The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-10-28
The Chances in Massachusetts.

a correspondent of the New York Herald,
who has been travelling for some time in Mas
sachusetts studying the political situation, has
the following concerning Gen. Butler chances
of success:
This leads me to a consideration of the
probabilities of success of the two rival parties
in the State. And the better to understand
the political situation and estimate the chances
of both sides, will give the result of the last
two Butler campaigns. In 1878 General But
Ter ran as an Independent candidate, his OPP
ponents being the regular Republican party,
the regular Democratic party and the Prohi-
bitionists, who bolted Tablets nomination..
The vote stood as follows: SRA
Talbot, Republican 1874, 725
Butler, independent. los, 435
Abbott, Democrat. 10, 1872
Miner, Prohibitionist ....................3 1913
Scattering "!
An analysis of these figures will show that
General Butler had the rank and file of the
Democratic party with him, the regulars only
being able to muster little over 10000 votes.
1t will also show that the Republican eandi-
date had majority over all of Is, l18. tils
In 1879 General Butler decided to try again.
His agents made systematic effort to secure
for him the Democratic nomination, but the
followers of Judge Abbott were memorable.
General Butler was still a Republican and
they refused to turn over their organization to
his. They controlled the machinery. they
had a majority of the State Central Committee
and they decided to use this advantage in or
ganizing the convention against Butler. The
result was the capture of Mechanics Hall by
the Butler forces under the lead Of Major Nc.
Davitt and the nomination of General Butler.
The REGULARS did not take part in the pro-
ceedings, but held a subsequent convention in
Faneuil Hall and nominated John Quincy
Adams The vote stood as follows at the
close of the polls: Long, Republican, 122, ISL;
Butler, Independent Democrat, 100, 149;
Adams, Democrat, 9,989; Eddy, Prohibition
list, ,645; scattering, 1O8.
It will be seen from this table that the Re-
publican vote fell off II, 954, that Butter lost
286, and that the Republican candidate had
majority over all of $50. 1t is awell known
fact that a number of Democrats voted for
Long to secure the defeat of Butler because
they feared that if he were elected he would
loom up in the national convention as the
leader of the party in the State and figure I'M
der Democratic administration, which was
then expected as the Dispenser of the loaves
and fishes.
But General Butler has come into the fold
and all the animosities ofthe past are buried.
He has received the unanimous nomination of
the united Democracy and the hearty indorse-.
ment of the old warehouses;. Judge Abbott
presided over the convention which put him
in nomination and ex- Mayor Prince over the
meeting which ratified his nomination. Frank
Bird wrotela letter approving, the action Of
the party, and then everybody was in line. |
have shown that the General vote in 1878
and 1879 was almost the same, while the Re
publican strength was cut down nearly II, 900
in 1879 1t is safe to say that every man who.
supported him during those two years will do
so again This would give him about l10, 900
votes, which, added to the Abbott strength,
would bring his vote this year up to 10000.
The Democrats who voted for Long will net
vote for Bishop. Let us put their strength at
1000, which is a reasonable estimate, and we
have total of 121, 900. The Personal Liberty
League, which is now working so hard for the
Democratic ticket, is composed largely, if not
wholly, of Germans who have always voted
with the Republican party. They claim to
have at least 1000 voters on their list. If
they stick they will bring General Butler
strength up to 125, 900, while diminishing the
Republican strength by 1000. Anybody can
see, therefore, that unless the reserves come
out Mr.. Bishop will be defeated. He must
get out enough to make up for the German
detection, and 1000 more to win. This cal
culation is on the basis of the vote of 1879.