National Republican., 1875-07-23
VICE PREsIDENT WILSON.
How He was Nominated at PhiIsdslphla.


twashingtou correspondence orthe PhilsdeIphii
star.
The letter OF Vice President Wilson, published
broadcast over the country last week, promises 70
develop new feature IN the scheming Of the
leaders OF the Republican party for the success
sion to President Grant. The letter Was osten
sibly mere reply TO the attacks and sneers oi
the Presidents organ, THE REPUBLICAN, but
It's real purpose was 10 put Its author openly 10
the tield for the Presidency. Wilson saw ths,
Bristow, Washburne and Blaine had each some
Characteristic and distinctive strength that made
the newspapers talk OF them continually, and hs
was being left out In the cold. so he embraced the
opportunity offered BY TIE REPUBLICAN to make
some plain assertions about policy for his party
which he thinks will put him at the head Of the
The REPUBLIcAE's reply to Wilson is exceed.
ingly bitter in tone but full Of strong points and
ca cannot help Permanently inIpriDE HIM DOlitIt
for the Vice Presidency was simply an accident
and not the unanimous and spontaneous outburst
Of the feelings Of the people which Wilson would
like to have the world believe.
/ was witness Of the convention myself, and
can therefore bear testimony to the truth Of THE
sisted Of six hundred and odd delegates, and OF
this number there were not more than fifty who
went TO the convention pledged to Wilson, while
tax, who was strongly backed by the President
and Senator Morton. 1t looked like an impo3sf
billty to beat Colfax, but he had o Toe against
to make the effort. These men cared not for
Wilson, but they simply wanted sweet revenge BY
beating Oolfax, SO they took up Wilson for the
reason that there was no other real opponent In
the field.
The fight was begun year or two before the
convention was held, the skirmishers being John
p. Foley, then Of the Washington NATIONAL RE.
PUBLICAN, and ]. b. McCullagb rst Of the Chi.
cago Republican, and afterward the editor Of the
ST. Louis Democrat. These men began BY belit.
success to his free use Of the ranking PRIVILEGE In
scattering seeds and documents, and his glib
tongue In addressing Sunday schools and temper.
ance societies Here were three Of the most prom
by newspaper correspondents at Washington, who
never missed an opportunity to put In q bit where
IL would do the most good.
This Of course, in two years time, could not
fail TO effect. When the convention met the news.
paper men were on hand to continue the ght,
They were old heads in knowing the way conyen-
friend and an anti-Colfax an to control the con-
vention. Col. E. p. Brooks, then Of the New
CAN, brought forth the man, and he proved 10 be
an excellent choice. / mean Judge Settle Of
North Carolina he was, comparatively speak.
was to have as competitors two such well. Known 1
politicians as Jos. +. Orr, of South Carolina and
ex-senator Henderson, Of Missouri.
we'll known the name Of settle. Foley n pat him ie
nomination in THE REPUBLICAN,, and IN the pre-
lininary dispatches from Philadelphia It was an
that Settle was to be president OF the Convention
This had Its effect and the result was after hard
and close fight in the committee on permanent or
herd, Of this city, at the personal solicitation Of
the newspaper men, giving the deciding vote,
changing from Henderson, for whom he had been
voting. This was an immense advantage.
The next point was the security Of the Penusyl-
vanis delegation, which was divided Colfax hsy.
ing many friends 1t was felt that Senator Uame-
n ~ n MA N 20 Ina 49,
as he was an immense favorite with the ne ewspaper
correspondents, the boys tackled the old gentle
man TO aid them. He didn't care for Colfax, and
was not strongly impressed with Wilson, but he
consented to give his aid. Judge Schotield, a
member of the delegation, also sided with the.
boys, and the result was the Colfax men were
eeatsni e tne delegation deciding to vote as unit
This was tremendous lift, and on the top of II
came the capture Of the Missouri delegation
Of the st. Louis Democrat. Judge Settle followed
with good share Of the Southern Delegations
and General Dodge with majority Of the Iowa
delegation. So, when the convention came 10 bal.
lot, Q careful count OF noses brought Wilson up
from nifty delegates, the number who came
pledges 20 him 6y their constituents, to about
nifty by the exertions Of the anti-Colfax newsps-
per men.
Colfax had nearly the same number. there bs
ing some forty or ffty who would vote for neither
until they had cast complimentary votes for some
fayorite outsider. These were divided about half
nnu nhH peIWeen WILSON ana Oollax, SO the point
to be secured was, when the calling of the roll
was finished, to have the Wilson men among those
recognized first by the president, for success all
depended on who voted hrst. Should the Oolfax
men get In first there would be q regular stam-
pede for him, and nothing under heaven could
stop his nomination. :
Here is where Settle became both powerful
and useful. It was known that Virginia was for
Wilson for second choice, while Tennessee and
Texas we're for Colfsx. SO Il was arranged with
Settle that Virginia should be first recognized
when change Of votes came. She was so recog-
mixed, and the result was the defeat Of Colfax
Had Settle allowed Tennessee and Texas to have
preceded Virginia Mr.. Colfax would be Vice
President to-day instead Of Mr.. Wilson. men.
ton these facts just as sort Of reminder, they
may be Interesting IN the quarrel between the
Vice President and the Presidents organ.
understand Congressman O'Neilrs appointee
to the West Point Military Academy, the son Of
ex-Sherin Leeds has failed 70 pass the necessary
for admission. Now let Mr.. ONeill
leave the appointment open to competition
among the grammar school boys Of his district.
q. .r--. ..a 3, M.