New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-23
WALLACE SEXES THE LEADERSHIP.

Gratis largely controlled the spirit of the platform.
WALLACE SEXES THE LEADERSHIP.
| lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIBUNE
| LANCASTER. Penn, March 22.-The Democratic
State Convention met at noon to-day. The programme
prearranged by the Wallace faction was carried out
smoothly throughout in most respects. The whole
day was consumed, however, in getting the body
| organized, owing. it would appear, to the inefi-
| cheney of the Committee Credentials, which
caused the entire afternoon to be taken to do what
| is usually accomplished in an hours time. The ma
| terla OF the convention was not nOtccably good
and was below the average Of such assemblies in
recent years. Philadelphia sent rather more than
her usual quota Of roughS and bummers, who made
the atmosphere Of the hotels unwholesome with
oaths and whisky fumes. large proportion of the
country delegates were men wholly new to State
politics. All the recognized party leaders on
hand however, either delegates or outsiders, and
the entire body of Democratic members of the Lcgis-
lature came down from Harrisburg to swell the
| throng.
The issue of the Wallace Randall fight veil Illus
trates the unwillingncss of the Pennsylvania
Democracy to submit TO the continuous leadership
Of any one man. Last year Mr. Wallace went to
Erie with the great prestige Of having just won the
Srnator,hip in the face of the combined opposition
of all hs rivals, He thought it would bc easy to
maupulata the Convention ~ TO pull pair of
old gloves but the Convention rebellcd against his
assumption of dctatoral p,wcrs, broke his slate.
slaughtered every candidate he supported. and in
short, endorsed him in humililting manner His
antagonist Mr.. Randall carried oil all the hOnOrs of
leadership. but he had scarcely got into the saddle
when he ind, himself badly thrown and Wallace
mounted again in his Place. Mr.. Wallace's victory
is substantially complete, lie has kept his rival of
the list Of the four Senatorial delegates. This would
not be ia itself triumph VI much Importance were
it not well understood to- signify that Mr. Randall
has lost - hold upon the party in the State and can
no longer shape lis policy. In the effort 10 osracise
Mr. Randall completely by packing ms district dele
cation with bogus contestants the Wallace faction
did not succeed. Mr. Randall had majority of one
after all the changes made by the Committee on
Credentials. and goes 10 ST. Louis in company with
Alderman McMullcn to represent the District
senator allacc changed his mind last night about
gong to ST. LoniS, and decided 10 take the dclrga-
ton in hand himself, instead OF intrustng the COM
mand 10 any of his lcutenauts. This new decision
was the result of placing Mr. Clymer on the list of
Senatorial dctgatc7 Oh account of his high stand
ing in the party. and his position in Congress. NJ.
Clymcr would have been entitled to the Chairman
ship Of the delegation and although there IL nopuc>
tiol If his hearty support of The Nailace programme,
organizing combinations. and effectively handling
the Pcnu,yy auia forces. To ObyIatc all danger of
the power of the State being FILTERED away through
bungng mana cement. therefore, Mr.. Wallace
Thought II necessary to take position on the dele
CATION.
The dominant feeling Of the Convention on the
Presidential question wa, clearly one of ndccisIon.
The leaning toward Gov. Hendricks was marked,
but nothing like partisan support of his candidacy
was shown, and had a resolution in his favor been
offered IT would have been promptly smothcred. An
apprehension that the events of tho nest three
months might make unavailable any or all of the
candidates now prominent has grown out of the re-
cent exposures AT Washington, aud makes men eau
tion- about committing themselves Many delegates
appeared to have no positive pref rcncrs and those
who declared for Mr.. Hendricks, or Mr.. Thurman,
or Gen. Hancock, or Mr. Davis. usually said that
they wanted the strongest man nominated, whoever
hc may be- Tho four Senatorial dcrga all I'M
dcfstood To be committed To the lirndrick--Cur
programme, and majority Of the district delegates
10 doubt favor IL but the work of sodifyng the
delegation ~ 10 make II vote ~ unit. must be
done AT ~. Louis. II the attempt wcro made now it
would fail account of the prevalent fear If taking
too much stock in any candidate in advance OF the
meeting Of the National Convention.
I he most significant thing in connection with the
Convention was the entire disappearance of the in
Hat ION movement. Few of the men who swept the
party into the soft money mire last year were dele
gates and those who were here preserved discreet
silence. Gen. Brndle, ~ al outsider preached the
greeriback gospel to unwilling hearers on
tho corridors of the Stevens House last night;
but his arguments were almost invariably
received with shrug of the shoulders,
and an impatient reply of We got
enough of tina, doctrine last Fall Frank Hughes.
who crowded the Grio platform through the Erie
Convention although elected delegate, did not
choose to como here and meet the reprnachcs of his
fellow Democrats for the fatal blundcr he led them
into committing. Col Barr. who was the champion of
the grcciback hosts from Western Pennsylvania AZ
Erie, was here but made attempt to rcSurrcct the
rag-moncy hcrcsy. Evidently it is dead a. far rs
PENNSYLVANIA is concerned. The declaration in the
financial plank of the platform in favor Of the repeal
Of the Resumption act is Il response to what is un-
derstood to be the attitude Of the Democratic party
in Congress and to the almost unanimous demand
of the Democratic press of the State. Ii makes the
pill of specie less bitter for tho greenback men to
swallow; but when it is remembered that last year
the Erie Convention voted down proposition to
recognize coin as the proper basis Of currency their
discontinue appears complete
TRANSACTIONS OF TIE CONVENTION.
IBr TgLEiRArn 70 rng rRiDuss.i