The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-10
AFTER A DARK HORSE.
The Real Meaning Of the New York
Conference
OF TEE DELEGATES TO CHICAGO
Points to tho selection Of Man Who
is Able to Defeat Cleveland for the
Nomination..-Itis Anything to Beat
tho stunned Prophet.-cTeveland's
Followers Call it Very Bad Politics

New York, Junes.- Anything to beat
Cleveland. That is what disinterested
observers as we'll as the friends Of the
ex.president himself say is the purpose
of the Hill Democrats, as indicated by
their action at the Hoffman House con-
ference on Monday night. The leaders
Of the regular forces talked in such a
way yesterday as to lend color to this
judgment upon their position, though
they were loud in their assertions, that
their only purposeis to nominate Mr..
Hill at Chicago.
Mr.. Murphy'sintervicw in yesterdays
Rrald, in which he said that Mr..
Cleveland would, II nominated, fail OF
securing within $4,000 OF the full Demo-
cratic strength, created a great deal OF
interest. Mr.. Murphy's views were In
tended to influence delegates from other
states who may have thought the New
York regulars were on the verge, as has
been repeatedly asserted, OF turning
their support to Mr. Cleveland after
their complimentary vote on the first
ballot for Mr.. Hill.
That 1t did have its influence there Is
no doubt. One Southern politician OF
prominence, Congressman Catchings,
Of Mississippi, laid considerable stress
jim an interview / had with him
upon the necessity Of the Chicago con-
yention placing in nomination a man
whose ability to carry this state was
unquestioned.
Though the leaders OF the early con-
yention Democrats maintain in public
their faith that they can yet nominate
Hill, they offer no figures 10 bear out
their statements. Thus far tho figures
are all the other way. Good judges Of
politics believe the action OF the con-
fereuce was to bind the delegates firmly
together SO that when the tims came
they could be swung from Senator Hill
to an available dark horse instead OF to
Mr.. Cleveland.
i'f = Mr.. GRAczs VIEWS
William r. Grace said yesterday that
the "snap" convention Democrats were
not SO eager to nominate Hill as to de-
feat Cleveland. 1 asked him what he
Thought OF the Hoffman house con-
ference. He replied:
81 don't think they are engaged in
good politics. It's indicated plainly by
their actions that they are not trying so
hard to secure the nomination OF Mr..
Hill as to keep it from Mr.. Cleveland. l
don't think their work will affect our
plans. OF course, they simply did what
they were instructed TO do"
Mr.. E. Ellery Anderson, another prom
inent Cleveland Democrat, said:
II don't think that the action OF the
Hill Democrats can have any possible
effect on the result. They are acting
like a lot OF school-boys. The resolu-
ton adopted last night can be set aside
whenever majority Of delegates so de-
eide, and in this respect it has no more
force than the original instructions given
them at the February convention. II
these delegates were so sure that their
candidate is the only great Democrat
who ought to lead the party in this
years campaign and whose wise views
OF policy entitle him TO the confidence
OF the electors, they would have waited
until they reached Chicago and there
relied upon the force Of the presentation
Of their case to insure the nomination
stteylso much desire"
: "Do you think" l asked, Chat they
expect to secure Mr.. Hills nomina-
"No 1 do not They wish rather to
defeat Mr.. Cleveland and throw their
strength to a dark horse"
= tTo you think It will be FlowerH"
fsaI would rather it were Hill than
Flower"
0Would they knife Mr.. Cleveland IL
he should receive the nomination.
1T don't know that they would 60 so
far as thst-no, they would not-but' it
is hardly to be expected that they
would be so enthusiastic in his support
as in that of Mr.. Hill"
TALKING IT OVER.
The Democratic leaders who en-
giIeerel the Monday night conference
were apparently iubilant at the success
Of their plans yesterday. Most Of those
from other parts Of the state remained
in this city, instead of returning yester-
day morning, as they had intended.
Among these were Lieutenant-Goyer-
nor Sheehan, Chairman Murphy, Score.
tary OF State Rice, Comptroller Camp
bell, Treasurer Danforth, Senator
Walker and ex-Treasurer Fitzgerald.
They were at the Hoffman House talk.
ing over the big meeting Of the previous
night.
Z That they had been worried by tho
numerous reports Of OBJECTIONS in the
ranks OF the delegates Of the February
convention was plainly revealed in the
way they talked. Previous to their
conference they would not admit that
these stories could influence anybody
either in or out OF the state. Here is
what Chairman Murphy said TO me
yesterday:
III there were any doubters before,
the action OF the delegation last night
should settle their mind. OF course we
only reiterated what tho convention ct
Albany had made clear."
Lieutenant Governor Sheehan also
spoke in the same strain.
"There have been widespread re-
ports" said he, "that New York would
desert Senator Hill after the first ballot.
Our action has given the lie TO all the
enemies OF Governor Hill. The reso-
luton Is our address to the Democrats
Of the United States"
: Ex-Governor Campbell, Of Ohio, ar