Year: 1873

WORCESTER, Mass. Sept. o, 1873.


The eve Of Massachusetts, great political battle
finds Worcester iull OF anxious and active poll
ticians, and every hotel filed to its utmost Ca
pacity, half dozen or more occupying every
seven-by-nine apartment and the halls and corri-
dors even brought into requisition to fur
nish few hours slumber to the defenders and
Offenders of tho terrible and irrepressble Butler.
All past political gathering in Massachusetts dwin-
die into insignincance compared with this; but
Notwithstanding the large number assembled there
is still q conspicuous absence OF those noisy and
disturbing elements Ghch usually characterize
the preliminaries OF an important and exciting
political gathering. The crowds going around are
calm and serene, as If they were engaged
In the ordinary Industrial pursuits of life,
but there is an apparent interest in pending mat
ters which 1t is mposrible to conceal The Butler
ties are conscious OF being outnumbered,
and therefore any just demonstration on
their part would he in exceeding bad
caste. On the other hand, the follow
and supporters OF Governor washburn
know Butler too well not to tear tnat he may come
some nank movement and carry away the nomina-
ton In spite OF them; hence their enthusiasm is
pent up for tho moment. TO say that they are
mildly confident probably best expresses their
FEELINGS and it is equally reasonable to assert that
the friends OF


THE INDOMrTABLE BENJAMIN


are not altogether discouraged; although at the
present time it seems as II they were hoping
against hope. The headquarters OF both fractions
are IL the Bay State House and the parlors of the
rival candidate have been crowded until
midnight. In the washburn rooms the
friendly delegates reported and registered
Immediately upon arrival. As their favorte col
umn OF figures swelled up there was q series OF
mutual congratulations, but scarcely demonstra-
ti0n OF noisy nature, but rather OF an enthusi-
asttc siience-if such term is possible There was
noticeable absence among the Washburnites OF
those State House officials, usually seen here on


THE EVE OF A REPUBLICAN CONVENTION,
not even Sergeant alarms Morrissey, Secretary or
State Warner, or the almost omnipresent Goodwin
of Lowell are here; and the strange rumor is
abroad that they Will not be here tomorrow.
There seems to be an entirely new element
not not to . say new new, ge3eration-mixing in
not arrive until late in the afternoon. He came
on the three O'Clock express train from Boston,
and was accompanied by 400 or 500 delegates and
others interested In his success defeat He took
one of the rear cars in the Boston depot; but be-
into one OF the cosy drawing room coaches. on
his way ne had to pass through several cars, and
In each one he was


LOUDLY oHERRRD.


In the smoking car his reception was most enthu-
static and 1t was some minutes before he could get
away from his surrounding admirers. Even a
lady followed into the smoking room to get a
glimpse OF the famous Governor claimant; and,
woad-be ~ Exceiiency, she returned With Als
smile Of satisfaction and triumph that shall not
eral at the Bay State House was OF course, the
signal for applause, and, in fact ne attracted
dors OF the hotel. He spent most OF the
evening in private party, receiving OF course,
mutltudes ess,. Of friends, admirers and advisers
eral Ofice holders custom house and navy yard
officials and the like, to say nothing OF the
for handsome rewards for arduous political
services. Besides all these there was an
Conspicuous. AMONG the Butterflies two wears ago. 10.
including, IN observing friend asserts numerous
cergymen of the Orthodox and Methodist persua-
Buffers determination TO enforce


THE PROHIBITORY LIQUOR LAW


when the people make him Governor. One Of the
funny points discussed among the delegates Is the
resolution concerning General Butler and intended
SO S q Se BY WEd
that Buffers friends would insist upon
the platform being settled before the nomi,
understood to be the purpose. This is perhaps the
best evidence of the sincerity OF the confidence
exhibited by the Butler men at this time. How
candidates backed as General Butler is backed by
the people OF Massachusetts can submit his
chances to convention certain to defeat
him and likely TO carry out their threat OF
passing a condemnatory resolution is nconceiy-
able. He must have strong hopes of success





upon so favorable an opportunity TO withdraw as
the passage OF such q resolve would give HIM
III 1t were done before the nominations were made
In any event it would be test of strength
and 1t might prove great advertisement In But
,erS iaVor any sIch thing as this censnrng
be bitterly fought. For that matter, every point
on the hld Will be bitterly contested. There prob
ably was


NEVER A MORE BITTER BODY OF MEN
gathered IN state or national Convention The
delegates are divided into two factions as hostile





Washburn can Is the most bitter OF the two: they
are even offended because Butler is q candidate at
ALL and they openly declare that man whom they
admit Will have nearly 500 votes in the
Convention is guilty OF great presumption in
wishing to be Governor of the state. 1t is propo
stion so absurd tina 1t seems prove them to he
what Butler says they are-''made with partisan
poison" Yet this is the kind OF chatter which
makes up the conversation Of the Washburn head
quarters. The other side may not have anything
to say that Is WISER but 1t certainly uttcrs nothing
so inenably foolish. Except in TINS one matter the
outside talk has no significance, and does not ind
cate one way or another


TIE ACTION or THE CONVENTION TOMORROW.
the Washburn faction last night and this morning
has considerably abated, and the Butterflies are
hopeful OF success in spite OF the figures OF their
enemies. The figures are tonight matter Of no
consequence, for nobody believes In those OF either
SIDE. Washburn evidently has majority
and IL may be overturned in the Convention II the
management on Buffers side is sku as 1t
ought to be- General Butler himself claims ma
jority tonight and SAYS that the opposition papers
have been making figures lie. All through the can.
vass one OF the reasons which persuade him to
think he is at least partially right and that he will
enter the Convention. Much stronger than his OPP
ponents, or even his friends believed he Is, In the
fact that the executive committee OF the State
Central Committee has given him many OF the dele
cations cassed as doubtful. Butler has majority
In the Convention, and though the votes Oh
every question Affecting the admission of dele.
gates is partisan, It is generally admitted
on both sides, as rule, the action so fur taken
has been Just. or course, good many persons
are heard loudly and proianey declaring that the
committee is giving Butler everything, but IN the
main the committee seems TO have been governed
by fair principles The thirteen men composing
this committee exercise


TREMENDOUS POWER OVER TIE CONVENTION
they pass upon the prtrpd Idcie right OF every
delegate to seat, and, In fact. make the original
Convention, so far as the contesting delegates are
concerned. The committee is composed OF six
washburn, six Butterflies and DR.. Loring. Loring
is put down or Butler, but is only so when Butler