New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-26
MASSACHUSETTS, POLITICS.
EVE OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
BUFFERS MASTERY UNDJspUTED-Hs RENoMINA-
TON A FoREGoNE CONCLUSION.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Sept. 25.-The early trains
brought few delegates to the Democratic State
Convention to be held here tomorrow: not until
the arrival OF the evening trains from the East did
they begin to appear in force Through the evening
they have been filing the hotel registers with
awkward autographs and the corridors with loud
conversation and bad smells, until at midnight the
hotels and many Of the delegates to be full
The convention much cut and dried affair
that there is little excitement and apparently no
eleotiOneerlng WIRE pulling by candidates for po-
sitions on the ticket. 1t ia understood that there
will be at most but two vacancies to be lled-Lieu
tenant-Governor and Attorney General. Bower
man. the last years candidate for Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor, has declined to again, and it is suspected
that his declinatlon which was made public before
the Republicans had made their nominations, was
contingent upon the nomination of Oliver Ames by
the latter, the policy of the Democrats being to
take up Ames in of his rejection by the Repub-
licans. The denomination of Ames, how
ever may have induced Bowerman to reconsider
his decision. and in that case he will
be nominated without opposition. The Attorney
General, Mr. Perry. of Worcester. is reported to be
seriously i'll and out Of the question candidate
for denomination Governor Butler is said to be
anxious for Bowerman's denomination for Lieutens
ant Governor, and to have exhibited considerable
dissatisfaction at that gentleman's refusal 10
stand.
sUBsERvIENCY TO BUTLER.
noticeable feature of the present Democratic
situation In Massachusetts, is the subseryiency Of
the party to Butler Mr.. Tilden's control of his
wing of the New-York Democracy or Mr.. Kelly's
ownership of Tammaay is not more absolute than
Governor Buffers domination over the Massachu-
setts Democrats He Is expected to arrive here to-
morrow forenoon, and appear as a delegate on the
floor of the convention when he will direct the pro-
ceedngs and, upon being nominated, make speech
of ptance. In this speech 1t Is understood, be
will answer the charges made against him aud his
administration by Mr.. Goldman and others at the
late Republican Convention. and IN bis own peculiar
way "stir up the boys" No doubt OF his nOmIua.
ton is expressed in any quarter and it probably
be made by acclamation, with hardly dissenting
7cice. Notwithstanding this apparent unanImity.
there nothing that can be called enthusiasm
for him among the delegates. The old-fashoned
Democrats have not yet got over making d wry
face at the mention of his namc and it is evident
that, though they are ready to swallow the dose.
they by no means banker for it. They think he 10
the only Candidate with whom they have any show
of carrying the State they know he has carried 10
for them once. aud that the Republicans seem to bo
in great dread of him, and so they not only give
hlun renOmlDatlon. DuC make ulul oOSS, du0
submit absolutely to his dIctation in all things.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR MUTUAL PROFIT.
Butler and the Democracy are using each other,
not out of love and affection but because is mutu-
ally profitable. No doubt he experienced great
satisfaction in the triumph he has achieved, and ID
mast be confessed that he has had . most remark ks
able political career. 1t is twelve wears since he
made his first raid for the Republican nomination
for Governor. After several unsuccessful enter
prises in that direction, in 1873 be made dash
for the Democratic nomination. and by aid
of a ladder aud lot of early risers
and good climbers carried it off.
That year he got 10Y 900 votes. but $500 Demo-
Gratis who called themselves respectable boIted and
voted for Josiah G. Abbott. The next year he was
nominated without opposition by the machinery
which had been seized In the burglary of 1873, but
the respectable Democrats to the number of 900
voted for John Quincy Adams. In 1880 the burg
lars and boilers united and nominated Charles P.
Thompson. while Butler took rest. Last year the
Democrats gave him the nomination without put
ting him to the trouble Of much seeking, aud to
their great surprise elected him, aud now he finds
himself after all these vicssltudes, at tho head Of
the Democratic party of Massachusetts, its ac-
knowledged chief and boss" with renomina-
tion dropping in to his hands by acclamation; and
not only that but the party deferrng to his wishes
IN the selection of other candidates and looking
him for drec tions in all its policy. Is it any wonder
that he should feel elated at such triumph under
such circumstances
IN THE BUTLER PROCESSION
But where are the 800 respectsbles who bolted
in disgust in 1878 7 Where are the delegates who
met In Faneuil Hall and nominated Judge Abbotti
With few very few exceptions. they have all fallen
into the Butler procession aud may be found hold
4. r.. - ,ft..f flaA
fall from the Governors table. One of them. Ed
ward Avery, of Brantree, who was among the most
pronounced and positive of tho boilers, will pre-
side over the convention tomorrow and assist in
carrying out the orders of the new Boss.' Reuben
Noble, of Westfeld. another extreme anti-Builer
man IN 1873, will be doing Buffers work Oh tho
floor and a score more of them will be scattered
among the delegates. u will be interesting TO SOC
them sit up in the twinkle of the Governors wicked
eve and try TO look as though they were happy.
The only notable survivors of the Faneu Hall de-
monstration who remain of the same mind arc
Frank Bird Leverett Saltonstall and George II.
Stearns-these three out OF g. 800.
NOT CONFIDENT OF BUTLEg's REELECTION.
Not many of the delegates express confidence in
Butler,s reelection; they believe that he is the
onlv candidate with whom they have any chance
and have sort of desperate hope thai
he may discover some cunning device be-
tween this time and election day, by
which he can pull himself and the party through.
Ruter himself asserts great confidence. but it 10
evident that he is playing for larger stakes than the
Goyernorship The convention tomorrow will
select the delegates to the National Convention.
Unless an opposition to that which has appeared
within few days shall develop greater strength
than Is now expected. these delegates will be Butler
men, and in the rather improbable event of his re-
election as Governor tney will push HIM energet-
icellv for the Presidential nomination. IL is
reasonable surmise that Butler comes IN person to
the convention not to secure denomination, for
eoraoopa concluson but TO see that tho