Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-25
PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS.

A SLUGGISH CAMPAIGN-THE DEMOCRACY pENoR-
ALIzED-THE RAG BABY DID T-How THE RE-
PUBLICANS ESCAPED DEFEAT LAST YEAR-THEY
CLAIM THE STATE BY 5000 MAJORITY-THE
RANDALL-wALLACE QuARREL-THE REPUBLI-
CANS SOLID FOR GRANT-BAYARD FIRST FAVOR
ITE OF THE DEMOCRATS.
Correspondence OF the Sfar.l
PHILADELPHIA. October a. 1879
We are having the quietest political campaign
this state has ever seen. People appear to be deep
lynterested in what's going on in politics. but the
managers of the two great parties seem to think
it not necessary to put forth any special efforts
to bring out the voters. We have only one state
officer to elect-a treasurer-and the position Is
OF so little Importance that neither party cares
70 run big canvass to secure 1t. Were 1t no
taken this.state would hardly poll half her usual
vote In the coming election. The democratic
party here is in a condition of bad demoraliza
u0n. A year ago 1t was in splendid trim. as ii
went into the gubernatorial fight to win hut n
was not only defeated, but defeated badly, and
mas since shown no signs of a vigorous life It
were exhibiting signs of disgust with the repub-
ncan ring rule, but it fell into bad leadership
ana the defeat ended in complete demoraliZa,
tion.
RUNNING AFTER THE GREENBAKERs.
The cause was the stand the party took on the
currency question. Senator Wallace and Speaker
Randall were in command, and they thought the
their time in running after the greenbackers and
making combinations with them on all of the
local tickets, and 1t was not until within week
Of the election that they realized their mistake
They then sent for Senator Bayard, who made a
hard-money speech at rouSng- meeting In
Philadelphia, and they followed this up with an
effort to disentangle themselves from their
grenback allianceS-but it was too late. The re-
publfcans, on the other hand, came out for hard
money, and the currency question at once be-
came the issue of the canvass. state matters
Gifrlnt nf
ncanS to cover up their shortcomings in their
management of the state officers and escaping
what otherwise would have been sure defeat.
WHAT THE REPUBLICANS CLAIM.
In the pending canvass the people think Of
nothing but the questions which have been
made of national Importance. The republican
managers say that they expect to carry the
state by a good majority-say about 25, ,O0O
They calm that they could double these figures
by making lively campaign, but 1t is not
deemed necessary, since the result in Ohio has
completely extinguished what little life there
was left In the democratic canvass In this city,
the republican stronghold of the state the ''rIng
slate" ticket for the three important and lucra-
tive offices-of sheriff. register of wills and trea-
Surer-waS thrown overheard and men placed
in nomination who have the confidence of the
community, and will receive the full support OF
their party. The democracy have also placed
frst-clasS citizens in nomination for these Of
fees, but it is f0rlorn hope with them. And
then, in addition, the democrats here are badly
ulflutu Ill tltlI JIty are
In hopeless minority they have gone so far in
their quarrel as to have two campaign commit
tees, each contending that 1t IS the reg
ular one. One faction attaches itself to
the cause Of Speaker Randall, who is
for Tilden, and the other faction serves under
the banner of Senator Wallace, who IS for
Bayard, or for any one to break dawn RandalPs
power. 1t seems odd that these factions should
fight each other so bitterly when their chances
for obtaining any Of the city offices are so hope
less but it must be remembered that they are
looking into the future. They see the big fede-
raj offices here, with their comfortable salaries
and several thousand appointments. These are
what they are after. If 1flden WINS Randall will
boss them all II it is not Tilden, then Wallace
and his friends will come In for share OF the
spoils. The democratic managers do not claim
that they have any hope of carrying the state.
They say that their ticket will come to Philadel-
thousand, and that Philadelphia will not give the
republican ticket over Is, 600. This reckoning
would give the republicans from 1000 to 10000
majority.
WITH REGARD TO THE NEXT PRESIDENCY
the republicans are evidently solid for Grant,
with Blaine as second choice Sherman has no
following excepting among the officials who are
responsible to his department, and, strange as it
may seem, they are men without the slightest
political influence. They were put in Office at
the time when the administration was going to
stick close to civil service reform, and they were
selected because they were not politicians.
With the rank and file of the democracy Bay
ard is the strong favorite, with Hancock and
Mcclellan good second and third. Tilden has
no friends excepting among the leaders, who
the money to give them to carry on cam
naipn. d.,