Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-15
A scheme 20 be- Watched.

A report has found its way here from
Washington that scheme to have as
many protectionists chosen as delegates
to the Chicago Convention from this State
as possible. was in course Of development
there last week. The report further says
that a list Of delegates-at-large was made
out with the purpose Of having it pub
lished in the Georgia papers, with
the statement that the names thereon
were prominently mentioned at the capi-
tai for those positions. We are satisfied
that all the names on the list would not
meet the approval Of a majority Of the
Georgia delegation in Congress, and we
are certain that all would not meet the
approval Of any considerable portion Of
the people OF this State. The Washing
ton schemers ought to know, if they do
not, that the people Of Georgia are able to
think for themselves and to look after
their own interests. The selection Of
those mentioned in the Washington
list as delegates-at-large would be a con-
demnation Of the course of nine Of the ten
Georgia Representatives with respect to
the tariff question. and it is safe to say
that the people Of Georgia are not ready
to condemn their Representatives for try
ing to reduce the tariff. The Washington
scheme, however, does not have for its
main object the condemnation Of the
course Of anybody, and if we are not mis-
taken it is not confined to the State of
Georgia. 1t is part Of quiet movement
to nominate Samuel j. Randall for Presi-
dent.
Mr. Randall has known all along that
Mr.. Tilden would not be a candidate, al
though if the newspaper reports do not
do him an injustice he pretended to be-
lieve that Mr.. Tilden would be the nomi-
nee. The reason for thinking that he
knew it is that statement after statement
Of his visits to Mr.. Tilden has been pub
lished, and it is reasonable to suppose
that political matters were discussed at
these visits. Mr.. Tilden, in his letter,
says frankly that he told all who discussed
the question Of his candidacy with him
that he should not allow the use Of
his name. 1t is not reasonable to
suppose, therefore, that so astute a
politician as Mr.. Randall was in
the dark as to Mr.. Tilden's inten-
ton. 1t was to his interest to keep
the impression alive that Tilden would
accept a nomination, because it held the
delegates together. Now Mr.. Tilden is
out Of the way, an effort, in a quiet way,
is being made to have proteetionists
chosen as delegates to Chicago. If the
tariff question is kept in the background
and the right sort Of wire-pulling is done,
it will be easy to get goodly number of
protectiOnists in the convention. For
several weeks there has been reason TO
suspect that a master hand was in quiet
way shaping the character Of the
Atlanta Convention of the 18th. The
movements of this hand have been so
gentle that even those who were affected
hardly realized the pressure. Earnest
tariff reformers, without any apparent
reason, have shown a disposition not to
abandon their princirles, but to be less
outspoken and emphatic in the express
sion of them. All Of this goes to show
what skillful political management can
do. A little taffy, delicately and judi
ciOusly administered, is a great power.
What the Atlanta Convention must
guard against is the selection of delegates
who do not represent the people Of the
State with respect to the most important
issue before the country.
If the indications are correct that efforts
are being made to pack the National Con-
yention with prOtectionists, it is plain, of
course, that an attempt is to be made to
put a doubtful and meaningless tariff plank
in the platform, and, perhaps, to nominate
a protectionist for President.