New-York tribune., 1874-08-26
GENERAL POLITICAL NEWS.
THE PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRACY.

| "AiHERfNG OF THE DELEGATES TO THE STATE con-
| VENTIoN IN PIrTsBURGH--GENERALA APPEARANCE
! or EARNEsTNRss- AND NOT MBN-A
HARD-MoNEY POLICY TO BE ADvOCATED-TuE
| CHIEF STRUGGLE FOR THE SUPREME COURT
| JUDGE-PRoMINENT CANDIDATES.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUyEl
| PITTSBURGH, Pa. Aug. 25.-About three-fourths of
| the delegates to the Democratic State Convention
Which meets tomorrow already on the ground,
accompanied by large throng of outsiders from all
parts of the Commonwealth. Included in one class
| or the other, are many prominent Democratic poll
tlcians. The interest taken in the Convention is un-
usually great. and owing largely to two causes
| the recent Democratic successes in hther states,
which have energzed the party and tine fact that the
candidate to be selected for Supreme Judge is GER
| tain of election.
/ The personnel of the Convention, Judging from
| the delegates now here, will be in marked and
favorable contrast to that of similar bodies which
have met in recent years. 1t is matter of general
remark that the solid of the party are present
in surprisingly large numbers. Another noteworthy
fact, aud one which results from the attendance i'll
such force of the respectable and intelligent element
OF the Democracy, is that the natural and neces-
sary struggles going on among the friends Of the
different candidates does not absorb all the atten-
ton Of the delegates. Many of the strongest men
say that they very little for the nominations.
provided they fall to persons of known capacity
and character, but that they are here to make a
platform which shall be honest, courageous, and
PATRIOTIC; which shall be as unlike as possible the
trimming, shilly-shalying, double-meaning utter
ances Of recent conventions of both parties.
The chief plank in the platform, they insist, shall
be unequivocal declaration against further inila
ton of the paper currency and in favor OF a speedy
return to specie payments. The indications are to-
night that resolution to this effect will be adopted
Among it's earnest advocates are such men as ex-
Senator Buckalew, Congressman Randall and
Clymer, and ex-Congressman Boyer. The only op-
position to it comes from few Granger delegates
from the western counties who are infected with
the cheap money insanity. 1t is not impossible that
the financial resolution will 90 a little further IN
the line of relteratng the old hard money doctrine
Of the Pennsylvania Democracy, and will declare
that the faith of the country is pledged to the pay
ment of the National debt in gold. square hard
money platform it is argued, will tone up the party
all over the country aud put it in fighting trim
for 1876.
AS to other questions, it is probable that the res
olutions will assert the distinctive Democratic theo
ry of opposition to centrazing power in the General
Government will charge the prevailing disturbances
in the South to the policy and acts of the Repub-
licans. and will condemn in good round terms the
most patent sins of Grants Administration.
Coming down TO the question of candidates, the
Supreme Court Judgship is the paramount issue.
There are bakers dozen of aspirants for the i'm
portant place but only five among them promise TO
show any strength outside their own counties.
Judge Ludlow of the Common Pleas Bench of Phila-
delphia has the support of neatly all the city dele
gates. The principal argument against him Is that
| his election would put Republican in the office he
| now holds The chief strength of &. NJ. Dallas of
Philadelphia is the delegations from Allegheny and
| Schuylkill in which counties he formerly resided
II. L. Ross of Bucks County is backed by the poll
| titians of the Legislature. aud by dele
| gates from the northwestern counties War
| rem j. Woodward of Berks County has
about so delegates from Eastern counties
| Judge Turnkey of the Venango Common Pleas is
the only strong western candidate but he is open
to the same objection that is urged against Ludlow,
and to the additional of locality, three out OF
| the five Supreme Judges being already from the
western part of the State. In the midst OF the am
| mated struggle going on between the partisans OF
these candidates. not word is said against the in
tegIity OF ability Of either of the five, fact that
speaks volumes in their praise Each will have
from 40 to so votes the first ballot the result OF
subsequent ballots cannot be predicted
For the other officers the ticket there are can
ddates enough but no active work is being done
for them. For Lieutenant-Governor, Richard Coul-
| ter of Westmoreand Jacob Zeigler of Butler
Daniel Kane of Fayette. and w. H. Snowden OF
Lebieh are prominent. For Auditor Gen. James Z.
Barr of The Pittsburgh Post is spoken of, and for
Secretary of Internal Affairs o NJ Clark of Indiana
| Thos n. Brooks of Crawford and Chas. Brodhead
| of Schuylkll are mentioned. The usual amount OF
caucusing and consultation is going on tonight
As the whole fight is on the Judgeship there is how
ever little if any trading between the supporters of
| candidate for other offices.