The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-18
PENIS POLITTCS.
The struggle In the Democratic Party.

From the time Senator Wallace was elected.
he has assumed to be the responsible leader Of
the party in Pennsylvania, and he has gone
into each of the two Conventions which have
been held since then with cut and dried pro-
gramme and carefully prepared slate In
both instances he behaved before the trial of
strength came on. very much rs II he believed
he was carrying the party in his trousers
pocket. But at Eric, in 1915, he WINS not only
beaten, but slaughtered He was charged with
completely in the operations Of the Republican
State Treasury Ring. and with having been. and
being then. the political agent of Tom Scott and
the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad. Now neither the
Ring nor the railroad. "a political machine.
has any friends among the masses Of the DEM
ocratic party; and inusmuch rs Senator Wal
lace appeared unable TO make any satisfactory
answer to these grave charges. the feeling
against him was intense. and his overthrow
seemed complete. But last year at Lancaster
he recovered by various adroit manuuvrcs and
Combinations much of the lost ground gained
us he supposed. control of the delegation To St
Louis. and it was announced through his news
paper organs that he would dispose Of the vot"
of the State. He went there for Hendricks was
handicapped with Hancock. and finally squan-
dcrcd his power in l-adviscd and desperate
efforts to resist the inevitable nomination. Of Mr.
Tildcn. the open secret Of his exceptionally
fierce Opposition being the well-known certainty
that Mir. Tildrn would never append his sigma
turc TO any Of Col. Tom SCOTS subsidy bills.
This year Mr.. Wallace has nm uncommony
heavy contract To execute. 1t Is understood
that he has undertaken 10 protect the Railroad
Ring from any expression of opinion 10y the
Harrisburg Convention against the proposed
Texas Pacific subsidy. This will be very diff
flcult to do. The current OF Democratic scnti
ment in Pennsylvania. rs well as elsewhere
throughout the country. sets very strongly
against all subsidies. and particularly against
the Texas Pacific job. which il popularity and
Justly believed 10 have been at the bottom Of the
electoral fraud. by which the Democracy lost
the fruits OF their national victory at the polls
II is not likely. therefore. that the party here
will separate itself from un body OF the parry
in the country. and rerudiate the ST. Louis
platform and the action oi the Democratic
House of Representatives. merely to further
Col Tom SCOTS gigantic raid on the Treasury.
But Mr.. Wallace J. not EASILY dismaIcd, lie
Is able. indrfat gable. and cunning. He Is in
the field with q full ticket and rs ne Is unduubt
eddy in the Cameronian s"nsc. the host politician
i'm the State IL Is no, imposs bile that he may
nominate it. His slate * boldly announced. and
| Inc delegates are informed in advance that
| their work is done before II is begun. Judge
Turnkey Of Nrnango, for the supreme Ben Ii
Mr. Sche!l Of Bedford, for Auditor General. and
| the names that will 20 through If Mr.. Wallace
| shall b. able To- control the Convention. But
| tnry VIII mol 40 through without ~ severe CON
| test that Will; perhaps. Leave deeper wounds
| than those of oven Erie or Pittsburgh. Mr..
| Wallace however. L. the only man in TIN State
| who has the daring 70 make slate Tor the
| Democratic party. and the struggle. ut Harris
| burg over tllcs" nominations Will be Just what
| 1t has been IN many previous Conventions that
ihc HI Harr T Ring. II Mr. Waiaec had been
prudent. he would not have entered upon this
| light and 1t is more than likely that he would
| moi have done 50 ii he had not been pushed into
| II by those whose Interests he is bound TO
| he
Already the whole brood OF unpleasant romt-
! nsc.nces. which were freely ,ir 'ulaird before
| the Erie Convention. are revived. IL IL said.
