New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-28
THIRD TERM TACTICS IN ALABAMA.

A LETTER FROM EX-SENATOR WILLARD WARNER,
EXPLAINING HOW ALABAMA WAS CARRIED FOR
GRANT-sIX DISTRICT DELEGATES WHO REFUSE
TO BIZ INSTRUCTED BY THE STATE CONVENTION.
ho the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The case of Governor Smith and myself Is
bvcn stronger than that of the dsfranchised dis
triots in Illinois Tho custom in Alabama in our
barty has always been TO elect National delegates
by districts, sometimes by conventions meeting IN
The district aud sometimes by through delegates
10 State Conventions and no instance has ever &C.
CURED here where State Convention assumed the
right to choose delegates for the districts The re-
cent State Convention admitted this custom and
right by calling the districts for report OF delegates
elected All the districts held meetings and every
body attended them, and all elected delegates
When they answered the call Of the Convention to
report their action the farce and the fun began
The chairman called on each delegate TO come
forward and pledge himself in presence OF the
Convention to abide by the instructions, which
all did until my district, tho With was reached
Governor Smith and myself have boon chosen
as delegates at our district meeting. every county
heine fully represented. General j. w. Burke, Of
our delegation stated our action for the Information
of the Convention. but denied the night OF the Con
yention to instruct nteTfere with our delegates
answered the call of the chairman that was glad
to answer any call OF the Convention as matter or
courtesy, but that utterly dened the right Oh .ae
me as to my intended action at chicago, clted the
custom in Alabama, and the acton OF three success
sive Republican National Conventions ana tod
them with some emphasis that should give ,theIn
no pledge except to do at Chicago what shouid
Ithen and there think best for the party ana inc
country. further stated that in all SAID also
spoke for Governor Smith. A warm discussion iOl-
lowed, in which Lewis L. Parsons, IT., Grant man
and deleRate-eect, sustained my position III very
manly and able speech. but the farce went On anu
Governor Smith and myself were voted out as
two men in our places when MIR. Parsons suggested
that IL would be less outrage to refer the matter
back to tho district, which was done, but no
quorum Of district delegates would take any part
in the new meeting, only out of 10, which fact
was stated to the convention and recognized by
the chairman, when upon his advice that the con.
vention had power to ill the supposed vacancy,
the convention proceeded to elect two delegates.
ore of whom Mr.. Bingham, had been beaten in
the District Convention.
Tho uuit rule was adopted and may be turned to
plague its inventors as doubt whether q majority
Of the delegates elect are for Grant: j am to-day
ADVISED that four district delegates besides Cover
nor Smith aud myself have already decided to re-
fse crcdsntlals from the chairman of4he State Con-
yentfon and 70 stand on their district credentials
Goyernof Smith ard myself VIII DO sc ChieaRo 10
claim our Seafs and cases will be the hrst to be
called. and will open up not only .ne gaesHaloa ot
6slskafes but I'D fufther question Of Che Fight Of
etsse COnvcntl6ns 10 tun Ont ,deiegates aEsady
daily elected hE distEiets; and 70 AZ tneir paess
The decision 10 orr cases VIII 20 Lkely 70 qeclae
fien6mihasi6n OF General Grant. lou can make
saeb use 81 sha letter ~ y9t1 deem .oSst x0rrS
eTuiy, soa N - feB9s ef9g WILLARD WABEL2.,n
Tsosnssk, ala, May "a. 1880. r p. ..,',