Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-09-06
Largest Circulation in the District
Reading Matter on Every Page.
WASHINGTON CITY:
sATU September 6, 1873
The Fight i'm Massachusetts.

The contest over the matter whether Gen.
Butler shall or shall not be the republican can
didate for governor in Massachusetts is devel-
oping some bad blood. The circumspect old
Boston Advertiser, designated by Prescott, the
historian, as "the respectable daily" feels
called upon, in its repugnance to Butler, TO
denounce, in very heated terms, the federal
oficeholders, who, IL charges, are manipulating
the machinery to elect Butler delegates to the
state convention That paper, also, charges
that president Grant Is not guiltless IN the
matter" Now, 1t Is very possible that Gen.
Butler, who Is somewhat famous for his coups
of political as well as military strategy, has
enlisted more or less OF the state federal
officers, but ii is altogether unlikely that
any interference on their part in his be-
half has been dictated from Washington.
Gen. Butler has yet somewhat the lead in
delegates for the convention, and as the Wash
burn party threaten TO bolt in case Butler is
nominated il becomes question Of some inter
est what the result will be in case two repubi-
can candidates and democratic candidate are
in the field. The standard republican majority
over the democracy of Massachusetts, has been
in round numbers from 10000 to 10000, and
there has been but little variation from these
figures. In 1854 the republican majority on
Governor was over 10000. In 1865 William
Clafiin's majority over John Quincy Adams
was g. 900. In 1869 there were three candidates
for Governor, Clafin, Adams, and Chamber
lain, boiling republican, when Clsflin had
. 900 majority over Adams, and 1000 over all.
In 1870 there were also three candidates, Claf-
lin, Adams, and Phillips, boiling republican;
Clafiin leading Adams by 81 200 votes, and the
field by 5000. In 1871 four candidates appeared
in the canvass, wsshburn, Adams, Cham
berlain, IN the interest of labor reform,
and Pitman, the champion of prohibition.
Here Washburn was victorious, receiving
y 600 votes more than Adams and leading all
the candidates together by 10 200. Last year in
square canvass between washburn and Bird,
democrat, the majority of the former rolled up
again to 1900. Thus taking the republican
candidates vote in the contests for governor in
1864, 1865 and 1872, it has been steadily about
10000; $4,000 in 1864; $4,000 IN 1868, and
$4,000 in 1872. In the ''off" years, when there
has been no Presid5 atisl contest, the republican
governors vote has been in 1869, "a 900; in 1870,
1900, and in 1871, 1900. In 1869 and in 1870
the boiling republican candidates drew re-
spectiyely Is 900 and 81 900 votes and in 1871 the
two outside candidates drew between them
1900 votes The democratic governors vote in
the Presidential years was, in 1868, 63 200, and
IN 1872, 5000. In 1869 the democratic candi-
cate poled $1,000 votes; in 1870, Il, 200, and in
ISL, AZ Geo.
From all this IL will be seen that the repubH-
can party in Massachusetts, must be nearly
equally divided to give the democracy a chance
to win by tie detection of the washburn men.
As Mr.. Dawes and other prominent opponents
of Gen. Butler announce their purpose to sup.
port the regular nomination, 1t is pretty certain
that if nominated lie will be elected.