New-York tribune., 1878-09-28
THE FIGHT AT SYRACUSE.

| Some interesting facts in regard to the
bargain which Tammany Hall struck with the
st. Lawrence delegation, in order to get the
control of the Syracuse Convention. are given
below. Both the Tilden and Anti Tilden
parties had made very extensive prepa-
rations for the conflict. Unless Tam
many had entered into this bargain
it would have been beaten in the COnven-
ton from the start and to the end. Most Of
the New-YOrk and Kings County delegates re-
turned home yesterday. Opinions gathered from
among them and from other politicians are
also presented below. 1t is still uncertain
whether Mr.. Tilden or his opponents will
have the majority of the State Committee.
SECRET COMBINATIONS AND INFLUENCE.
PREPARATIONS MADE BY BOTH SIDES FOR THE CON
TEsT-HOw THE ANTI-TMDEN MEN SECURED
THEIR MAJORITY on WEDNESDAY.
IFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRfBUNE.I
SYRACUSE, Sept. 27.-Reviewing the two days
conflict in the Democratic State Convention for the
control of the party in this State perceiyes the
secret combinations, the personal influence which
was exerted by the chiefs of the party on the dele.
gates, the plots and cOunterplots that brought
about the results seen by the public. II IS now
clearly evident that prodgiOus effort was made
by both sides to obtain delegates to the convention.
There not an Assembly district in the State Of
doubtful position in the struggle which was not
visited by agents of the two factions. who
put the local politicians at work TO Sc
cure delegates. The conflict ragged all along
the line of the Erie Canal. Although the
canals are ostensibly managed on reform +"
principles all the appointments of officials have
plainly been made in the Tilden and Robinson in
terest. And this force of workers" has been ex-
Al IL
friendly to that interest. The anti -Tlden men
perceiving this plan summoned to their aid the adj
herents of the old Canal Ring bitterly hostile
to Mr.. Tilden. In nearly all the principal cities
along the line of the canal the anti-Tden and Canal
Ring combination successful. The most con-
spicuous exception was Albany, and even there a
strong contesting delegation was formed But
Jarvis Lord triumphed in Rochester over George
Ranes, Laning captured the Buffalo delegation,
Willard johnson the Oswego delegation, and James
j. Beden rendered such assistance in Syracuse that
although beaten in the convention, Mr.. Tilden's
opponents were enabled to form another
delegation of such plausible regularity as
to permit the State Committee, without blushing
overmuch. to put it the roll of the convention as
the regular delegation"
When the time for holding the State Convention
approached the anti-Tiden majority of the State
Committee selected Syracuse as the place for meet
ing 1t thought that as the headquarters of the
Canal Ring it would be the most favorable place for
holding a convention meant to be hostile to Mr.. Til
den. The anticipation was not disappointed. The
political atmosphere of the place was anti-Tllden
from first to last. All the talk Of Syracuse politi-
clans on the street-corners was unfavOrable to the
Tilden and Robinson combination. Delegates who
ventured to express their preference for that fac
ton publicly in the streets quickly surrounded
Meantime constantly moving about in the
throng, were James J. Belden and Thomas
Gale, the great canal contractors of former years.
Belden was apparently ubiquitous One moment
he would be seen in the Vanderbilt House talking
animatedly with delegates, and five minutes later
was on the stage of the convention keenly watch
ing its proceedings. 1t was by his orders Mayor
of the city that police went upon the floor of the
convention during the confused proceedings of
Wednesday, and by their attempt to silence Smith
NJ Weed nearly provoked riot.
The night before the convention met many mem.
bers of the State Administration, and every
clerk that could be spared from the State Depart
ments at Albany, were in the city Controller 0lcOtt
the three Superintendents of the Canals, State
Treasurer Mackin, d. C. Robinson, the Governors
son and secretary, and Warden Davis of Sing Sing
Prison, were actively at work among the
delegates in behalf of the Tilden and Robinson
combination They met occasionally Secretary Of
State Beach and Deputy Secretary of State Moss at
work in the anti-Tilden interest. Opposed TO the
State Administration there might be seen in the
same crowd laboring vigorously in the anti-Tiden in
terest, almost every Tammany Ofice-hOldeF in the
City of New-York, from Controller Kelly down. IL
was thus evident from the marshalhng of forces
that both the Tilden and the anti-Tilden men saw
that it was to be a mortal conflict.
Naturally the leaders of both factions made o
careful of their supporters and allies during
the night before the convention. To outsiders both
said that they had majority of the entire number
of delegates with regular certificates of election.
The Tilden and Robinson men told the
truth; the anti-Tilden men did not. Even
with Tammany's strong body of sixty-three votes
the latter were in minority. But the Tilden ma
jority was small one, and might be overcome if
some one of the Tilden delegations could be Sc.
duced away from that faction. Casting about fol
some such delegation, the anti-Tilden leaders came
upon that from St. Lawrence. The delegation was
composed of nine supporters of Mr.. Tilden, but
they had a candidate for the office Of Judge Of the
Court of Appeals in Judge Sawyer, resident o.
st. Lawrence County. They were tempted with
profer of the votes of the New-YOrk, Syracuse
Rochester aud Buffalo delegations for Judge Sawyer
If they would vote with the anti-Tilden party.
After little hesitation they accepted the protfer,
and did all in their power to carry out the bargain.
Still, they slightly dstrusted Tammany and did
not put an antTilden representative of their dis
trict on the State Committee until after Tammany
cast its vote for Sawyer. Tammany was in an em
barrassng position for a short time after making
the bargain, owing to promise it had made TO sup
port William C. Ruger, of Syracuse for the nomna-
tion But Mr.. Rugers friends were told that it was
impossible to fulfil the promise, and were earnestly
requested to withdraw his name the following day
so as to leave a clear field for Sawyer. The frends
of Ruger meekly complied. OF course the Tilden