Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-24
The Democratic Meeting PIa,

the conclusion that the selection OF Cincinnati
over st. Louis as the place for holding the DEM
cratic convention is a substantial and signif1-
cant defeat TO Tilden, and one that will admon-
i'h him to keep out OF the presidential race
This conclusion is not warranted by the facts
in the case, but, on the contrary, it is refuted
by many of them. In the first place. it is known
that some of Tilden's warmest friends on the
committee voted for Cincinnati Several days
p.ior to the meeting Of the committee
there was disposition manifested by some Of
Tilden's friends to support st. Louis, in his in
terest, and his name was even mentioned as
favoring that city; but it was apparent last
Saturday that II such programme
had been seriously considered, it
had been determined not to carry 1t out. The
Cincinnati delegation set themselves earnestly
to work TO combat the idea that Tilden would
fare better in st. Louis than in their city, and
they succeeded. They pledged themselves that
the greatest fairness should be shown all candi-
dates, and pointed to the fact that Tilden has
supporters enough In Ohio to take care of his
interests. They urged that he would drive
these supporters from him by contributing, In
any manner, towards the defeat of Cincinnati.
The very fact that ST. Louis received but four
votes Is, of ITSELF sufficient to demonstrate that
the combined Tflden influence did not support
the claims OF that city. In considering the action
OF the national committee in connection with
} Tilden's candidacy the formation of that COM
mittee must be remembered. 1t was organized
Immediately after the nomination OF the ticket
at st. Louis, and when Ttlden's friends
were in entire control of all the ma
chinery OF the convention. 1t devolved
upon this committee to direct the campaign,
and very naturally it was composed of men
known to be faithful to the candidate; men who
would consult and follow his wishes. The events
that followed the nomination may have driven
some OF the members from Tilden's cause. but
they have not reduced his followers to the in
significant number that void for st. Louis.
Speaker Randall, who is recognized as one of
the chiefs Of the Tilden democracy, advised the
selection of Cincinnati, so the delegation from
that city asserted, and the member from Ken
lucky, staunch Ttlden man, was for Cincin-
natl from the first Last Saturday members OF
the committee who support Mr.. Bayard for the
presidential nomination waited upon the Sena-
tor and asked where he would like to have the
convention held. He replied that 1t was mat
ter which he felt he had no right to interfere in;
that he had no choice OF location whatever. He
wanted the committee to consult the best in.
terests of the party, but for himself he was not
candidate for the presidential nomination,
and earnestly desired that his friends would not
seek to direct the convention in his interest.
OtudtOT Thurman, as ClUlZel OF ONO, Favored
Cincinnati, but his friends kept his presidential
aspirations out Of the contest The Tilden men
then announced that their candidate had no
preference whatever In regard to the choice of
city for the holding Of the convention, and so
the several presidential candidates kept their
hands out OF the affair. The argument in behalf
of Cincinnati that evidently had the most
weight, was that the democracy might be en-
abled to carry Ohio. Chicago, it was urged, was
situated In hopelessly republican state,
while st. Louis is in a state that needs no
encouragement to make it democratic. The
shrewd Cincinnatians pressed this argument
saying that the holding of the Convention in
Cincinnati would arouse enthusiasm in the
democracy there, and that whenever the party
carried that city it carried the state also. The
the selection, were all to the effect that it had
not been made with the view Of aiding or de-
feating the aspirations OF any candidate for the
nomination. Cincinnati has never shown any
Partially for Senator Thurman, and his treat
ment In the past by the democrats of that city
warrants the belief that the selection was not
made in his interest. Tilden's g. fine Italian
hand in all probability, was secretly at work
In the committee but not in favor of st. Louis
else that city would have received larger vote
Therefore there is no good ground for saying
he was defeated In the choice Of place for the
meeting OF the convention. After the action
had been taken the known supporters of Tilden
were apparently well pleased, and when con-
suited about the candidacy of that gentleman
they intimated that he was still in the field.