The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-24
A PAGE OF CURRENT HISTORY.

The inner history of the late Democratic
convention at Fresno is worth recording, be-
cause il sheds light On modern political
methods When the Democratic leaders
met a. Fresno on the 18th inst. they had one
purpose q view, to wit, to slight Cleveland
and TO boost Hill. This was the purpose OF
the ring which dominates the party-Eng-
fish. Foote and Tarpey, the lieutenants OF
the late Mr.. Buckley, and the conductors OF
the party organ. Not that they expected
to be able to down Cleveland or to nomi-
nate Hill; but they proposed to resent the
stubborn refusal Of Cleveland ID his last
term to accept their dictation in the matter
OF patronage. The general demand Tor
Ostrom as chairman Of the convention inter
fered with their plans. He had no sights
to avenge, and Cleveland suited him well
enough whisper was set on loot that
Ostrcm had made terms with the railroad,
and this was used to discredit a man who IS
incapable Of falling down. By system OF
lOg-rOlliug, and by promising places on con-
vsntion committees and on the State Cen
tral Committee a number Of southern dele
gates were won over. and a pure and popu-
lar citizen having been induced TO accept
the nomination Tor presiding officer the ring
steTs succeeded in capturing the organiza-
ton.
Their purpose was apparently within
their grasp. Their chairman carefully
avoided any reference to Cleveland in his
speech Of acceptance. The committees were
all organized so as to carry out their puT-
roses, and on Tuesday evening it seemed
certain that Cleveland was going to receive
a mortal blow at the hands OF the conyen-
ton. But that night. when no enc in Fresno
slept the plot revealed itself to mems minds
and an overwhelming public sentiment
burst forth among the people at large. Be
fore morning broke it became evident that
If the attempt TO use the convention TO
aYenge the personal wrongs Of Messrs. Eng
fish and Hearst and the ring was persevered
in there would be trouble. and the conYen-
ton would break up in a TOW. This was
not what the ring wanted. 1t would be
ruling their party of the course. They took
The back track and swiftly. One and all
avowed than they were original Cleveland
men and had always hated Hill from the
bottom IF their hearts. In their haste to
join the Cleveland procession they re-
sembled crabs which. left ashore by re-
cediDg tide, scramble madly TO reach some
TiYuet which is ebbing to the sea
But if they were baked in their original
design they were not to be diverted in their
secret purpose 10 throw the mantle OF OBJ
liyi0n and charity over the bOCdier with
whom they had trained so long They re-
fused to utter q " ord Of censure of Buckley
or his methods. 4 small resolution denOun-
cling bribery and corruption would have
been soothing to honest delegates. But the
ring would have none Of il. Had they not
eaten Buekieys salt and slept under his
tent? Ostrom, Clay Taylor and others
thought the case called for little word
showing where the sympathies Of the con-
venlion lay A. j. Clunie offered a resolu-
ton indorsing Judge Wallace in his contest
with the b0oGlers. The cl0yen hoof imme-
diately showed Itself. OF the 1SS members
Of The San Francisco delegation perhaps
one-haf had been active confedsrates Of
Buckley. One Of them was a member Of
the Senatorial combine and would have been
indicted if the Wallace Grand Jury had
been allowed to do its work. This man,
and others around him, set up an upr0ar
and d Tie confusion incident to the close
of a convention the resolution was lost
Upon this incident the Bulletin remarks:
AIesoIulIon eommeBdlng Judge Wallace for
ilt EUliec UT elra u MN III TIC btuutC tdot'S
and recommending him 10 the Democratic
national convention for the Office OF iee-Pres-
dent was declsiYely voted down in the conyen-
ton al Fresno. II would seem that the Judge
was fairly entitled 10 this Endorsement Nor
would there have been anything cut OF tie way
IN the political sense OF the nomination OF q
President from the Atlantic seabOard aud a
Vice President from the Pacific seabOsrd. But
The convention could not be made TO see the
proposition 10 either OF these lights. But why
so far is a profound mystery. Il locks il tie
double Of Buckley vas freely circulating at
Fresno. The ex-boss has no love for lie Supe.
rioT Judge.
The Chronicle very justly observes that
The defeat OF The Wallace resolution was due
10 the influence OF Buckley and bis followers and
supporters in the convention. The Buckley III
huence was strong enough TO prevent The euiogy
Of a man who has declared himself a mortal foe
of tie whilOm Democratic boss.
That IS the opinion Of Democrats rs well
as Republicans. The whole history OF the
convention shows that the present leaders
Of The Democracy cannot be trusted. and
that if they should gain power the en0rmi-
ties which led to the expulsion OF Buckley
would be renewed, and perhaps improved
upon. As matters stand the Democracy
ought to be consistent throughout and in
vite Buckley to return and assume the post
81 nf ha