The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-03
A STRUGGLE FOR POWER.
AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WILL
SOON M SETTLED.
The Plot to surrender the Democratic Oraan-
ization In south Cnroiinu to chm mberluin
and his Republican Atli,s-The Tax Job.

and his Republican AIlps-The Tax Job.
CHARLESTON, :. c., April 20.-Thc Demo-
cratic State Convention, which meets in Colum-
bia. May 4, Is now the centre OF interest In this
state. 1t involves the important issue whether
the manipulate )us OF Chamberlain and his clique
are to control the Democratic party of the State
or not.
The call for the Convection was made by the
old Executive Committee, some Of whom are
shrewd Chamberlain men, and said to be per-
sonally interested IN some of his financial job
berry. The call is "for the purpose Of appointing
delegates to the National Democratic Conve1-
ton to be held in ST. Louis ON the 9th June
next, and to take such further action as tho
Convention shall deem proper and necessary
The last clause was inserted for the purpose OF
giving the Convention the power to nominate a
State ticket. The Chamberlain members had
their ideas, aud the straght-out Democrats very
different ones, "a to what kind OF q ticket should
be placed in nomination. Since then the CHAM
berlain press have made desperate efforts TO sup
press all they could Of the latest charges against
their favOrite, and 70 color the rest ls 10 turn
public sentiment In his favor. Charleston county
was particularly ovorshadowed by this influence.
The rest of the state, where TnE SUS, the Green
vile Neirs. the Columbia Register, and the Au-
gusta. Ca. papers circulated are somewhat bet
ter informed
The State outside OF Charleston has responded
in honest sincerity to the call, adopting resOlu-
tons and electing delegates IN accordance with
them, TO nominate no man except he belongs to
a Democratic club, and to be bound by the
nomination only In case Democrat IS nomi-
mated
In Charleston the case IL different, but the
result u yet doubtful. The call Tor the ineeti ing
of the Democratic ward primaries was but slim
ly attended; only some 300 voters responded.
When Gen. Wagner was nominated last flll for
boted. because they alleged that the WAGNER
vote at the primaries was only 300. aud did not
represent the people. The majority OF the 800
Democrats who voted at the late prlinaries were
Wagner men, for they elected a majority OF
straieht-out delegates to the County Convention.
| Hut the large majority OF the old Wagner party
| did not attend the primaries. Ihey uechned 70
| have anything to do with them upon the ground
power could only be counteracted by the rebhke
| of the state Convention. seven Of the Germans
aud Others VINO were elected To the County tOn-
vention without their consent, declined to
serve. These seven straight-out votes where
therefore lost t. the County Convention out 81
| thirty-siX from tho city notwithstanding mis-
| detection the str icht-outs who were present,
| outvotrd the fu-iuui-ts. Alderman trenholm
| each of the seven resolves was voted down.
| Thus far Il was a straieht-out victory.
But the whole programme had oeen cut and
| dried by the Chamberlain party. After the de-
| feat OF the resolutions Trial Justice ChlsolW .
an appointee Of Cham oerain, moved Tor a com-
Inis was adopted, and Mr.. Cnisoln. as Chair
| man Of the committee, reported the names OF
yention Nominations were made from the
| floor; but the combined personal strength of
| the nominees was too great Tor Individual at
| tack.
| A careful review Of these delegates indicates
| that the result Is set In DOUBT as to the COM
| plexion OF the majority, whether they are
| strlght-Outs or Chamberlain men. Many Of the
straight-,uts will not 4ttend, and their places
| can be nlled to suit circums tances. SHOULD this
be done, and Charleston turn up with Cham
berlnin delegation in the state Convention, IL
will readily he seen how small a real Democrat q
vote tnat delegation will represeDt. IL Will he
only the old Broad street, notification, seces-
sion, Bourbon, REORGANIZATION, rule or ruin
clique which has brought all the troubles Of wal
and fusion on the State.
This clique die hard. They light like stalw art
knights. They have by their diplomacy, IL is
feared, obtained possession Of the new paper,
which Is to appear In NAV. 1t was originated "a
oppose them, and four nfths Of the capital stock
was subscribed with that understanding, but
| they have out-manpuvred, as usual. those who
bear the burden. II will vet be seen what
| course will be pursued by the stockholders
| They have not decided whether 10 start another
paper, or TO make night for this one,
| At the last Legislature Oh Am berlain vetoed
| the tnI bill and had two mills struck out, which
were approi rated TO pay salaries, and necessarl
expenses. tThe consequence IL. that the pay
| ment Of these will stop on the LIST Of June. ac
cOrding to the announcement OF the onicia
journal. These deficiencies will have to be made
| up IN the next tax I'LL, so tue state VIII gar
nothing by the veto. The object Of the vet'
wGs to substitute two-mlll tax to redeem III,
State Bank bills. THIS outrage the Legisl uur,
declined to sanction, because these bills haC
been paid once. hut Chamberlain WAS not 10 o'
dis conccrtei, and $4,000 Of the bills wer,
| rushed IN to pay taxes. and hence the prcmatur,
deficiency In the state Treasury. lie even wen
| further. In the tax blI clause was inscTte,
that oil past due taxes might be paid In TIT
State Bank bills. and lands sold 10 the ; ate o
| forfeited for taxes might be redeemed In thes
bills. This may absorb all the outstanding bills
nd " so, viii prove good job for MI. Cham
| Derlans clients. who have the bills 10 sell.