New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-12
VIEWS OF GALUsHA A. GROW.


Victoria last night by a TRIBUNE reporter was
asked what he thought Of the political outlook in
Pennsylvania for the election next fall
I" l can't speak very positively on that point
said Mr. Grow, for during the last year / have
been in the State only little and therefore don't
known much about our local politics except what l
gather from the newspapers"
You were not at the Harrisburg Convention
then ~
"No. was in Buffalo attending TO business and
returned here by the night train. During the past
year have been opening bituminous coal mine at
Rrady's Bend. on the Allegheny River and have
paid no attention 10 politics."
What is the real cause of disSenson IN the Re-
publican party and what do you think of the pot-
icai situation in your State y
"Slnce the foundation Of the Republican party
there has been n clear majority of the voters Of
PENNSYLVANIA in favor of Republican ideas. While
the party in some minoreectiOns has been defeated
yet in every election for Presi ent or Governor
since 1857 it has been successful. Discontents
however. more or less outspOken, have been grow
ing. based dissatisfaction with the political
agement Of the party and with the methods adopted
by of its leaders to such results they
desired. majority of the delegates TO our State
Conventions Of late years have been appointed by
the County Committees of their respective counties.
the same as the number of Senators and Represent
atives in the Legislature and they appOrtiOned
% the respective Senatorial and Represen tative
Districts each sending the same number of dele
gates it is entitled to Senators and Representa-
tives The delegates TO a state Convention hereto
fore in majority of counties have been appointed
by the County Committees. which were appointed
by the respective County Conventions for conduct
ing the political campaign of the fall election pre-
ceding the time of holding the State Convention.
These committees were thus appointed from eight
TO ten months before the meeting of q State Con-
vention. to which they appoint delegates. One of
the complaints of the Independents as TO party
management is that the bosses as they are termed,
can through this machinery of organization. set
mp a convention Just as they please, and can, in
utter disregard of the popular will, make nOmina-
tons for State officers and. with a convention thus
formed and especially with the unit rule. can-send
a packed delegation to National Conventions
for the nomination of candidate for President. In
addition the Independents charge that the bosses
pay no attention to the wish of the people no mat
ter how clearly it may be expressed and they refer
especially to the State Convention Of 1850 TO
tain that allegation. These two and believe
! that / have stated them fully, of the chief COM
plants of the Independents'
How do the Independents propose to remedy or
correct these practices a"
AS 10 that they are somewhat divided. part
of them insist that the best way is TO make a
separate and Independent Republican ticket and in
duce Republicans enough to vote it to defeat the
regular ticket
"Would not that elect the Democratic ticket ,"
eyes. it would either elect the Democratic ticket
or the movement would be too small in number
to accomplish any practical result"
"What do the Independents claim they could ac-
conplish by defeating the regular Republican ticket
at the next election
They claim that they would rebuke this ma
chine method Of making nominations and would
al this time cripple if not defeat Senator Cameron
in his efforts TO be reelected to the United States
Senate
But what has the Governor TO do with the cleo
ton of a United States Senator ?"
81 He ought not to have anything to do about it,
Having received the support of all the members of
his party he ought not 10 allow his position to be
used to the disadvantage of one of his sup
norters who desires be candidate for that posi-
ton or any other in the party. But that has not
been the practice with our Governors in Pennsyl-
wanna for years. The Independents alege that
senator Cameron will first bargain with the candi-
date for Governor as the price for his nomination,
that he shall when elected, all his influence a.
Governor to secure Camerons election to the United
Whv can't the Independents exact as condi-
ton of their support. public pledge of the nomi-
nee for Governor that he shall be strictly neutral
in the contest for United States Senator and if the
candidate for Governor gave such pledge would
ne not keep IL !"
III General Beaver gave such peledge which,
of course il would be perfectly proper for him TO dol
he would, think, be faithful 10 it,"
Then the Independent movement of your State
is against Cameron J"
management The political methods and bosssm
which the independents complain Of were intro
dnced they say, by the Camerons, father and son.
and that they are the means by which they strive
10 perpetrate their family rule and power. Senator
before state Convention.
his Mace il the Senate at Washington and comes TO
Harrisburg and dictates the ticket which he ex-
meets the Convention TO ratify. &c. also, when
United states Senator If to be elected he leaves his
place at Washington aud stays in Harrisburg. no
matter how long. in order 10 that the Leglsla
ture elects the right man. This is what the indie
pendents call bosslsn.
Why don't they strike at Cameron directly in
the elections Of he members Of the Legislature, in
tead of indirectly by attempting 70 defeat the
party IN the election of a Governor
contest would be much easier for them. For the
strongest and largest disaiection with the voters Is
in the Republican counties, which of course elect
lature and if the Independents are
strong enough TO accomplish any result. they could
by concerted action deieal III al cIose uistlcts 19
nominees for the Legislature, who, II elected. would
vote for Senator Camerons reelection Just as easily
"A they could defeat the candidate for Governor
What do you think the independent Convention
called 10 meet on the oath of May Will do ~
" have no information upon which TO base an IN
telgent guess. have had no conversation ior
months with any OF the leaders either side and,
as said IN the beginning, have been IN the State
50 ittle for "A year that my opinion would be given
wit bout proper information. But should thnk
the Independent Convention would support Rawle
and Marshall, whatever else they might do The
judiciary IN Pennsylvania has never been made a
party question. Marshall Is "a very able man. en-
tITely independent in thou ght and action AS
member of Congress he would do credit 10 himself
and 10 the Stale. he doesn't belong to that class
Of politicians, common these days,
whose ambition aud only capacity are
to occupy the seats Of honor III
.f.ra Vnlf-
call-wLen they happen w DC present. / think