Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-06-05
THE OHIO CONTEST.
Congressman Geddes interviewed.

W
Mansfield (O) Special Baltimore San. Lst.
This city is the home of Congressman
Geddes, one of the Democratic asplrants
for Governor. The proclivities of the
Fourteenth Congressional district. which
includes Mansfield, are said to be Repub-
llcan, but no Republican has been able to
stand against Mr.. Geddes, He was
elected to the last Congress bv a
majority of. 5000 votes out of a
poll of 10000, having served i'm
the Forty-siXth Congress. He stood
IN last years campaign,iand will have a
seat In the Forty-eighth Congress, unless
meanwhile he should become entitled to
a certificate as GOvernOr-elect of Ohio.
People in this section credit him mstlv
with being very successful in his political
plans, yet few speak of him as though
politics were more than an incident of
his life. Fifteen years of service on the
bench of the Court of Common Pleas in
the Sixth Judicial district has given to a
manner naturally thoughtful grave
and impressive cast. He studied law
under Columbus DelanO, and began prac-
tlce In lS45. Since then, except when on
the bench, he has always kept law office,
to which he goes as regular as though his
living depended upon it during the re-
eesses OF Congress. His residence is on a
farm about mile and half northwest of
the city, and when on week days his mind
is not upon the law, it turns to agricul-
ture. On Sunday he has none save
proper and reverential thoughts. He has
been for years one of the foremost i;tvmen
OF the Methodist Church in Ohio. In
these varied capacities he has won
and retains the respect of the bench and
bar, OF the farmers and of churchmen.
His course as member of Congress has
satisfied the people of his district. In
state as III national affairs, the judicial
and deliberate habits of mind confirmed
ON the bench have established for him a
reputation for conservatism which is of
great help in his candidacy for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Governor. The
headstrong, 1mpulsive spirit that actuates
political manGuvering in the cities find but
talnt response among the "old-liners'' of
either party in the interior, where com
paratlve absence of excitement and am
pie time for reflection tend to staid and
conservative popular temper. That ex-
plains why full interior vote is reluct-
ant except when great issues are at stake.
and why political managers at Columbus
have in view the cities rather than the
country in their schemes at hurting biz
yards into a campaign.
ut will be hard to calculate with any,
thing like precision for fortnight vet"
Mr.: Geddes said to your correspondent,
''What strength each candidate will be
likely to command at the opening of the
convention. All of us know, l suppose.
where we shall look for support away
from the cities, but there are no means
yet of judging how the bulk of the city
vote will finally turn. Every one un-
derstands the way city delegations are
chosen. If it is not by wire-pulling it
is apt to be by caprice, with rush, and
whenever the current may set in in con-
Vention the city delegates. soon fall into it,
regardless of former predictions. A can
didate is stronger, in my judgment, with
start of 100 country votes than 200 from
the cities. Country delegates usually 20
into conventions with their preferences
clear and deliberately formed. They
are earnest and persistent, and those
qualities are exceedingly valuable in
a convention. Cincinnati and Cleye-
land are the most uncertain factors
that enter into The composition of party
gatherings. The delegations are ALWAYS
divided and sometimes sadly split. Polifi
cal interests in each of these cities are di-
verse and factional. If the delegations
in the two cities could unite, their candi-
date would start out well, for they num-
Der 100, and 31S votes will nominate, But
| would rather start with less numerous
support from the country"
''Is it your information that Mr.. Hoad-
ly's strength is mainly at Cleveland and
Cincinnati?"
''On, no; think he has following else
where. His ability is recognized through
out the State, and there is no doubt kind
feeling for him in other localities, But /
think that in this part of the State and
Westward, North and South, preferences
are divided between Mr.. Ward and N.Y.
self"
'There will be no party detection in the
cities or in the interior, whoever may sue
ceed at Columbus?3
''No; the party will be united on the
cause and support the ticket.v