New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-04
CONNECTICUT POLITICS.
THE ACTIVITY OF SENATOR BARNUM.
THE PRESENT CAMPAIGN IN CONNECTICUT IMPORT
ANT TO HIM-HIs MONEY BEING SCATTERED

THE PRESENT CAMPAIGN IN CONNECTICUT IMPORT
ANT TO HIM-HIs MONEY BEING SCATTERED
BROADCAST IN TIE STATE
IRON STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
NEw-HAvEN, Conn.,. Nov. lit is the year OF the
Mnle Buyer. Whether Connecticut goes Republican
or Democratic is very much question oil mules
the supply and price. For the last two years Mr.
YIN. II. Barnum. of the Democratic National Com
mttee, has taken no special interest in the election
of members of the Legislature and the consequence
has been a Republican House and Senate. The
elections have of course been less lively; large ana
wholesome politics have been less discussed In small
and unwholesome groceries; the iiqnor business
generally has been on the retail plan OF indi-
vidual drinks, aud less on the wholesale order OF
guiding by gangs on invitation OF the local COM
mitteeman. In Litchfield County many ballots
rusted unused and uncOunted, for lack OF induce
ments; the mule market dropped, and the mourners
went about the streets. But this year it Is different.
Mr. Barnum has interest in the election-a special
and personal interest. In fact pretty nearly all Oh
his eggs are in the basket. He is giving the
matter his closest personal supervision in
order that they go safely. Not but that
ne is always-whether he Is candidate
or Internationally interested IN the sue
cess of the grand old party and the pro-
motion of those noble principles which he has SO
ably championed through twelve years OF INDUS
triuns absence and conspicuous silence in the House
and Senate Mr.. Barnum is never entirely luxe
warm: he is what the Widow Bedott calls good
Drovider': the State Committee can always count
on him for something. But in year ike THIS lie Is
something moro than mere suOscrloer; he
is canvasser; boon to the state Com
mittee and a benefactor to the race. lie
rises up with the OCCASION and draws MS
wallet as he rises and it may be said OF this
weapon frmer set and better than the bayo-
net" which in the years of Mr.. Barnnms candi-
dacles has "come down" in Litchtield and Fair
field Counties las still as snowfakes on the sod that
in a very literal sense it has executed Mr. Bar
NUNS will "as lightnings do the will of God for
IT has scorched and SCARED the whole region where
il fell till the district has become a by-word for
corruption.
This being Mr.. Barnum's year he put in an early
appearance He was at the State Convention, or
rather at the edge of il. He and senator Eaton
looked over into it from the night beforehand,
and observing that it had already been
captured by the Greenback wing OF the
party. tell back in excellent order. very
much as though they didn't know there was
going to be a convention. But Barnum did not
take the matter to heart seriously In his view the
State Convention is not of the last Importance
this year. 1t is of much more consequence that the
to have "one vacant chair" in the Senate. SO he
has been, personally and by bis committeeman and
agents, uncommonly active for the past three OF
four weeks in arranging the nominations ior the
Legislature in tho several towns
The tactics he is pursuing now are the same as
those developed in the Spring campaign of 1876,
when the Republicans woke up after the votes were
counted to find that nearly every close or doubtful
town in tho State had gone Democratic and given
that party sweeping majority on JOINT ballot III
the Legislature. The close and doubtful towns are
again the objective points OF Senator Barnums
campaign Iu these his shrewd and active copar-
ceners are making their combinations and spending
the money. In no close town this year need the
thirsty citizen go dry or the veual voter with
his palm uncTossed; the Mule Buyer is on
Lis rounds: money is abundant and whiskey
free The Greenback vote enters as a disturbing
element into this and Mr Barnum does not,
on this account, find it so easy to manipulate the
towns and make bis result sure, but wherever II Is
possible bis managers have taken measures to unite
the Greenback and Democratic vote on Legislative
candidates Where from any cause this union cam
not be effected, the effort has been to put in nOmina
ton for the Greenbackers candidates who would be
likely to draw Republican votes, while Tepelling
Democrats An illustration of this plan of proceeding
Ia offered in the WITH (New-Havenl Senatorial Dis
trict, where the Democratic nominee. PluEkett. Is
understood to be about a half Greenback man. The
Greenbackers. however, wOuldnOt indorse his nOmi-
nation but nominated "a former Republican OF Ham
dem Had they put in nomination one of their own
men, in New Haven. where they have their greatest
strength, he would have been likely to receive
enough votes TO endanger Plunketts chances. As
il stands, all OF nearly all the New-Haven Green
hackers who are Democrats will vote for Plunkett,
and give Mr. Baruum one more vote for Senator.
In many places the thing has been :" set " for
eral weeks aud caucuses and candidates all ar
ranged. No pains have been spared by Mr.. Bar
NUNS managers-chief of whom is Dir. Fred Brown,
Chairman Of tho State Committes-to secure the
Legislature. To this everything else is made 10
bend. have heard it whispered. indeed that MI.
Barnums friends in tho lYth Congressional District
are quite willing TO trade off votes for Congressman
for votes for members OF the Legislature and 10 lose
their Congressman to make the Senator's election
sure.
1t seems quite certain that the complexion Of the
Legislature will settle the question of the State off,
GERS az well Senator For if the Greenback party
poll as they now claim 10000 votes, OF even half
that number. coming, as they do. almost entirely
from the Democracy, they will defeat election by
the people and send the choice Of State officers 10
the Legislature The prevailing impression Is that
there will be election by the people In this state
of things Senator Barnum's liberal disbursements
will be equally helpful to himself and the State
ticket. The Democrats very fortunate financially
in having such candidates to draw upon Senator
Barnum. Governor Hubbard. CONGRESSMAN LandoIs.
and their candidate for Northumberland. Mr..
Charles Durand, all Of whom arc men of wealth
and liberal contributors On the Republican State
ticket, David Galnp. the candidate for Lieutenant
Governor is the only man Of wealth, and he 10 I'M
derstOod to be conscientiously opposed to the use
of money to elect himself to any office below that