New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-10
HILLS YOKE TOO HEAVY.
CLEVELAND DEMOCRATS SHOWING FIGHT.
THE STRUGGLE OF THE FACTIONS IN ERIE
coUNTY-PRoTEsTING AGAINST sHEEHAN'S
RULE-oPEYING THE BALL FOR
NEXT YEAR
TRoaA srArT CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.

political club here, the Cleveland Democracy
issued manifesto" to the people denouncing in
bitter terms the Hill Democrats and their plans
TO capture Buffalo for David b. Hill The docu-
ment has made great political sensation since
it indicates that there will be vast amount if
knitting" at the polls this fall in Erie County
when the partisans of the two factions cast their
ballots Some explanation of the quarrel is needed
before quotations can be made from the mani
festo in a way that it can be understood. The
conflict owes its origin to the fact that after the
defeat of Mr. Cleveland for President in 1888
his friends in Erie County permitted William +.
Sheehan, the lieutenant here Of David b. Ilill to
gain control of the organization of the Demo-
cratic party. The Cleveland men this summer
decided TO make an attempt to regain what they
had lost. 1t would not do, in their opinion, TO
have Buffalo, the home of Grover Cleveland when
he was elected President, represented at the Demo-
cratic National Convention of 500 by four dele
gates opposing his nomination and demanding the
nomination of David b. Hill. But Mr.. Hills
friends also perceived how harmful would be the
effect upon Mr.. Cleveland's canvass for a re-
domination if this should happen, and under the
leadership of Speaker Sheehan, they have been
fighting tenaciously TO retain their control OF
the Democratic machine"
Both the Cleveland and the Hill factions en-
deavored fortnight ago to reorganize the Demo
cratic party in Buffalo, each in its own interest,"
and the Hill Democrats were victorious. plan
of organizing the Democratic party in the city of
Buffalo known as "the Reynolds plan,' but with
out question the plan of William F. Sheehan, was
adopted. II practically gives TO Mr.. Shcehan the
power to name the officers of all caucuseS Of the
Democratic party held this year in Buffalo. That
eminent Democrat William NJ. Tweed once said,
with that admirable wisdom in political affairs
which always characterized him: Give me the in
spectors of election and don't care how the peo-
pie vote" Mr.. Tweed could always rely upon
his inspectors counting in his candidates for
delegates 10 Democratic conventions Mr.. Shee-
han, no doubt, also sees the decided advantage OF
having the inspectors of election upon his own side
in the coming struggle between the Hill Demo-
Gratis and the Cleveland Democrats over the cleo
ton Of delegates to the Democratic State Conven-
ton. The Cleveland Democracy's manifesto
deals directly with this question of Mr.. Sheehan
being permitted TO name the caucus officers. The
manifesto" opens with this doeful picture of the
condition of the Democratic party in Erie County :
The Cleveland Democracy deems It proper TO present
TO its members and the Democracy OF Erie County
produced dssension in the party and seriously threat
United and enthusastc party looing forward to cer
divided. dscordant ana arrnyed against itself What
has caused this crisis What Is tne r,medy dnes9 ior
earnest Democrat in this county today What follows
IS an to them true TO the facts and OF vital
moment
That is a gloomy portrait. The other portions
Of the manifesto" are depicted in the same dark
coors It's writer's argue that it is the right Of
those present at caucus to elect their own
officers Long experience" they say, has sane
toned the practice as wise and necessary. IL Is
the only security for fair ciucuses, and caucuses
to be final must be fair. 1t is the sole protection
of the people from "bOssism." The writer's Of
tie manifesto" also point out that Mr.. Shcehan's
new rules for the party organization give his
county committee the right to decide contests
over seats in the various conventions TO be held
Thus" they say, the people by these new rules
are deprived at one blow Of the right to eject
the officers of their caucuses, and the conventions
are deprived of the right TO decide as between
contesting delegations. In other words, the in
tegrity Of our c1ucuses and conventions Is
viciously aSsailed"
Mr.. Sheehan is directly assailed in the =" mani
festo" fact which will not contribute to his
happiness as candidate for Licutenant-Governor
Speaking Of the new rules and of Mr.. Sheehan's
responsibility for debating their adoption, the
writer's Of the document this forcible language
It is apparent that they were adopted at the dicta
ton Of one man by oody of men, the majority of
whom under his dominion through their holding
under his control 1t is absurd TO talk Of those men
free agents who meet to cOnscictousy decide upon
the best rules They received their orders and met
simply to execute them Their actions on the day they
met betrayed Them The unwarranted action Of the
then recently appointed Dairy Commissioner and CHAIR
man OF the County Committee in designating himself
as chairman of the conference to begin with; the
allowance TO each man Of as many votes as he held
" uniO Of attending" shall decide. and the
violation Of a distinct pledge-ali showed that the
majority were merely carrying ont a programme.
Such the adopted rules, and such Is their wretched
Il is easy to point out the consequences Tho
present Comfy Committee Is controlled by man !;
he Is practically the committee lie therefore appoints
all the new ward committees. lie will equally be
each ward committee. lie, as such. appoiuts uic
officers Of every caucuS who certify the results Of the
vote at the caugus and who are the delegates chosen
II he is dissatisfied with their action, all that IS
necessary is to start cOntesting delegation and lie,
as the County Committee, decides between the con,
estants. The same cnucuses thus oiicered choose
the new ward committees and county committee: and
the in control can thereby perpetuatc his power
year by year. This is one-man power with a ven,
ccance II Is pure and unmgated "bossism'
when he sees tit to place the crown on some other
mans head that man will be equally the boss. For
such purposes are the rights Of the masses Of the
Democracy ,aben away from them by these new rules
Shall we submit TO theml
There are of course Democrats who are crying
Peace !" The writers Of the manifesto" in
reply to these men, say:
This is not the time for veal, and tmid connsels,,
They WHO urge peace and acquescence encourage SUCH
aCcressions. Those VINO always yield are alWrs lyEs
chains have been forged to bind the masses OF the
Democracy to bondage. The time 70 strike them on
is now at the very outset. 1t is the masses against
bossism. We counsel you to stand firm In opposition
to these unjust rules.
This means that the Cleveland Democrats intend
70 contest the control Of the Democratic party In
Erie County with the Hill Democrats when the
delegates TO the approaching Democratic State
Convention are elected. They do not surrender
because beaten in one battle Mr. Sheehan may
have the naming OF the inspectors of primary
elections in Buffalo, hut nevertheless they VIII
oppose at the caucuses his candidates and support
candidates Of their own. The outside puDuG OF
Republicans will observe the fight with absolute
Some one is going 10 get hurt Ia
this conflict. and il is not the Republican party.
The sane conflict between the DemocTauc
friends Of David b. Hill and Grover Cleveland
which is witnessed in Buffalo may he looked upon
in, or har