New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-19
nrroRE THE FRAY.

BEFORE THE FRAY.
THE CONVENTION HELD EARLY FOR EFFEcr Else
WHERE -ANTT-TILDEN MEN BoAsTING- The
FACTIONS FIGHTING FOR REGULARITY s
WILL AS FOR TnDEE.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNFl
SYRACUSE April l8.-FOr q town that mas
so many Conventions and so much politics
imnendiup over it, and politics of such
rich and yaregated character, Syracuse has
been wonderfully quiet TO- day. The Conventions
meet on Tuesday. one day in the week carrier than
usual. and suppose the reason for this may be
found in the fact that the Pennsylvania Democratic
State Convention was called to meet On thursday
of this week, and it was thought wise by the
Tilden State Committee to give the friends
of Reform in that State a gentle impulse
in the right drections from Mr.. Tilden's
awn State, Not that the Tilden men
have any doubt about Pennsylvania choosing Ill
den delegation Bless you, to hear them talk you
would suppose they had everything fixed for soIid
DELEGATIONS from all the States But the State CON-
mittee Thought it might look better to have the
Tildeu tidal wave start in his own State. The
bricks are all in row and on end, and New.York IS
to tumble first
One consequence of having the Convention day
earlier in the week than usual, it was supposed
would be seen in the gathering OF clans IN Syracuse
as early as Sunday. 1t a mistake. few
the Irving Hall delegation, Messrs. John Fox,
Hnbert O. Thompson and two or three others; but
there are not enough TO more than indicate in re-
mote way the coming of the crowd. The great IT.
ruption viii be tomorrow. Than will come Tam
MANY and Anti-Tammany and the self-constituted
delectes of the Democratic Union the factions and
the 1ux. and whoever has complained of dulness
to-day will have no lack of excitement then.
One cannot but remark in looking over the field
at this time how changed 1t all is since the last
Convention. The Tilden strength was then largely
in the country districts, and the An-Iilden crowd
was the Tammany delegation, which had seats in
the Convention aud the prestige of regularity but
Mt this Convention the New York delegation counts
for instead of against Tlden. But for this gain in
the CITY he loses several country districts which
then were for him. There are so many OF these
losses that it ia by means certain that 1t Will DC
ISlden Convention after all. The opposition make
an uncommonly good show of delegates. and are not
backward in claiming that when it comes to voting
they will outnumber the Tilden men. But against
this calculation Ii must be taken into account that
the Tildeu men have the State Committee
which is a factor of the highest Importance in the
nroblem. To change the aspect of O Convention
bv paper delegations is not very difficult task and
If Mr.. Faulkner's committee find this to be neces-
sarv tbey will do it without the slightest hesitation
Having the State Committee 1t will 90 hard but
that the Tilden men havo the Convention by sure
= majority With Mr. Lester B. Faulkner at the head
of the committee, and Smith Weed to manage the
Convention, no chances win be taken and yet 1t
looks very much as though the fight was not really
what il uurports to be-Tilden and Anti-Tilden.
REGULARITY" AT STAKE.
1t Is not to be denied that Tflden's Oldest and
strongest friends are lukewaTm, If not actually
hostile to bis nomination. The struggle here relates
much mOIe to the succession in the matter OF reg
ularlty than to Tilden or any other Presidential
candidate. There are many reasons for believing
that Mr. Tilden either seriously cOntemplates or
has definitely decided upon withdrawing from the
field but he cannot do it as matters now
are without abandoning tho mon and the
organization who have stood by him so faithfully.
What these men looking out for is not Tilden's
but their own interests; they have no such devo-
ton to him as to take the chances OF defeat in his
behalf, but they know that they are just now
ut q point where, If he throws up
the lsponge they will be politically
ruined. His apparent success In this Convention is
absolutely necessary to them; they care very little
for his nomination, but they care great deal f0T
keeping their own influence and position in the
party believe that before the campaign is over it
will be perfectly plain that this IS all there is in
the fight which is now making. In tho absence OF
the managers, most of whom are said TO have
stopped over at Albany. there Isttle run of specu-
lation as to plans. The hury-burly will open in
the morning with the first arrivals.