Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-08-24
A LETTER FROM THE
CITY BY THE SEA.
Two political events in
trude upon the Summer
Routine.
The REPUBLICAN, CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTION.
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE COMES
TO THE SALT WATER TO "RAssLE'' WITH
PERPLExING SITUATION.
THE REPUBLICAN, CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTION

IL lhE BALI WATER ~ hA5sLE WiIH
PERPLExING SITUATION.
Two political events intruded them
selves upon our usual Summer routine
last week and disturbed the salt water
atmosphere for the time being. One was
the Republican Congressional Conven-
ton that renominated Congressman
Gardner, and the other was the secret
comfab of the Democratic State Com
mittee with view of "harmonizing"
things preparatory to the fall campaign.
The convention was the deadest thing
that ever claimed to be alive, and if Mr..
Gardner wagers his campaign with such
talent as appeared at the Academy of
Music, he will surely fall into the hands
of the political undertaken. The old
threadbare assertion that Everything
was cut and dried" does not begin to
express the perfunctory mannerin which
the whole thing was put through and
botched. Senator Skirm, who was
slated for permanent Chairman of the
Convention, failed to show up aud the
temporary chairman gave a striking
object lesson in what he didn't know
about parliamentary law and usage.
There was absolutely no life or enthus-
iasm in the convention from start to
finish-not half as much as some of our
colored citizens develop in a precinct
caucus for the choice of delegates to a
state or County Convention. | don't
suppose there was any particular need
of violently "whOpping 'er up for any
thing or anybody, but still from my seat
in the rear should have liked to look
down toward the stage and seen q body
of men who were not asleep. There
was notable absence of prominent
Republican leaders of the district but
that many may not signify anything.
Mr.. Gardner had an overwhelming
majority two years ago, and l suppose
many of the big wigs did not think it
necessary to come bither to attend the
convention when everything had SO
nicely been arranged before hand. AL
though the majority is expected to
reach big figure, would advise Mr..
Gardner not to put too much trust in
the rosy talk that is being poured into
his ear. Politics, | have noticed, some
times produce surprising results, and if
Mr.. Gardner gets one-fOurth of his for
cause for gratitude.
The other political event, to which l
referred in my opening paragraph, was
the meeting of the Democratic State
Central Committee, on Friday last, to
"rassle" with the political situation in
the State. believe it was the first
time they have ever met here as body,
and | hear that all the bald-headed
members were favorably impressed
with the holy show that they witnessed
on the beach at the bathing hour, and
think seriously of making this city their
headquarters during the summer season.
The Union says that nine teen of the
| twenty-one counties were represented,
and all hands were very much in ear
| nest to secure harmony at the forth
| coming State Convention of the party.
Privately hear they are determined to
have harmony if they have to fight for
it. 1t is also announced in the Philadel-
pbia papers that it was decided to drop
national issues and fight the battle on
State lines, with the "old gang" and
the handful of gold democrats to lead
the hosts of democracy. II such is to be
| the program shall watch OUT with
much interest to see how the democrats
of Atlantic County will march to the
new music. For the last two years
they have been solidIy arrayed in favor
of Bryan, the Chicago platform, and the
silver issue, and very much doubt il
they can be made to cline up" under the
leadership of the men who betrayed
them two years ago by voting for Pal.
mer and Buckner, or openly for McKin-
| ley, or did not vote at all. The com.
ments that | heard Friday evening, on
| the street, from some very active
| democrats, were not conducive to such
harmony as the State Committee ex.
poets to put through, and if the feeling
4 among the democratic rank and file
throughout the State is what it is here
| / can promise Col. Price and his collea.
CUES on the Committee the liveliest circus
they ever managed when the State Con.
vention assemblies at Trenton. The
| first step toward Harmony" is evident
| ly the intention of the handful of gold
democrats to thrust themselves for ward
| everywhere, and assume the party
leadership if they are allowed to do So
| Aud right there is where the trouble is
| going to begin. | do net believe that
the gold democrats show down o1
6.373 votes in the State of New Jersey
| in 1896 and of 119 in Atlantic County
will secure for them the positions oi
bell-wethers of the flock under the new
| dispensation without the most vigorous
Kicking" upon the part of the straight
out Bryan men. Depend upon it they
will "kick" like bucking broncho from
the State of Texas when they are asked
| to ''fall in" under the leadership of some
men who are now so red hot for demo.
cracy and who were SO ice-cold for the
regular ticket in 1896. | have heard
lots of talk from the rank md file demo.
Gratis, and it is all to the effect that any
attempt to thrust the discredited gold
democrats into the leadership will result
disastrously to the party in this County,
fit is seriously attempted then look
out for the liveliest kind Of conventions
everywhers with all kinds of red fire
and variegared "cussin" to fit the
| occasion.
don't know as it is incumbent upon
me to worry much over the situation
for we Republicans have troubles enough
| of our own, still always like to see the
democratic factions reaching out to
strip off each others pelts and feel like
doing my part to encourage them.
ARGUS.