Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-04
.toHN KELLY WEAKKNfNo.
Clsvsiand's Friends Ciasusins Three fsurths
ar she New Ysrk Delesatisn.


Of the New Ysrk Delesatisn.
The Philadelphia 7imes's New York spe.
cisl says: To-day the lines are being more
tightly drawn, and each OF the factions are
taking account Of stock for the final rally.
IL II about the only chance there WIN be
for business until the New York delegs-
fIcn meets for decision In Chicago on
Saturday evening. The closer the forces
are scanned the more II Is becom-
Ing apparent that the Chief OF Tam
many has weakened, and that Gov
erpor Cleveland has more than q fair
chance TO walk of with the nomination at
Chicago. The local leaders OF the Gov
ernor's forces are 80 positive In their as
sumption OF strength that they claim, In q
square issue with John Kelly, nearly three
fourths OF the delegation. THIS IL no
doubt liberal estimate. but II the op-
ponents OF TammaDy are not i1iots or play
Ing game OF brag, then Cleveland has to-
night an actual fighting majority OF New
York's representatives ut Chicago, and
through them the nomination for the pre-
sidency.
While this Is The general drift of feeling,
there are some elements at work which may
disturb these calculations. The candidacy
o. Roswell p. Flower IL mistake, and
were 1t not for his previous good character
he would be suspected OF being In league
with John Kelly. lie or his agents are en-
gagged in an active effort to divide and dis
tract the force in New York in the coming
Convention. The chances are that his name
will not be mentioned for the first place;
but he Is a man Of unlimited resources.
financially, and has the nerve to spend
money, and he seems to have enlisted for the
fight. That is great point in this peculiar
campaign. A strictly non.partlsan gentle
man, who, u he has any predictions at all
IN this dispute leans towards Flower, said
10 me to-day: 81 do not believe that there
Is any reasonable chance OF defeating
Cleyeland's nomination so far a. the sup
port Of New York Is concerned. Now
that we have driven John Kelly out OF am
bush, IL Is certain that the Governor has
clear majority OF the New York contingent,
and that beng the case do not see what Is
to prevent his nomination. The talk about
Flower and slocum Is simply nonsense.
They have no following except that which
may be bought, and State pride. II nothing
else, should compel them TO keep out OF
the contest. Slocum has no chance what
ever, and Flowers's only hope Is that be
may he named rs Fice-President on \
ticket with some western man
This statement OF the situation By one
OF the ablest and clearest men in this state,
who Is not now, and never has been, in
politics, gives the fairest view OF the contest
az now presented The barnacles that are
now hanging on to the Democratic hulk Of
New York are to-day far more dangerous
20 Cleyeland;s success than the pirates who
are trying 10 drive him or the ship. The
bold-handed men led by Kelly have been
pretty well defeated; but the assumptions
OF the Otner sspirants who have no chance
are still dangerous. IL may be that these
two factions will make an alliance be-
fore Saturday night. II they should no
man can foretcll the result. The chances
would seem to be, however, that the two
forces will operate separately, because
they have different objects IN view. Ii
now transpires that Kely's boom for Bay
ard was only o bubble, blown to attract
big fish who were in the same business
pool with the Senator from Delaware.
They bit, but did not show a winning
strength; and their consultations with the
Chief OF Tammany, with their attendant
results, have weakened rather than
strengthened Mr.. Bayard's candidacy.
With all the bOlstering he has been able to
show only negative strength, and that
has been one Of the causes for Tammany's
weakening.
Ii il only weakening, however, and not
cessation Of hostIlities. Tammany will
keep the fight up until after Saturday. and
nearly thousand braves have already been
enrolled to enter the army Of blowers ut
Chicago against Governor Cleyeland's NOM
nation. All this machinery is but a rcpe-
tition Of the assault upon Tilden in 1876.
Unless all signs and better calculations go
for naught, John Kelly will find this year,
as he did in thai. the vote OF his followers
cast from under him for the man whom he
to-day opposes.
This is the situation rs calm men view 1t
on the eve Of the departure OF all the con-
tending powers for Chicago. IL is 4 mud
die which no man can fathOm. but the best
judgment that can be obtained Is given
above. The supreme effort will be made 10
keep q majority Of the delegation from ell
dorsing Governor Cleveland. Under the
unit rule. which prevails IN this case. il he
gets thirty-seyen votes he controls the en-
tire delegation Of seventy-two. This ought
to give him the nomination; but II is gen.
orally understood tonight that il Tamma-
ny should be defeated in the effort TO pre-
vent Ills uhuS tue sOtc Vi NtN oIk lutl
will turn their attention toward affecting
the delegations from other States. II will
he simply the continuation OF the game OF
bluff that they seem to have already played
out in this section.
II is TO be stated with loud-sOunding
trumpets that Cleveland will be knitted in
New York, il nominated. and kindred
buster OF that character What effect il
will have at Chicago depends very much
upon how well the delegates are forearmed
against such an assault. Here in New
York it Doesn't mean much now. and it
will mean far less after the nomination.
Nine hundred and nInety-nlne Democrats
out Of thousand here aver that after this
skirmish there will be no division, aud that
all factions will unite upon the candidate.
The eyes Of the majority are, however,
turned toward Cleveland, because he seems
to be blown upon the wind Of sentiment
that is tending toward the White House.
The feeling Is that with him success Is as
sured and with any other man there is only