Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-06-06
cLAYron's TRADE.
And the Summary Manner In Which the
Convention Smashed tho Bargain.
Chicnpn Inter -0cean Afh

convention Smashed the bargain.
Chicago Inter Ocean, 4th.
The Powell Clayton incident is a
many.sided and engaging episode. quite
unique in the annals of national conven.
tions. 1t has numerous attractive and
edifying aspects. Regarded merely as
jocular and mirth- provoking concourse
of atoms, its merits would be rated highly
among the humorists in all sections OF
the country and among all classes of
society, Clayton comes to the conven-
tion as an Arthur man with baggage
of thirteen delegates. He makes his
trade with brazen openness. He trans
fers his baggage to Blaine for and in con-
sideration of the temporary chairman
ship, plus whatever the chairmanshlp
and the thirteen. Having made himself
and his treachery thus conspicuous
and patent to fifty mil
lions OF people, the convention
solemnly and without preconcert, but
| with emphasis, votes him down, puts in
his place colored man of dignity and
character, and by the same motion claps
an extinRuisher on the national commit.
tee, on Blaine, and on all the cunning
conspirators who Matched the scheme on
Tuesday afternoon.
1t is altogether side splitting affair,
but its serious aspect is the important
part of it. Clayton is an ignis fatuus,
who shines for moment in bog and
then disappears from view. The con.
vention has bestowed upon him the
distinction of reversing an unbroken
line of precedents IN his disfavor
For the first time in the history OF
such bodies the nomination OF the ma.
tional committee has been Indignantly
set aside. The usage of quarter
of a century has been overborne fol
cause. It ls needless to say what that
cause was. The convention was deter
mined that an open dicker and shame
less betrayal of trust should not go un
rebuked, and that the parties who joinec
in 1t should take nothing by their bar
: gain. To propose Clay ton for presiding
officer of the republican party for an!
period of time, however brief was 81
audacious proceeding. To propose hin
as the result of bargain in which vote
were marketed against officers under tn,
blaze of sunlight and in the eyes of. tn
whole people was an unbearable offense
+ calling for immediate and condlgn pun
J. ishment. The punishment followed g
quickly and sharply that buyers an
sellers will carry the smart for q Ion
time after this convention shall hav
passed into history.
Q The vote which overthrew Clayton he
;, its lchief significance in the fact tina
while the Arkansas trade was in Blaine
y interest, Clayton himself received th
r support of three-fourths of the Loga
e men and that of one.half of the frienl
o OF Harrison, Sherman, and Hawle
o Whether these delegates voted for Cla
y ton because it was in accordance vii
8. usage and precedent to sustain the nor
" inee of the national committee, or b
\ cause Blaine is their second or third
ultimate choice, it is needless now to il
J. qulre. It is certain that Clay ton recei
ed all votes that Blaine can ever get
this convention under any clrcur
o tances. 1t is probable that many vot
o were cast for him because 1t was in son
:, sense the common law of the party
- ratify the choice of the committee. TT
g. claims of Clayton were urged express
t. upon this ground, and it ia reasonable
\. suppose that this consideration govern,
many delegates who have no Thought
voting for Mr.. Blaine. But however th
re may be, it is quite certain that Blail
n can never be stronger as candidate
(. president than Clayton, with his I
/ enforcement of Logan, Sherman, Har
. son. and Hawley votes, was a candida
for temporary chairman.
We can not close this article witho
,e congratulating those delegates fro
" Massachusetts and New York who init
"a ted the movement for the overthrow
!. Clayton for the courage and promptne
N with which they grasped tie situatio
"a We understand that Mr.. Lodge,
H. Massachusetts, is entitled to the hone
i. as first baggage.smasher. The less
h which he and his associates have taug
II to the whole class of convention trade
'. is an important one. It was great
70 needed and We trust will prove lastiu