of any opening which
might seem to present itself. If by any accident
he should be in the field, Mr.. Conklng
could not safely depend on the Collector of
the Port as against his old official chief.
Neither could he depend, in all probability, upon the
Naval Officer Even Mr.. Tom Murphy is said to be
in little bit Of doubt, which he most zeaously
denies i'm public and keeps up tremendous think
ing about in private. He is not certain, III case Gov
Morgan should come into the field, but that
his experience, his money, and his capacity
to make friends, would be more than
match for anything Mr. Conkling might
attempt 1t is only chance, this possibility OF Gov
Morgans temperance III active politics, but 1t is
momentous chance, and politicians of the Murphy
school are not in the least likely TO leave it out of
their calculations


Another unsafe man is Judge Folger. when
he went on the bench it was not through
any willingness to be shelved, and there
not even for day any abandonment of his
original ambition TO become, some time, Senator
from the State of New-York. Various circumstances
have combined to disgust the Judge utterly and en-
tircly with his old friend Senator COnkling. He
has been scarcely prudent more wary poll
tIcans in cOnccaling his disgust; and though 1t is
quite possible that ne may see no opportunity to
move eflectually, and therefore may decide not to
move at all, it is equally certain that he has been
carefully considering the field not with reference to
any chances of his own at present. but 20 the pos
sibility of helping to break the Conkling regime


Meantime the attitude of GJv FentOn is full of
significance. lie is unusually reticent even for him.
aud takes pains to seem more quiet than ever; but
there crop out from under the surface occasional
evidences of cautious but very active work. Lead
ing politicians from various parts of the State
have been summOnedby letter or telegraph to James
town. and the Governors knowledge of what is
going on in the various Assembly and Senatorial
districts is known TO be singularly exact and par
ticular Mr.. COnAling is not ignorant Of this fact,
nor was he ignorant of the Senator'S power when
the famous little billing and cooling scene occurred

in the Senate a few months ago. Astounding as the
suggestion may seem, it is certain that the Long
Branch conference at least considered the feasibility
of making up "A ticket like this;


For Gorernor-ALONzo b. CORNELL.


For Lieutenant GOreTHOF-hEUBEN E. FENTOS.
The blndest man could see what that would mean.
Cornell to 20 to the Senate Fenton TO be Governor
again.


But there is every reason to believe that Mr.. Fen


ton is not likely to be caught in that way. II looks
now as ifhe were preparing to hold the balance of
power in the next Legislature, and to observe
to the Administration managers, with that sweet
and gentle courtesy which always distinguishes
him, that he proposes to return to the Senate him
self with or without their nomination; but that if
it is all the same to them perhaps 1t would be wiser
to decide il by the action OF the regular Republican
caucus.


A great deal of ali this is mere gossip. Nevertheless
it is gossip current in unusually we'll informed cir
cles, and send it u you 1or whatever it may
| to be worth.


~ rY Dol m ~ M