The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-10-03

accompanied W1Jn Jne moving OF tne prev
ious question, which was ordered by an
overwhelming majority. The call for the
previous question was designed by the
head of the machine which was running
the convention, to choke off Tammany's
opposition to the report of the committee
Tammany bitterly resented this enforce
ment of "gag law" and in motion TO
reconsider the warning factions ex-
changed compliments which breathed any
spirit but that of harmony and oblivion of
the past. The first contest over the NOM
nations was between Isaac II. Maynard,
the "slate candidate for Secretary of
State, and William Purcell of Rochester,
an able and popular editor, the candidate
of Tammany and the anti-machine demo-
Gratis. Maynard was the victor. This
vote decided everything in favor of the
slate" and the candidates chosen for the
remaining offices were those which had
been selected by the power controlling
the convention, the Albany clique, and
presented to it for ratification. After the
vote for the nominee for Secretary of State
John Kelly left the hall and Tsmmany
abandoned the struggle. Mr.. Roosevelt
and several other independent democrats,
whose hostility to "the machine" had
made them odious to its managers, did
not participate in the convention, their
places being filled with the plant tools of
Manning, chairman of the state commit
tee and "the boss whose power dictated
the course of events. Mr.. Roosevelt is
the member of the state committee whose
motion few weeks ago for open prima-
ries in New York city for the choice of
delegates to this convention was adopted
but which was shamefully disregarded.
He is reported to have gone home as soon
as the inevitable tendency of things was
disclosed Perhaps" the New York
Herald significantly or suggestively says,
"to organize bolt" With infinitely
slighter provocation and with candidate
of umimpeachable integrity and of distin-
guished ability, the republicans of New
York year ago showed under their party
by majority of two hundred thousand.
1t is not expected that the disgruntled
independent democrats will follow the
suicidal example of their enemies, great
as is the provocation. Nor, with western
New York sore over its wishes disregarded
in the defeat of Purcell, and Tammany
appropriated by defeat and reputation,
are the prospects of a harmonious and an
enthusiastic canvass exceedingly radiant
with the light of coming victory. The
New York Times correspondent at Buffalo
thus outlines the democratic situation
after the convention:
After the action of the slavish convention,
no surprise was created by the election of Dan
Manning as chairman Of the democratic state
committee. The methods employed to control
both delegates and committeeman have had
the effect, however, of bringing into greater
prominence than has ever hitherto been at
tanned, the democratic machine and the selfish
purposes OF its managers. AS a matter of fact,
the sentiment of the entire western end of the
state has been shamefnlly ignored, and fierce
is the criticism now INDUCED by the friends of
those candidates who were crushed under the
wheels OF the democratic chariot in which rode
the Albany clique of managers. Competition
in open convention is no longer allowed ambi-
tious democratic candidates. Bully Manning
must first be consulted, and If be consents to
aid and encourage, the candidate goes into the
race with but little doubt of his success. I'm
tint
man not only faces strong probability of de-
feat but also incurs the dspleasure of the clique
and becomes marked person, subject to every
sort of annoyance for years. The cowardce
OF anticonvention candidates of the democra-
tic school has become proverbal. There were
any quantity of candidates this year for every
one of the offices to be filled, but their number
rapidly diminished as the day of the conven-
tion approached. Bosom Friend Cary of Cat
taraugus, for instance, was candidate for any
thing on the ticket His name was not even
mentioned In the convention. Catn of West
chester, who would knock any man down who
accused him of cowardice, so dreaded the
power OF the machine that he gave up the con-
test for the state treasurership after learning
that Manning and Apgar were fixed upon hay-
ing Maxwell renominated. Senator Homer A.
Nelson has all along yearned for the office of
encouragement. To-day he would probably
deny that he had eyer been candidate in the
strict acceptation of that term He was told
to stand one side and allow the fluff y-faced o.
Bfien OF Jefferson to pass by and like an ODE
dent American he meekly obeyed. The friends
OF Robb OF New York refused point-blank to
allow him to butt his head against the wall and
so he RETAINED from presenting his name for
the controllership. The thing that has been
demonstrated by this convention above all
Others is that man, no matter how obscure or
inconsequential may be picked out and forced
upon party, while more deserving members
must stand aside The voice of
Western New York was as Enthusiastically for
William Purcell of Rochester for secretary of
state as was the voice of the party for Tilden
for president in 1876. Yet Judge Maynard, a
respectable nonenity, WAS picked up by the
machine as club against Purcell, because the
latter has dared, as an intelligent democrat, to
IL there was any such independence among
be revolt against the ticket in this end of the
state.
Republican prospects for victory in
November can hardly have been darkened
by the result of the democratic conven-
ton. Kelly, it is assumed, will be quite
as likely to feel an interest in retaining
his grip on the spoils in New York city as
in contributing to the success of a state
ticket in the choice of which he was con-
spicuously snubbed. The republican con-
vention, in its construction and in its &C.