New-York tribune., 1879-06-04
THE DEMOCRATS IN A sNARL.

Will be no COdillIOu' I'ioV VNOhi"S a. 'AA0
Democratic candidates were serenaded'
THE DEMOCRATS IN A SNARL.
GOSSIP ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE DIFFER
rNr cANpIDATEs-No INTELLIGENT PREDICTION
POSSIBLE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
CorrMBUs Ohio June 3.-Thc indications for to-
roorrov's Democratic Convention point to close
Oobt between Governor Bishop and General Rice
with General Ewing and General Durbin Ward both
jD the field and holding between them enough votes
20 constitute a balance Of power. The state OF
affairs makes all predictions as to the result rather
wild Ii is never easy 10 fOrcsce the outcome OF Il
three-cornered fight and four-coTnered one Is
hopeessly mixed TO the eve of the most reckless
prophet Besides. there Is an outside element here
which may exert enough influence to comphcatc
the contest further.
The leaders of the Nationals are in secret council
tonight 70 decide whether they viii make an offer
of coalition to the Democrats Their action may
become known in time for later dispatch to IHE
TB,B1-Nr tonight but 1T Will not leak out here
carly enough TO have an influence tonight on the
contendng Democratic factions. Before the con-
smiling GreenbackeIs and theirlmported counsellor
Tuchanan, Of indianapolis, set through with their
meeting all save the most convivial Of the Demo
Gratis will have gone to bed, and the night-owls VIII
not be in a condition TO discuss the new situation
with much intelligence.
All the GTeenbdck chiefs save Stephen johnson
talk against coalition and would seem to be honest
81 their opinions for it is evident that they will
lose their importance as political leaders the mo-
,nent their party is swallowed up. They must pre-
serve the identity of the party if they would pre-
serve their own consequence. They can expect
nothing personally from the Democratic party, for
that party never rewards new converts or stray
sheep who return to its fold. Its hOnors and emou-
ments are always given TO the faithful Those
of the Nationals who como from locah-
ties like Cleveland Toledo, Akron and
Youngstown where they have an organization
strong enough TO WELD some Dowerin local politics.
nre opposed to making any dicker with the Demo-
Gratis tomorrow. The friends OF coalition come
from places where there are too few Nationals to
make the office of leader eitherpIotable or respect
able The only Democrat whom the Nationals men
ton as a candidate under whom a union of the two
parties might possibly be effected isGeneral Ewing
Some Of them say, however, that Ewing forfeited
their confidence when lie went into the Democratic
caucus at Washington and voted for Mr.. Randall
Tor Speaker.
Tie kindly fellow-feeling which most Of the
Nationals have for the Democratic champion of
soft money has the effect of Strengthening Ewing
among the Democrats. Ewings position is pecu-
liar. He Is not an avowed candidate. He is not
here to push his chances. Nobody appears to be
managing a canvass for him. No headquarters
have been opened for him at the hotels. Yet there
Is an evident feeling in the minds of the friends
of other candidates that after the Bishop
and Rice men have given the conven-
ton tree a hard shaking. Ewing may catch the
coon. The Rice greatly prefer him to
Bishop. John G.. Thompson, who is Rice's principal
backer said this evening that he wanted to have il
understood that he is not hostile TO Ewing, and
added that the consideration of the Greenback
support might make Ewing a very available candi-
date. The meaning of this declaration may be in
terpreted to be that if the Thompson clique cannot
beat Bishop with Rice they will be ready to fall
back on Ewing
The uurelentiug hostility Of Thompson and his
followers TO Governor Bishop is one of the curl
ositIes Of Ohio politics According to Bishop. it
arose from the fact that he would not put much
money into their hands they demanded to run
the campaign two years ago, and also from his de-
termination to manage the Office Of Governor him
self, without dictatiOn from them. The Thompson
faction say that Bishop nominated by accident,
has had already far more than he deserves from the
party, and ought to take himself quietly of the
way, 1t is very pretty quarrel from a Republican
point Of view
Governor Bishop does not appear to be as strong
tonight as he did yesterday. lie has not secured
all the Hamilton County delegates although be has
fully three-fourths of them. CuyahOga County,
which he had right to expect would be sOnd for
him. is heavily against hun. When he removed
LcuteBant-Govewor Fitch from the trusteeship Of
tie Northern Ohio Insane Asylum at the dictation
Of Cleveland politicians who wanted TO punish
tltch for opposing their scheme for stealing the
City Government and putting II into the hands of
democratic boards, he was promised as reward
tbe solid vote Of the county delegation.
Now 10 appears that the very politicians
whose favor he thought he had gained among
the most impacable of his enemies. The old gentle
man does not, however, aLate JOt of his courage
on OF his pretcnsiOns TO majority on the first bal
lot. He skips about between his room in the state
House and MS paTloTs al the Neil House lively as
boy, shaking hands with everybody and conf
IDENTIFY claiming the support OF clear majority of
thc convention. Ills son and private secretary
Richard, counts upon $40 votes on the first ballot
winch would be htty-seyen more than enough Tor
nomination.
General Rice does the handshaking and pleasant
chat required of a candidate, and leaves the man
agement Of his canvass 10 that shrewd campaigncr
John G.. Thompson, who carries on the Whispering
huttonhoimg and wirepunp part Of the business
Inc hgurcs 0i the Rice faction for the first ballot
are: Rice, ZG4 Bishop, 249 Ewing, 60 Ward,
60. They expect that ali General Ewing's strength
and more than half Of Wards will come to them on
the second ballot.
General Durbin Ward has small body
Of devoted friends, generally old-school
bard-money Democrats, who call him "a
noble old Roman" and say he has kent
the Jacksonian faith amid all the trials and temp
tatO Of these later years of financial beresv They
are making spirited effort to gain converts to the
idea that lie is the man for the convention TO fake
np 10 harmonic the facti0nal fight Of the Rice and
Bishop elements. They meet with small success
4he convention VIII nave no use for honest
money champion. When the campaign begins Ward
VIII De set 70 work, as m former campaigns making
speeches 10 persuade the haTd-m0ney DemOcratsnOt
10 desert the party lie ought 10 know by this time
thdt the only reward lie can expect for his fidelity
aud hard work is few complimentary votes In
al fo