The Indianapolis journal., 1884-06-04
BEN BUTLER's SCHEME.
Why He Accepts the Scattering Nominations
and What He Expects to Accomplish.
Boaton SneciaI IN New York Herald.


and What He Expects to Accomplish.
Boston Special to New York Herald.
General Benjamin F. Butler is constantly do
ing things that surprise the people and polltl-
clans, but it is safe to say that nothing he mas
ever done has created so much genuine although
quiet surprise as his course in the present cam.
paign. He Is stralning every nerve for the Dems
ocratic nomination for the presidency. Every
body knows this. and no one is surprised that it
should be So But what will he do if he be not
nominated at Chicago? This is the puzzling
question: and speculations as to the correct
answer make up about two-third of all converse
| ton when men meet together.
''What is Buffers schemeT is what almost in
varibly follows 'good morning or good
| evening""
''Tll be hanged if can see, "is the usual reply,
and then follows much interesting speculation
Butler wants to be President, but if he can't
be Presdent-and he knows as well as any man
| the many difficulties in the way-he wants to be
| Governor again of Massachusetts,. Unless he
| sticks by the Democratic party he realizes that
he has no chance for either He has accepted,
| fat-footed the nomination of the Anti monopo-
| lists and undoubtedly will accept that of the
Greenbackers. With this siren gth-and with a
man like Butler for leader, it is not small-he
| will appeal to the Democratic delegates in Chi
cago in July. The gentleman who presents
Buffers name to the convention will point out
this fact, and ALSO several other quite as import
ant ones.
If Blaine is nominated by the Republicans
Butler would stand good chance to carry
| Massachusetts for the Democracy Blaine IS
| thoroughly hated here for his well-remembered
| attack in the Senate some years ago. and
thousands of Republicans in the State would not
vote for him even to save the party from ruin
| If Arthur is nominated Butler would be almost
| sure to carry Maine, for Maine has set her
| heart this year upon Blaines nomination. Then
| Butler counts great deal upon his popularity
| in New York and among the laboring men in
| Pennsylvania. Besides this, he will claim a
majority Of the soldier vote throughout the
| North because Of his soldier record, and because
| he favors very liberal pensioning
He will have. probably, on the first ballot, one
| fourth or one-ffth of the delegates. He hopes
to have more and his enemies claim that he will
have less. If this first ballot does not nominate
Mr. Tilden, Buffers forces will stick to him and
i he will have plenty of good workers. He will
keep up the fight until he is convinced it is hope
less and will then throw his strength for his
most powerful rival. giving such to understand
| that Butler is the man who has made him. Then
he will Immediately issue manifesto to the
| Anti-monopolsts, Greenbaokers and thousands
of others of his independent friends who would
| voted for him, asking them to vote for the regu-
| lar Democratic nominee. This letter may read
something like the following
| Mr. - (the nomnee) is in every way worthy of
the support of the Anti-monopolists Greenbackers
| and those independent voters who believe that a
change in the management of the affairs of gov
ernment is needed. He is indeed more worthy than
| [. You can expect nothing from the Republicans.
Your only hope is with the winning party Cast your
votes for the Democratic nominee and he will be
elected will watch sharply to see that your inter-
ests are looked after.
Having used these nominations as a 'pulH in
the convention, when he has no further use for
| them he will throw them over saying that with
| out the Democratic nomination there would be
no chance for him to win, and consequently no
chance for him to aid those who had put their
faith in him. To run against the regular Demo
cratic nominee would be political death in the
nation and in Massachusetts, He is willing to
wait. if necessary four years or eight years. If
beaten at Chicago, he will return to Massachu-
sets, and simply say to the Democracy that he
desires the gubernatoriaI nomination this fall
1t is always his for the asking. And if Blaine is
the nominee at Chicago, Benjamin F. Butler
will be the next Governor of Massachusetts
provided of course. that he is not nominated for
the presidency. This is rough outline of But
ler's plan, and is surely not a bad one