| truly enough, that Mr.. WALLACE was elected 10y
the Railroad Ring, 10 do their work and that
| his only real miss ion in tn" Senate II the pass
age oi Cob ; OTIS bun that he was always. from
! the beginning TO the end. the servant of the
! Prnn-l wanna Railroad in TIA" legislature that
| ne was ia" champion 81 INC ninr million steal
| and many other Jobs less famous hut equally
! had; that he WIS on the Finance Committee IN
| legislation b" wanted 10 cover NJ the Rings
| transactions in the public funds that he got
| OrviS appointed and confirmed Judge To re-
| move him from the Legislature and prevent n
| threatened exposure 81 Ring villainlrs that
| when elected Senator there were forty Ring Re-
| pubiicnns vino would have voted tor him ii their
| votes had been necessary; that the Camerons
| celebrated M election with agrand feast ut Don
| Dcmorratir Hous" which refused to invest gate
| the Ring frauds were undcr his control. and
did not dare To- 40 To- tn bottom for fear OF find
| ing him there. and that in all these. and in
| many things similar. lie was altogether uniaith-
II would have been vastly better il these mat
| ters had been allowed To rest. and they would
| have rested and the Convention would not have
! been divided and distracted with them. If Mr.
| Wallace had been content with his Senatorial
| duties. and permitted his party to make Its own
Judge Turnkey is Democratic Judge in n
| Republican district, whore 1t would be the part
| ~ good policy Ia let him remnin. Mr.. Schcll
Is put On the Wallace slate because his nomina-
ton is looked upon as u foregonc CONCLUSION
| any way. He has no sympathy with Texas
! a. TREASURY il in
| Mr.. Wallaccs old Senatorial district. III was
when mcmber Of the Legislature very active
| ON the side of the corporations, especially
the Pennsylvania Railroad Indeed. he il So
prominently identified with that interest that
| many believe hls nomination in the present
state of public feeling toward the Pennsylvania
| hailrnad would seriously rnianger u ticket
| Otherwise absolutely certain of success. Against
| hs private character nothing Nus been, and,
! presume. nothing can hr said. He il simply Il
railroad man IN polite, ana for variety Of
III" opposition to tins Slutf II unOrgnni2rd
and nnlrl. except hy the candid aies themselves
| Mr.. Randall will not be- in the Convention. and
i taking no Jar in the canvass. The fight
| Therefore, ~ | hav" said before. is simply the
| fight of Tia" Democratic party against th. Ring
slate which Mr. Wallace desires 10 impose uI,"n
| H. rho West Will present enthusiastically Mr.
d. q. Barr OF Allegheny for Treasurer. and
against ann the Noyrs mcn. the railroad and the
/ llrg hay" made their greut battle. He was
once once. or twice. believe, the naminoc Of the
financial abilities and experience and Is re-
| E4ri"d hs Wholly lh'olrullhg. amt. ~ the
Treasury Ring. Mr. Powell II Bradford viii
! come in for the same office with a respectable
| following from the northern counties. llri- a
Democrat Wth Republican autr.,drmls: wa a
member of the MSt Congress from district
overwhelmingly R'puhlirnn which Is n sum-
| cirht proof of his popularity at home, lie is a
merchant and banker 81 ruwunla. and + crod-
| t"d wilh the best qualities of the hest class Il
! business mon. HIS friends. like thos" OF Mr..
! lihrr. claim tnAi his nymlNHtlun Would rcNolu-
u"nM ON" ui lhr Erc Il Il 'puNIiD am sirunghohi~.
! For Surrcinc judge mo- nnnr il especially COM
/ sprunus. tn" opposition To Iruukrv would
! pr'h4hy concentrate upon l'hit,drlphin man,
! lur TIE ru's ms urged n Itl of Barr aud
| Powell, u Pm ludolphia shouli u~k h. But lul-
| low has DECLINED. and upon Sh gpurI it s said
/ u" dri"galiun cannot unite. Judsr Ottrrsnn II
IN" city H. talked of. and If candldutt he ms.ht
| possibly SECURE tine domination. But It is safe
! il-lN that So far There l9 hui ono ~lnt. ronl-
| plctod, ami that Will hr battered. IL not broken.
| The Life Of Punk.