Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-12
RUFFIANLY CONTENTION.

1t is probable that more disgraceful pc
litical assembly never convened in any part
of the country than the Republican conven
ton of Cook county at Chicago on Monday.
Judging by the reports of its doings thai
come by telegraph, the conclusion seems in
evitable that it was composed of lot of
rowdies and shoulder hitters, regardless alike
of self-respect, partisan advantage and 6 D.
mon decency. The majority of the delege
were opposed to Grant, and signified their
sentiments by hustling the chairman of the
county convention from the platform when
he attempted, in accordance with custom, to
effect temporary organization of the con-
vention, and without the ceremony of testing
the sense of the members took possession of
the platform amid the widest confusion.
For an hour not a word could be dis
tinguished above the din, and there was
several times lively prospect of general
free row, members shaking their fists Il
each others faces, cursing, hooting, hissir g
and wildly gesticulating. The presence of a
large platoon of police alone prevented per-
sonal assaults that might have terminated
seriously: Finally, when it was found that
the Grant interest would not be permitted to
have hearing, the delegates attached to his
cause withdrew IN body.
The Blaine and Washburne mob, which
was guilty of these high-handed procee J.
ings, was led by the notorious Charlie Far
well, who distinguished himself while in Con-
gress for four years as the most expert poker
player in the House. He has since BUSH
himself with managing ward caucuses and
bulldozing his employees. The gang which
he commanded was composed of the most
disreputable elements in the city-pot- house
politicians, ballot-box suffers, thugs, and a
few chronic ofice-seekers of small calibre.
Scarcely half dozen of the delegates men
toned could lay claim to even Q quasi re-
spectability. They certainly displayed de-
gree of ruffianism that is not at all to their
credit.
The result of the rumpus is likely to be
disastrous to the Blaine Washbnrne coali-
ton. Two delegations from the county have
been chosen, one favoring Grant and the
other nearly evenly divided between Blaine
and Washburn. Both will apply for seats in
the State convention on the 18th, but in &C
cordance with custom neither will have the
right to vote III deciding the contest. 1t is
therefore apparent that the candidate having
majority of the delegates outside of Cook
county will have the power to admit which
ever delegation it shall see fit. Grant is
largely ahead as far as heard from in the in
terror of the State, and his supporters will
therefore decide upon the admission of the
Grant delegation from Chicago. 1t must be
admitted, too, that there is sufficient excuse
for such action. The proceedings of the
thugs In the Blaine Washburn interest were
wholly without precedent. The convention,
so-called, was simply mob of ruffians who,
by means of main strength seized upon the
hall and proceeded to ignore all questions of
regularity, all contests OF seats, all interests
save those of their chosen candidates. 1t
was 1sgrace to the city in which it was
held, disgrace to the party it assumed to
represent, and disgrace to all who took
part in it.
Some of the Chicago papers claim that,
conceding the Cook county delegation to
Blaine and Washburne, Grant will still hay >
a majority of the State convention. This is
doubtful, however, as the latest impartial es-
Inmates give him majority of less than
forty, while there are ninetv-two in the
Cook county delegation. There will, with
out doubt, be severe contest at Springfield,
with the possibility of bolt resulting in
sending contesting delegations to the nation
al convention. That Grant will capture the
regular convention, however, there is little
room to doubt.