Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-01

New York Herald November 2Tth,
II will appeal from the machine to the
people. This very night | will issue dec
laration to the electors of the state telling
them the proposition YOU have made to me
and the reasons why | ain not able to &c.
cept IT. | will ask them to choose between
us. Such is my confidence in the people
that before the week, ends | believe your
machine will be IN revolution against you.
cannot make the promises you ask,
In the foregoing words, am authenti
cally informed, Grover Cleveland replied
TO the proposition made by Lieutenant
governor Sheehan at the memorable Vic
toria Hotel dinner Of September sth,
which has been productive of so much
gossip, speculation and comment.
Whether the Presdent-eiect did at any
stage of the conference blurt ont the eS-
pletive attributed TO him by Mr.. Shcarman
Is point on which testimony differs, but
have the assurance of an intimate friend
of Mr.. Cleveland that the words above
quoted formed the substance OF his re-
Spouse to the demand that he surrender to,
or at least give definite pledges tv, the
machine
1t was a momentous meeting, and a
trustworthy report of what occurred is
naturally interesting 10 the public.
Besides Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Sheehan,
there were present at the dinner Mcssrs
Edward Murphy, Jr., William c. Whitney,
Richard Croker and Don NJ Dickinson
READING THE RIOT ACT.
~ am going to read the riot act to HIM
tonight Mr.. Sheehan said at q o'clock in
the afternoon, as he emerged from MIR.
Murphy's room at the Hoffman House.
where be and Mr.. Murphy had determined
upon the course to be followed at the
dinner The meaning of the riot act"
sMr. Sheehan was going to read became
known 10 eight or 10 persons in the party
before nightfall, and one OF them warned
Mr.. Cleveland, who consequently hall
time to reflect and prepare his answer to
the demand which was e be presented,
My informant states that Mr., Shechan
in making his communication, touched
lightly on the incidents preceding the M
tienal Convention, and the friendship
which he and Mr.. Murphy, Of the regular
Democratic state organization, had felt for
Senator Hill. He brought to Mr.. C!eve-
and's attention the strength of the urgaui-
atlun, its control OF the machinery OF the
party and the fact that it embraced work
ing and influential Democrats ia every
county of the state.
81 am not speaking for Mr.. Murphy or
myself" he is described rs saying II am
talking for the hundreds and thousands of
Democrats in this state who are the spine
and vitals of the party. They want to
know the treatment they are to receive
from the new Democratic administration.
'Ihey suspect they are not well liked by
you, that their friendship for Senator Hill
may have biased your mind against them
and they desire assurances that III the
event OF victory they will receive the re.
wares which they fight TO win.
Mr.. Sheehan's earnest and warm argtl-
nent culminated in blunt proposal that
Mr. Cleveland should bind himself To give
he distribution OF ali adequate share Of
Jhe Federal patronage in this state to the
regular organization and that all under
Nanding in detail should be arranged be,
tween the PRESIDENTIAL nominee, ON the
one hand, and Messrs. Murphy and Shee
han on the other. An ntimation wa.
made that without promise they might
not be able to stimulate their following t.
an enthusiasm sufficient for success. They
feared the loss of the state,
Alr. Cleveland was pictured to me a!
listening attentively to this statement anC
encouraging fullness of explanation by
questions and INTERCEPTED remarks. MessrS
Whitney, Croker Dickinson and MUrph,
were silent witnesses. " hen the lieutenant
governor ceased speaking Mr. Cleveland
reply came, clear and hard, as quotet
above
1t had been resolved by Mr. Cleveant
TO inform the newspapers at once of tn,
demands made upon him. The Demo
ctauc national committee would have re
fused any longer to recognize the Demo
cratic state committee, With Mr., Murphy
Its chairman, and MIR. Shcehan, its cam
paign chairman, as representing tn
democratic party The "anti-suuppers'
IN the city were prepared TO seize that a
the opportunity to jump ont with secon,
Democratic city and county ticket Rcyul
would have begun against the chicltain
OF the state organization everywhere, and i
was otconsidered ilnprObablc by Mr.. CleyC
lands advisers that a majority If tile stat
committee would have voted to eXpel MIR
Murphy and Mr.. Sheehan.