Year: 1879

a SPLENDID CONVENTION, DRlMFULL OF ENTHU-


sIAM-FoSTER TIE BEST ORGANIZER IN THE


sTATK-wHAT DEFEATED TAFT


IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


CINCINNATI, May 2S.--The Republicans of Ohio
have to-day nominated as their candidate for Gov
ernor the best political organizer and the most Wig
orous and successful campaigner IN the State a
man who at four successive elections carried DEM
ocratic district against an adverse majority Of
nearly 5000, and at a fifth election, when the
hostile majority was piled up TO over 1000 by the
Democratic gerrymander Of 1873 pulled it down
10 100. 1t was this splendid record, added to the
reputation gained by eight years good service in
Congress, and to great personal popularity coming
from cordial manners and hearty whole-souled
frendliness which gave Charles Foster his triumph
to-day.


The confidence reposed in him by his party as the
man most titted to lead the fight against the Con-
federate Democracy this Fall, may be established
by the fact that he preferred to of the most
popular of the many strong Republican leaders in
OHIO. Judge Taft was the choice of the Republican
convention for Governor in 1875 but was set aside
by timid party managers. He again the choice


@ convention in 1877, and failed of nomina-
ton only because he persstently refused up to the
moment the balloting closed, TO say he would ac-
ceptthe place He would have been nominated
to-day had not feeling gained ground during the
discussions of the delegates that Mr. Foster was all
in all better qualified TO conduct vigorous can
vass and bring out the full Republican vote 1t
was feared that Judge Tafts decision In the ques-
ton of the Bible in the schools and his speech
against the temperance crusade movement a few
years ago, both of which are in print and would De
available as Democratic campaign documents,
might alienato some voters This consideration
turned the scale and made effective the exceedingly
anergatic canvass of Mr.. Fosters friends.


Itwas n great convention, immense conven-
ton. The huge music hall, seating over 1000
people was packed from of the stage to the
back seats in the top gallery. The full county dele
cations were reinforced by still larger delegations
without credentials save their Republicanism, who
came as workers OF interested spectators; and all
the space in the hall not occupied by the politicians
was crowded by an intelligent and enthusiastic
Cincinnati audience of both sexes. The ladies and
their escorts filed one of the big galleries. When
the applause was loud upon the floor and hats went
up and flags waved, this gallery was half hidden
behind the flutterng cloud of white handkerchiefs.
Ii was an enthusiastic convention, breaking out in
spontaneous shouts of applause at every mention of
General Grant of President HAYES and his vetoes,
Of Secretary Sherman and his financial policy, and,
most of all, at the sight of General Garfield, who
was cheered TO the echo as soon as his big beaming
face and stalwart shoulders appeared above the
crowd upon the stage.


1t was q good-natured convention, too, going
into and through exceedingly close and spirited
contest without the least bitterness oil OF
feeling. The rival candidates were old personal
friends and their supporters acted If they meant
that this friendship should not be chilled by any
thing said or done by them, The delegates take no
heartburnings or resentments home with them TO
cherish during the canvass. The friends OF Judge
Taft will work heartily for Mr.. Foster, and if Mr.
Foster had been defeated, his friends would have
worked Just as heartily for Taft


With this preliminary glance at the general fea-
lures and events of the day we may now follow the
convention through its work.