The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-05
Democratic Contests No New Thing

Tho Democratic State Convention meets
in Saratoga one week from next Tuesday
As the election OF delegates proceeds, It II
clear that there is no abatement in tho vigol
OF fractional controversy. or in the strife FOL
mastery or control OF the party forces by
those prominent In the various districts. Ir
some counties the choice OF Democratic
representatives has been attended with un.
usual turbulence. To the unwary these incl
dents may prove misleading.
1t Is three years since the Democrats in
New York were called upon to put In nomi.
nation n candidate for Governor. Then, by
common consent, the hand Of nomination
pointed. far in advance, fair and flush at
DAVID BENNETT HILL as the assured candi-
date. He was nominated by reclamation,
without even tho formality OF a contest.
Three years before that, In 1885. Mr. HILL,
then acting as Governor, had been nominal
ed with substantial unanimity. 1t Is thus
nine years since there has been any open
and serious contest over the Democratic
nomination for Governor OF New York.
In 1882 there were three leading candi-
dates for the Democratic nomination, sup
ported respectively by the delegates from
N,
by those from Erie. So vigorous had been
the battle for delegates. and so evenly
matched were the candidates, that on the
first bnllot in Syracuse Gen. SLocuM, the
Brooklyn favorite received only ona vote
more than his New York opponent, Mr.
FLOWER. On the second ballot their vote
was the same, each having 1913 supporters,
and Mr.. CLEVELAND. tho Erie candidate,
having II. Yet that year was to be, as the
election figures so soon showed, one Of
splendid triumph for the Democracy. Tho
majority by which its candidates for Gov
ernor and Licutenant-G Governor were elected
reached nearly 2oO.COO
Before the previous Democratic State
Convention, held in Syracuse In 1879, Bit
ter active, shi ting battle for delegates was
waged long in advance OF the Convention
between the partisans OF Governor ROBINSON,
Congressman POTTER, Mr.. SCHELL Mr.. IA
CoBs, and other aspirants.
AT the preceding Democratic State Con-
vention for the nomination OF Governor,
held in Saratoga in 1876, within the shadow
Of the Presidential election. so violent were
the local controversies and so spirited the
rivalries in the choice OF delegates that the
Convention when it met soon got into n
deadlock, and could Only agree by putting
In nomina' ion Mr.. SEYMOUR, candidate
who dlscaimcd further activity in politics,
and gave proof Of his sincerity by per-
emptorily refusing TO run. Another Con-
vention had to be called.
At the Govcrnorship Convention before
that, In 1874. when tho loudly expressed de-
mand OF the entire rank and file OF the party
was that SAMUEL J. TILDEN should lead
the awakened and revivliicd forces of the
Empire State Democracy. the choice OF dele
gates was attended with many lively local
battles, and By tho instruction in several
counties of the delegates in favor OF Judge
PARKER OF Albany who proved to DO Mr..
T1LDEN's most formidable opponent.
Indeed. in tho whole political history OF
the State there has mover been Democratic
nomination for Governor which was not
deemed to be well worth fighting for. This
year, Oh account OF n peculiar combination
OF causes. the battle for delegates is even
more than usually spirited and exciting.