The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-08
NEW INTRIGUE IN WasHINoroM
Mr.. Wallace Attempting TO Capture the
Democratic Party.

move was in the interest Of an intrigue which
mas been and still IL actively carried on in the
interest OF u candidate for the Democratic NOM
nation in $780, Tho prominent intrigucr in
this game was aud is Senator Wallace Of Penn
sylvania. Ho WINS and is supported by few
active Senators and Representatives, who insist
that the next Democratic candidate for Prcsi-
dent shall be a Western man. who is more in
sympathy with tho theories Of finance which
prevail in that section than any Eastern man
can possibly be.
Senator Wallace Is. and was, the Chairman OF
the Democratic Senate caucus and Of the Joint
caucus committee of the two Houses. The
caucus committee last winter determined that
it would assume control Of political rs well as OF
legislative matters. Tho Congressional Cam
pagn Committee consented to this. md the
two acting together. decided to appoint a Ma
tional Democratic Campaign Committee OF
twenty-one persons. which wns accordingly
done. The object Of this was TO practically SUI
persedo the National Democratic Committee
which is the only representative OF the National
Democratic party IL was. In other words an
attempt TO revive the Congressional caucus sys-
tenn which fell into deserved disrepute after tho
l.Irssaisntipl cappskgIoL> 1920 Since .tAe sub
sttution OF the national convention Tor the
Congressional caucus the influence Of Senators
politics steadily declined until 1t was scarcely
matter OF the slightest moment who Congress
men favored for national candidates. A more
| signal illustration OF the insignincance Of Con-
gressonal preferences for national candidates
could not be mag ned than the result Of the last
National Convention affords. l speak strictly
| within bounds and from an intimate acquant-
ancc Of the facts when say that two weeks be-
foro the last National Democratic Convention
met. not more than score OF Democratic Con-
| gressmcn thought II possible that Mr. Tllden
| could be nominated. and not more than half
| that number favored his nomination.
A number OF Congressman of the Democratic
| faith are determined that hereafter their in;
nuence in national politics shall be factor and
not a cipher. In point of numbers and political
| experience this combination is quite respect
able 1t aims more particularly at a political
alliance between the Southwest and West. but
| the most active and adroit iniriguer engaged
| in the undertaking is Senator WALLACE OF Penn
| Rylvana. 1t includes several of the Democratic
| Congressmen from Virginia. one Senator from
| West Virginia, and has several sympathizers
| from the Atlantic and Gull southern States: The
| chief argument Of these politicians IL wholesale
| dcnunciation OF New York politicians and East
ern influences. They assert that there 10 no
| Interest in common between the South and
| West and the East. The East Expresses the
South and West by its cTactions Of revenue, and
| destroys the industrial interests Of these sec
| tiOns by its financial theory. The chief evil Of
! the Republican domination, aside from its sec
| tOnal Legislation. which was born OF tho war was
It's discrimination in favor OF the East The i'm
| portant committees Of the House and the Senate
| Tor years were controlled either 10y Eastern men
| or men entirely in sympathy with Eastern CAPT.
| talists. The special grievance OF the South ia
that she has never had her fair proportion Of
| appropriations Tor informal Improvement. and
! that the moneys eNpeni sd for rivers and har.
bors and public buildings have been swallowed
up by the Eastern and Middle States There is
| n disposition On the part OF Eastern Democrats
| 70 follow in the same limo 81 policy. or else in
| tercsts have been benefited to tho full extent
possible by Government aid to great nat lonal
works. 70 oppose al! appropriatQns which tho
Then. again. Il Ia urged with much violence. II
| not logic. that New York has furnished every
Democratic candidate for President since 1860,
and she has had more than her share. II ~
| harmony among Nav York Democrats and
| tho Empire state unless nomination is maze
from another state But the logic Of the oppo-
| not represent the interests Of the South and
| West, and that n tho contest Of 1850 the South
| and West ara 10 furnish the votes TO elect the
| Democratic candidate for President.
The effort to revive the power. OF the Congress
BY the movement TO establish hero u national
| campaign committee, which would virtually
| nsurp the tunclons OF the National Democratic
committee IN the conduct 81 future campaigns.
IL WINS asserted that atterth national campaign
~ 1876 terminated. the sole remaining duty Of
] the National Committee was O. FIX the time and
palre ct the meeting Of tho National Convention
in 1850. The intrigue was mainly managed
by senator Wallace. who was Chairman
OF tho Joint Democratic Caucus Committee
Of tho two Houses There was concerted action
in tho same direction boy the Democratic Con-
ErcssionRl Campaign Committee. appointed hy
! the joint Caucus Committee. After all the plans
of these intriguers had matured A. they thought
To their entire satisfaction, tho Hon. W. II. Bar
mum. Chairman OF the National Democratic
Committee. with his Executive Committee
stepped in and suggested that inasmuch ~ the
National Committee was expected TO furnish, II
not all. the greatest part II the sinews Of war
he thought 1t would ho well 10 allow the EXecu-
tive Committee. which was the working part OF
the National Committee. voice in the arrange
mont. He proposed that the two committee
should work together In perfect harmony. They
had a common ohlect-the success Of the Demo
cratic party. and therefore they ought to have d
common purpose. This was reasonable. and
could not well be- objected to. He proposed thai
the National Campaign Committee appoint an
Executive Committee 10 aid the Executive Com
acceded to. il could not we'll be contested
The two Executive Committees met and organ,
lied 10y the election OF Barnum rs Chairman
Sergeant-nt. Arms THOMPSON as Treasurer, ant
Duncan 5. Walker as Secretary. Barnum anC
Thompson are members 81 tho Executive Com
| was the Secretary Of tho late Congressional
Campaign Committee. The Joint Executiv,
Committee has =" the immediate supervision o
party management and therefore II seem,
that Mr. Barnum rather stole a march upon tn,
| Congressman who were intriguing To- revive tn,
long forgotten prestige of the caucus system.
IL would, however, be q very great mis-
take to infer, from what have. heretofore
set forth that Mr.. Barnum Is or will be the-rep
rcsentatiye q any man or section. lie has nu
on, obiec!.Ithe success Of the, party-and ht
UlNlip is l-Nl W. uhulluhlt NNt man IN lcNl
who can win. and then elect him"
( There IS doubtless some dissatisfaction q
the course the affairs Of the party have taken
and the intrigue in the interest Of Western
man for the candidate Of the Democratic part,
IN 1850 with an Eastern mnn-possby from
PennsylyaniR-for Nice-presidcnt still goes on
In this category II IL Interesting to know tina
Hendricks is not tho Western man who is II
favor with the would be Congressional dictator
q nominations for 1880 1t is pretty clear tina
Mr.. Hendricks has not even the supper
OF the Senators from his own State. Surprisin.
MS II may seem, Mr. Voorhees, has Presidenta
aspirations himself. Wri-lnformed Democrat
politicians from Indiana say that MIR. Hon
bricks no longer has control Of the party in tina
State.
In the distribution OF tho patronage Of TN
Senate very little il any will be accorded to tn
t East. Tho West and the South will monopoli1
il. New England will probably not get oven
sop. while New York and New Jersey will no
fare much better Senator Wallace will doubt
less get something for Pennsylyania- becaus
he Is in the scheme, though his pretended sup
| port OF the Hon. w s. Stenger Of that State TO
Secretary Of the Senate was only a sham.