Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
REJECTING CLEVELAND.
Edward f. Mcdonald Creates a stir
He VIII Not Serve on the New Jer-
sey Democratic Electoral Ticket
Ills Reasons.
New York Tribune.

| He w LsI Noa serve OH tne new
sey Democratic Electoral Ticket
Ellis Reasons.
| New York Tribune
| TRENTON, n. j., Aug. 22-Edward T.
| Mcdonald, of Hudson County, has sent
letter to the State Democratic Com
mittee declining to be a candidate for
elector on the democratic ticket. He
was nominated at the state convention
here Wednesday last as elector in the sew
enth congressional district, comprising
! Hudson county. The declination was
because he cannot support Grover Cleve-
| land for president. The nomination of
Mr. Mcdonald was compromise and met
with enthusiastic favor. When the Hud-
son county delegate caucus met here last
| Wednesday the delegates generally fav-
Ored the nomination of Col. McInerny of
Jersey City. an eX-confederate officer,
but a respectable citizen, and personally
a popular man. Col. McInerny, how
ever, had been a leader in the revolt last
spring against the machine in Jersey
City. and had materially aided in defeat
| ing DR.. McGill, the nominee of the ring.
In this work, by the way, he had been
assisted by Mr.. Mcdonald. The dele
gates Wednesday organized by the cleo
ton Of Judge Allen L. McDermott as
chairman. AS soon as Mr.. McDermott
| had taken the chair he made a speech,
| fiercely denouhcing traitors, and hoping
the caucus would name no man who
had failed in his duty to the democratic
party.
| Without naming Col. McInerny, he at
tackled him bitterly as 90 a man." and in a
short time had the delegates, who un-
derstood the illusions perfectly, in fer
ment. The object of the attack was
himself a delegate, and listened with no
little indignation to Judge McDermott's
remarks. Other speakers followed the
chairman, and much earnestness was
displayed. Finally, Col. McInerny him
self took the floor and replied to the as
saults upon him, indulging in some per-
sonaL allusions to the chairman, and
defending his course in the anti-machine
bolt last spring. In winding up his
speech, he said he did not want the office,
and he did not now propose to take it,
| but he would name a man who had ia
ken as active part as he had in the anti
ring movement yet who was so strong
| that the caucus dare not reject him =
Edward F. Mcdonald. The delegates
held some whispered conferences, and
Chairman McDermott declared that Mr..
Mcdonald was not Objectionable to him.
The nomination of Mr.. Mcdonald was
| then made with practical unanimity, and
the convention afterward confirmed it.
Thursday night Col McInerny told the
story of the contest to Mr.. Mcdonald.
"That's very We'll" said Mr.. Mcdonald,
"but [ shall decline the office
"Declinew said Col. McInerny.
Yes, decline!'' said Mr.. Mcdonald,
"and what is more, [ would not vote for
Cleveland if [ were an elector.''
"Not vote for Clevelandr said Col.
McInerny, still aghast.
"No; and least of all since the letter
of Gov. Cleveland accepting the nOmi-
nation, in which he bids for the laborers'
vote and speaks of the 'laboring classes
There are no classes in this country,
thank God, and no man of brains. much
less one sympathizing with the laboring
masses Of this country, would have used
such term.
What passed further in this interview
is not known, but Col McInerny was
given a letter to the State Committee
from Mr.. Mcdonald declining the nomi-
nation. The letter is a simple declina-
ton and Mr. Mcdonald has said that he
desires no notoriety in this matter and
will limit his action within the bounds
of certain modesty.
The effect of the declination, especially
after Mr.. McDonald's reasons became
known, can hardly be magnifed. Mr..
| Mcdonald is one of the leading demo-
Gratis Of Hudson county, and has been
director of the Board of Freeholders, and
hell other positions of trust. He is an
eloquent speaker, and has been a large
fl cure in nearly all the state conventions,
where his commanding form and pecu-
liarly resonant voice compelled atten-
tion, while his shrewdness and eloquence
held it. He has taken this action with
a full consciousness Of what it means,
and is far too able man t. be led off
by any falacious reasoning from a party
which has had his services ever since he
grew to manhood. What action he will
take in the campaign is not yet known,
but that he will defend himself if called
upon to 40 so, cannot be doubted. 1t is
prophesied, however, that the democrats
will prefer to let him alone, though they
dare not so mucn as sneer at him.
This detection from the democratic
ranks is merely one of thousands, while
such breaches as were reported among
republicans have been rapidly healed,
while the action of the religious press in
rejecting Cleveland is influencing thous-
ands.
|