The Morning herald., 1876-05-06
JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE.


publican politics have assumed in Whining
ton and promise to be. Just one week from
to-day the election of delegates to the State
Conventions to send delegates to Cincinnati
takes place at Dover, and the cauldron has
begun to bubble already. A bitter war is
fore Swallowed, and everything looks in q
most promising condition for the revival of
factionol teuds. That strategy in politics
technically known as "wire pulling" has
begun earnestly, and out of the N ist Of ex-
element has been evolved the names of
James Scott and Washington Hastings as
the gentlemen who wish to serve their State
at Cincinnati. They have both entrenched
themselves behind their lines of defense and
the contest bids fair to be one of unusual
interest and withthat intensity of enthusiasm
and excitement which generally accom-
panieS such things.
Mr.. Pickelsis "out of politics." the bat
tie SCARED veteren of so many encounters
is merely spectator, although he is ready
for anything that may occur. Many of the
heroes of the old ring have frightened up
their war clubs, and daily consult the po-
lltical barometer 10 see what 1t marks
Thus far it marks nothing definitely and
until next Saturday it will be hard to tell
what the temperature is exactly or approx
mately Both. factions are. sanguine, and
as both are confident, we have arrived at
the conclusion that it is one of those In
stances, "where ignorance is bliss it were
folly to be WISE" Next Saturday the big
trump shall sound, and the corpse, Who
ever it is, will be shrouded at Dover, and
put down in the vaults with the others that
will be elected to stay at Home.
A reporter of THE HERALD gained the
following from Hastings man: Mr.. Scott
has shown, no special prominence in
politics unless in 1878, when he made
war upon the denomination of Mr.. H. F.
Pickles in the Fifth Ward He and his
allies were out-generaled in this effort and
Mr.. Pickles received the nomination. Then
it was that Mr.. Scott evinced the strength
of his bitterness, bolted the nomination and
coalesced with the Democrats, bringing
with him his flock for the suppost of s. N.
Pusey as an independent candidate. He
worked with unremitting industry all day
at the polls, but even then Mr.. Pickles was
successful by a greatly reduced majority.
He has personal following which gives
him strength especially in the Third Ward
| where his son and brother reside. Notwith-
standing all this, he has the support of the
Pickels faction or rather the leaders inclu-
ding G. II. Gallagher, ana the 1Oiiowing
Government employees: Frank Nolen, l. j.
Jenkins, James l.. Hawkins and j. I.
Stroud. These men constitute the frag-
ments of the Pickles u Gallagher working
force or what was known in 1874 as the
"City Ring"
The principal support is from these men,
and Galla- her is working actively, though
in secret. Mr.. Pickels il in sort OF posi-
tiOn which would, as he describes it, indi-
cate that he il stradling the fence with p
! brick in his hat, that is, declares himself
9 Out ofPolitics,' but how often has he .eid
This, and turned up where he was not ex-
pected. 1t is different now, though, ana
what he says can DC relied on. He ami Mr.
Hastings are both MoShodists; they atten'
devo. o.ional exercises every Suriay at Giacc
Church. But men can DC brothers in reli-
giOn, and enemies in politics. Mr. Has.ipys
was against the ring tooth and nail, AM
therefore Mr.. Pickels and Mr.. Hastings, are
different politically what they are rei
giously. Mr.. Scott incurred Mr.. Pickles
enmity when he made the vigorous fgh:
against him in 1873, and the breach has
never been healed. And so strong are his
feelings in the matter that he has scvera,
liuAVo ouSSVbGCu " NOu uPIo"ioC SoAuludtC3
but on account of associations with old
friends he has given more or less support to
Scott.
1t is said that four-fifths OF the strength
oflhis remnant of the "C.ty Ring" is in
the colored vote, which they con; rolled il,
1874 when they made the nomination for
Governor, and carried nearly all the dele
gates. They have also used it in nomina-
tions for Council, and it is claimed that the
very character Of these nominations led
to the independent movement in the Seventh
ward, when VIM. NJ. Candy was elected to
Council, and the Republicans were uncx
pectedly defeated in other wards. Mr..
Hastings is Republican, is ore
of the members of the State
Central Committee and president of the
Republican Club in this city. The prin-
cipal argument against him is that the part
he took in the election of Mr.. Candy LED
10 the Democratic successes. The friends
of Mr.. Hastings claim large majority OF
the white votes in his favor. being from
two-thirds to four-ffths of the white Re-
publican vote of the city.
There will be seventy -eightdelegates from
this county at the Dover Convention, and out
Of this number forty will be from this city
By party usage of the six delegates Of the
State, two will be given each county, and OF
these two, one will be allowed to the city,
and one to the outside. They will be Sc
lected in the county caucus when the dele
gates get to Dover, on the day of the State
Convention. The County Representatives
it is claimed are opposed to the old ring and
any candidate 1t may coalesce with or pro-
pose, and therefore unless Scott can carry
the city almost solidly, he will stand very
poor show of election.
One ofthe reasons assigned for the par
tiality Of the old ring to Mr.. Scott, is that
in 1874 the old ring in consideration Of Mr..
Levi G. Bird going with them for Dr.
Jump, promised to nominate him in 1876
for Congress, and as Messrs. Scott and Bird |
are intimate, this favor to Mr.. Scott Is 4 |
4