The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-18
GEN. BUFFERS NOMINATION.
yyCITIuENT ~ THE MiSSiCHUSETTS
DINOCRITIC CONyEN TION


rr,end. Taking Possession Of the Hall be-
fore sunri.c-rhc state Committee Calling
10, "a New Convention In Fnncuii Hall.
WORCESTER Sept. Before full daylight
his morning party Of Butler mon. who had
not been to- bed at all. left the Bay State House
and proceeded auictyto Mechanics lIall.whcre
the State Conventions OF both parties have been
held for years. They ratified the heavy doors
that opened into the main street. but the bolts
did not yield. Then they went TO the rear OF the
hall and searched in the early dusk for door
that could be forced in or a lock that could DO
picked. With piece Of bent wire one OF the
number managed to open n small door leading
into tho cellar. Once in. the advance guard
CROPPED its way through crooked passages ana
up obscure stairways. and little before 4
O'Clock gathered around the platform In the
groat hall and organized caucus that grew IN
numbers and lasted for more than seven hours.
Messengers were sent in haste to arouse tho
Butler men who slept The corridors OF all the
h,tcls werr secured. Wherever delegate
friendly 20 the General was known to abide. a
laundering rap on the door brought him out OF
bod In amnzement and the whispered words
ave holl the hall; dress and come over this
instant" gave him his first intimauon Of an
adroitly planned coup d't7a'.
At 6 o'clock there werc between three and
four hundred delegates in the hall. some Of
them sleepy. many Of them only hall dressed.
and all u them hungry. yet determined TO hold.
Al any sacrifice OF personal comfort. the ad-
vantage thus gained over the Central Executive
Committee. Mr.. David Bowers Of Springfield
presided throughout this extraordinary meet
ing speeches short and ilcry. and speeches
long and rambling were madn. TO keep the or
eanizatlon alive and tho members awake Tho
eist OF them all was this: The hall was leased
BY our agents the Central Committee. for
Democrat, Convention. Of which We are rcgu-
larry accredited members. We found the door
open an came up. We propose to stay here
unless rut out by force. backed 10y legal au-
thority Va shall stay here until we nominate
Benjamin + Butler for Governor Of Massachu-
Sets" AMI they did.
Il wa thi4 bold move early In the morning
That determined the event Of the day. Tho for
lorn ho.o who forced an el,rance risked in
d!ctmen. 9r burglary because It was the only
method q, prevent q greater wrong.
Last night the Executive Committee, all Of
whom hai made up their minds 10 20 TO any
length ., ~ vent Buffers nomination. resolved
l,seli int returning board. with all that the
name implies. In face Of tie fact that two
thirds u .he delegates elected were Butler men.
they drew up a list Of the officers 81 the Con-
veutiou and another list Of the nominees Of the
Convention and gave out that 10 person would
BE- admitted to the floor who did not hold a
ticket -sued liz them on the morning of tho
Convention. They also gave out That no man
who had signed the Butler circular would be-
regarded by them as a Democrat entitled 20 n
seat Or v9ie IN tne Sp9ye ,i by 1iS
preanlzation and stAe the majority One Of
u 9i bs d By thu efaso oi ca and tSs
pluck of Gen. James NJ; Whitney we will organ
he the onyeu,ion and hold it against Butler
am The pos,essor Of one - the Committees
Eckgs enii9g ine bearer 70 ndmisSo99 to to
steel and bears in fac simlie the bold auto.
graphs Of Judge Edward Avery. Chairman. and
Godfrey Morse Secretary. The money spent
on this engraving was wasted Not one OF
Judge Avery 5 tickets WAS used.
Tie news that the Butler men hold the fort
became generally known Is breakfast time,
AMI was thc cause q much excitement. Judge
Abbott and Gen. Whitney hnrli,d 10 the hui
but did not attempt to enter There was already
dense crowd around tho doors. The members
OF the Committee walked ~" streets debating
what To do. Frank Bird denounced the pro:
ceedings IA the act 81 u mob. and inquired Of
an Interested audience in front Of the Bay state
House whether there were not police enough IN
Worcester to clear out the Butter rioters. Mayor
Pratt was appealed 10. and urged 10 use force II
necessary. A Gordon ot pol,e was drawn
men from getting in. some Of the latter car
ried a alder to an unguarded side and, before
OF recruits. fresh and fortified Win breakfast,
had gained window and joined the besieged
party. Five policemen were lhen stationed at
tho foot Of the ladder, and for two hours tho
siese was eiiectual. The hungry men in the
hail lowered Il rope 10 tbs. ground and hoisted
NJ basS It's and barrels Of bread and butter
cold meat and crockery, brought 10y thought
full allies below. Once proyisi med, the garri-
son In tho hail gained new courage. and there
was a noticeable change, in the tone q their
speeches from flrmness almost 10 defiance
The only man who had ingress 70 the build
tue Mayor of the city. This unhappy official
was 10 sad state Of mind. for he really did not
know what TO do. He mounted the platform in
the hall and was respectfully received by the
Gentlemen" he said. Il find by consulting
the pr0pretor's books that this hal was rented
T. the State Central Commit" 10 be used for
the Convention. You are in possession here
without coming in in the regu al way. III pro-
ter yop ln all your rights lui lal- hall musl be-
Cleared | AK {oq 70 DO ,wih9mi Ga,ling in
prre n when l IGrS G an,e a7 he sd6e a
neryou-y, Without making trouble ike in
81 uni.rstand the Mayor TO say that II we
g. our. wr shall he protected in our right to re-
turn = U-eed J. J. McDnvit OF Boston, Buffers
law partner and right-hand man ia this cam
y replied tho Mayor with some hesita-
t1n. SUPPOSE you can return Il you have
Mr. " Dnyiu-Wm your Honor guarantee tho
VIZ to protect us IN our rights
Nr II Dqyu- But how Is your Honor going
I judge whether We are entitled 20 sli IN tho
Clay"n. lu \ delegate ham ing W written
o im"n, liner" ARE my 'r"dentas, regunr'
" -SueI lY the CHAIRMAN and secretary ~ tho
ca 4-, N4 your Honor .rt me- in On that
HI Honor eNumning tie paIerl-i-e-s.
,.Nu.l- gelcntals were now passed into the
Mayors hands, and he was reluctantly drawn
iAi1 c,yre-aing an opinion "a inclr merits.
He II .nor-I ,hgull der.I. 'A.0 tho gentle
m.n .n lhiI hal WI ar" really 81" trl. the gen
Chairman and secretary. -iu.l be- Permitted 10
FetHrn,, 10y - out nov. -,