Omaha daily bee., 1892-02-12
HUNTING THE TAMMANY TIGER
Anti-Hillites Come Out in Force and Join
in the Exciting Chase.
HILLS SNAP CONVENTION CONDEMNED
Vigorous Resolutions Against the Action
OF Dcmocracy's Ross Deuounce Hill's
Actions-An Enthusiastic Meeting
ing of New York Antis.


mass meeting of democrats to protest
against holding the democratic state convon-
tion for the election of delegates to the ma
tlonal convention on February %, aftor only
four weeks notice.
1t is this convention which has been de
nominated as Senator Hills snap conven-
ton" and the meeting tonight was promoted
largely by the adhorents Of ex-President
Cleveland They affirm that the call for a
convention IN February was a devious
method designed TO suppress expression and
representation in behalf of their favorite
and the demonstration tonight was designed
to publicly voice their protest.
Among those who signed tho call were
Frederick r. Coudert, ex-Mayor Daniel F..
Tiemann, Oswald Ottendorfer, E. Ellery
Anderson, Charles }. Canda Orlando B. Pot
ter ex-Mayor Grace, Mayor Edward Cooper,
Everett Wheeler William B. Curtis Eugene
Kelley, ir., ex-Justice Charles p. DAILY, ex'
Mayor Abram >. Hewitt, Henry c. Mar
quand, Clifford A. Hand Henry r. Beck
man, ex-United States District Attorney
Stephen A. Walker and ex Secretary of the
Treasury Fairchild.
Crowded to Sufocation.
Long before o'clock, the hour set for
opening the meeting, every seat and avail
able inch of standing room in the historic
hall was occupied, and many of those who
were tardy in seeking entrance were unable
to get in. Chairs filed the large platform
and these also were occupied early.
From 1880 to s o'clock Gilmore's band en-
tertained the large audience with musical
| selections and then Oswald Ottendorfer,
editor and proprietor of the New York
Stats Zetung, stepped forward to the
speakers stand and called the meeting to
order. When the hearty applause with
which he was received had subsided suf-
tciently to permit his voice to be heard he
said in part:
"You prove by your presence here. tn at
you feel deeply the indignity and the insult
cast upon you by the attempt to be repre-
| sented IN the democratic national conven-
tiou by delegates nominated through
maneuvers and schemes, arranged in mid
winter, without consulting or giving an Cd
portunlty to express the views and wishes OF
the democratic masses in relation to ques-
tions which influence materially our welfare
and the future Of our common country. 1t
is intended to treat you as q mass of unruly
children whose opinion is not worth while to
be listened to, and who have nothing to do
but to comply implicitly with the command
OF their preceptors.
Schemes of Intriguing Politicians.
"lne WnOle proceeding OF Hnc democratic
state committee is as provoking as II is un-
called for and its only explanation is that it is
well adapted to promote the schemes of some
intriguing politicians who have reason to
avoid the open daylight and to try to secure
a snap Judgment BY which they can pretend
to represent the democracy of the Empire
state. 1t is not for the promotion Of the amoi-
tion OF this or that man, or for the realization
of the schemes of this or that clique, but for
the triumph of principles, in the defense OF
lt1-b binnf ha nj ha a1 Stata
has achieved its victories during the last
two years, that we enter our protest to the
appointment of delegates from this state by
the convention to be held at Albany on Feb
ruary 22.
''1he members of the democratic state COM
mittee have made fearful mistake and q
mistake in such matter is worse than a
| crime Seeing the results Of their error, /
| hope they will retrace their steps and adopt
measures in accordance with the require
ments of fairness and justice. If not, then
| they have 10 take the responsibility for the
disastrous consequences that may follow
their unwise and inconsiderate action."'
Want the Right to Express an Opinion.
| Mr. Ottendorfer then presented Frederick
| Il. Coddert as president Of the meeting, and
when the lawyer advanced TO the desk he
| was greeted with rousing cheers. Address
| ing the great throng, and in speaking of the
| object of the meeting, Mr.. Coudert said il
] was not to denounce or glorify any human
| being, but something more important 'Itis
| the assertion OF the right to express our opin-
| ion and manifest our will upon every subject
| of pu ollc ana political concern. To curtail
| speech has been in our catechsm the worst
| otfense that could be committed against lib
orty.n
Then" said he. ''the great mass of us
are loyal to the party and faithful to its rules.
| ], for one, do not know among the men who
have been named as possible candidates a
| single man in the democratic party whom
Nyn1 not ~ fnpt n n n ft,1at in
the repu ublican ranks. The most dangerous
| rebellions are those which are based on re-
| sentiment against violations of sound prn,
| ciples. Men. good or bad, pass away, and
movements, founded upon an adherence to or
| dstrust OF the worthier methods cannot
| live forever. A sound principle cannot die;
| IL Is immortal
In naming his objections to the call for a
| convention on the 22d inst, he said: SIN the
] first place | would say that every departure
| from usage and custom requires an plaua-
| tion on the part Of those who make the de-
parture to those who are interested in the
| subject. Custom Is the law. To violate the
| law is q crime. The burden Is upon those
| whose conduct is questioned and not upon
| those who object. We, therefore, are right,
| and may insist upon receiving valid ex-
| PLANTATION. With US custom is king. 1t
! rules judges and courts and parties and com
| mcrce, put we can scarcely be deemed bold
| If we say it is showing us our warrant to
| violate this law.
| Violated the Precedents of IA Century.
"The precedents of nearly a century have
| established uniform rule Why have you
changed i'll If you have good reason, pro
duce IL.
"We do not deny the Importance OF organ
| izaton. A large amount of authority and
! power must be allowed TO those who are
| trusted with the execution OF party's
| wishes. These men who are called the
| leaders must bear in mind that they are
| trustees and agents, not autocrats and prin-
| cipals, so that they cannot substitute their
| will TO that of the mass of their political
| brethren. | am making no objections to So
! called bosses or ocalled machines; if
bosses are merely leaders, faithful TO their
/ trusts they are as necessary in politics as in
war, and calling them bad names does not
| change the situation or belltte their power.
| IL may be said that there was power enough
| in the leaders TO fix such dates as they
| might deem eXpedient for the holding
| of conventions. In certain measure this is
] true but when the power was conferred upon
| them IL was with certain reservations
reservation, first of good faith. Has this
been done in good faithl II was Intended
that ordinary usages should be followed, 1t
was intended that all democrats should have
an opportunity 10 register their voices 1t
was not intended to cut on thousands Of men
| without regard to right in order 10 serve q
! purpose Itmay be that no purpose exists