Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-04-20
TIE Philadelphia Contest.

/ A"O AAAauOAphAA SOHtcSts
Pittsburgh Post.
Throughout the state there is a general
hope that the Harrisburg convention will
adopt policy that will result in united
| Democracy in Philadelphia. Affairs have
reached condition that demands the in
tervention of the party Of the state out
side of Philadelphia, not with the view OF
voting one side altogether right and the
other altogether wrong, but to lay down a
policy or plan reorganization that will bring
the jarring factions together. The interest
! of the interior Democracy in speedy and
harmonious adjustment lies in the fact
that the Philadelphia quarrel is having de-
| moralizing influence ON the party through.
| out the state. What matters it if we of
"the country" push a vigorous campaign
and 60 to Philadelphia with majority
only to have it overborne by a great Re-
publican majority in that city consequent
on dissensiOns in the Democratic party ?
The certainty of this being the result
unless there shall be an adjustment,
is having its logical effect on the Demo-
cracy of other counties, by persuading
them that all state contests are hope
less. This is most demoralizing, especial
ly as the state is Democratic
outside of Philadelphia. 1t is because
of these facts, the Democracy of the
state have a right to say to the warning
factions, "a plague on both your houses"
and demand that their differences shall
be adjusted on some common-sense basis,
so that there shall be but one local Or
ganization. The state convention can
compel this in the admission of Phila-
delphia delegates, selected by the con-
testing delegations, or by admitting both
the McGowan and Vaux delegates with
half a vote each. There is no difference
of principle in these rival organizations :;
neither of them assume the attitude of
Tammany in New York in threatening a
bolt in advance on national or state candi-
dates. Their contentious grow out of mat
tiers of city politics and local organization,
and can be adjusted to the extent of secur-
ing harmonious action at the fall election
by any power whose authority is recog-
nized. Such power and authority are
lodged in the state convention.
We would like to see this Philadelphia
matter adjusted without conflict in the
state convention and have hopes this end
may be reached. The great body of the
Philadelphia Democrats desire to come to-
gether, and there are sansible and discreet
men among the leaders on both sides,
of course with the usual proper
tion of impracticable beings. But the
latter should be set aside if necessary,
and an agreement reached satisfactory to
all and humiliating to none. If they do
not do this for themselves, the state
convention, as the only body having
authority. must take the duty into
its own hands. The Democracy outside
of Philadelphia will not 60 ON year after
year, making gallant struggles at the
polls, only to be overborne by needless
dissensions in that city. Let the state
convention grapple the question with
firm and wise hand, in the interest of the
g., 900 Democratic voters in Philadelphia
and the 400, 600 Democratic voters of the
state, whose ballots are so much waste
paper because of these foolish and cause
less chickering's. The mass of the party in
the city and state demand an organization
around which every Democrat can rally,
and it is the duty of the state convention,
other means failing, to give it to them.