New-York tribune., 1877-09-05
PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS.
nnn.r,s prpnRLlCAN CONYENTION.

TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBBNE.l
U.pRIsBURG Penn Sept 4.-TO-morrows hepuo-
Gcan state Convention promises httie besides lou-
zinc and dulness. There is not the usual crowd III
attendance Arriving at noon, found the hocnic,
1fl,so which generally boils over with an elated
tbropg the day before the Convention meets almost
as opiet as usual in Summer time No tokens OF the
arnroacbing event were noticeable, save number
81 ybite placards posted up about the halls. They
,,oro Of two kinds. one reading "Reeders Head
Quarters. Room 90 opposite the parlor," and the
other. "Passmore Headquarters, Rooms Nos lVV
o,d 1O2v These were the visible signs OF the only
contest before the Convention. The two gentlemen
,ho fins conspcuously call attention to their re-
.nectlye lodgings are rival candidates for the once
If State Auditor A few weeks ago, Col Howard 1'
Iceder of EaSton had the field to himself lie was
a Gallant soldier IN the war; is good lawyer "a Roou
,t,,np-Speaker and gentleman. Everybody Hheu
him. and nobody seemed disposed TO stahd Ill INC
Wv of his getting the place he wanted on the
ticket; but a new aspirant suddenly came forward
with the backing of the Camerons or at least OF H.
" Nacl,cv. who has been so long the lieutenant OF
tbo Camerons that he is supposed TO rep
,oso,t them in all political wire-puhngs
Tho new man was Mr.. J. A. NJ. Passmore
ofScbuvlkill County, a gentleman of good repute'
lint of less prominence than his opponent. As COL
Reeder is from Northampton, only one county
separates the two rivals so there is no local lcehS
for either IN appeal to- as between Easton, Western
and Middle Pennsylvania.
At first il was not easy to find rea-
son for Mr. Mackey's activity IN behalf
Of Mr.. Passmore 1t looked little mysterious
That there was reason at the bottom OF
il everybody knew, and at last what IS at
least good guess was made. Inc nominee
for State Treasurer viii be Mr. Hart now the chief
assistant i'm the Office That everybody comedies.
Now Mr.. Hart is a devoted friend of Gov Hart
ranft; so is Col. Reeder. Two years hence Don
Cameron's term as successor to his father in the
United states Senate expires. The Governors pop
,larity troubles him. it is said Suppose Gov. Hart
roDft. Who is getting stronger every year, should
break with.the Canerons and make a push for the
Sengtorsup himself I'm view of this possibility
Don Cameron is supposed to think that it would be
we'll not 10 have all the State Offices filled with
ardent partisans of the Governor lie has
no,hiue AGAINST the gallant young Colonel
from Easton, but Rcoder is too friendly with Gov.
Hastrauft and So Mr. Mackey is instructed TO bring
ont man to beat HIM. This at least, Is the current
explanation Of Alr PassmoTe's powerful and proba-
blv successful candidacy. Apar, from this contest
over the Authorship, which is Of no consequence
save for the significance attached to lt-ior both
contestants are good men-the making of the state
head the ticket as the nominee for the vacancy
ON the Supreme Court bench. lie las made
an able and upright Judge, and his noinina-
tiOn is demanded by the unanimous voice
of the party Treasurer Henry Rawle
does not desire a nomination and the force OF Civil
Service IDEAS is shown by the fact that Capt Hart,
of Montgomery County, the Cashier who has done
the hard work of the Treasurer'5 Office, has no
serious opposition as a candidate for the tile and
honor Of his chief. Dr. +. G. Fahnestock, Of Adams
County is candidate, but VIII get only small
local complimentary vote.
have spoken before of the small atten dance.
This evening here is a fair crowd. bUt | Doubt if
there are fifty men here beside the delegates. Per
haps the Presidents order to otce-hoIders has some
thing 10 do with the slimness of the gathering. l
miss many familiar faces seen regularly at state
Conventions for four or five years past. Evidently
the small Federal officials are not here and the big
ones. II they come 10 look on. viii refrain from
openly troubling the waters this year. We shall not
again witness the spectacle Of Collector of Gus
toms preparing the platform and instructng the
delegate, before they called to order as 90 all the
motions they expected 10 Obediently 90 through
The Presidents order is exceedingly unpopular
among all the active politicians and ii 1t has any
friends they are found among the quiet country del
cgate- fresh in State politics and too modest to talk
mdch III is far more unpopular thah thc southern
policy. Opposition to the latter, which was
active and severe when it found express
zion, about three months ago, in the Teso-
mtions Of the County Conventions in Phil
adclphia Lancaster, Allegheny and Bradford
Counties has now faded out to lethargic sentiment.
The President is to be endorsed. Even the Cameron
men agree TO that and the only question is whether
il shall be done with mild and studied phrase, or
in q hearty, manly fashion The delegates who
would like to pass the President over in cOntemptu-
ous silence are neither numerous nor influential,
while those who want a square endorsement are met
with al every turn. Powerful as the CamerOns
win be in the Convention, it may well be
doubted whether they could get the body to
give the Administration any sort Of a hostile
thrust, if they desired. Ii seems plain now that
they 90 not desire to throw the Republican party
Of Pennsylvania out OF friendly accord with the
President. Whatever may be their own ideas
about his policy. and their feelings certainly do not
flow out with the sweetness o. milk and honey they
too sagacous politicians to spoil their own future
plans because of little present spite. Senator Don
Cameron wants TO be returned TO the Senate and
giving the Democrats the prestige of victory tins
year is not the way to carry the Legislature.
As TO the platform outside Of Reimbursement of
the President it will probably b Ii' ort and plain
spokeu-so the men who at Gls on it tonight
say. IL could not well be worse nd IN the platform
adopted by the Democrats few dal ago. and 1t will
undoubtedly be great deal better Gov. Hartranft's
energetic course in suppressng the riots and main
tanning order will be commended, and the enforce
ment Of the laws viii be put before any talk about
the rights OF wrongs of labor. Something must Of
D. LII Int il