The New York herald., 1876-02-28
MORTON FOR SECOND CHOICE" +"
Rise and Fall Of the Cry OF
"Old Bill Allen"
THURMAN REGAINlNG POPULARITY

not nave the candidate guDernat0rlal nonOrs
last year If he had not been assured that victory in
1875 meant fair chance for victory before the National
Convention 1875 This idea was steadily kept in
view by the friends both Hayes and Allen and when
the result OF the contest in October was known the
warm friends OF Governor Allen reluctantly withdrew
him from the list OF possible candidates. Since the
close OF the campaign much quiet but effective work has
ceen done to unite the Ohio Hayes, at least TO
persuade them to avoid committing themselves TO any
other candidate The recent letter from Senator Sher-
man meets with response from majority OF
the leading republicans OF the State and has tended to
unite fuse into practical shape the various efforts
that have been made to unite Ohio for Hayes.
HAYES QUALITIES.
General Hayes Is in many respects considered q very
sale candidate, nasmuch as his army record is good,
though specially brilliant one his political
cedents unusually pure Tor one who has been SO
prominently before the people in these days Of brittle
characters He is personally popular, makes friends
readily and is sound the money question 1t is sell
dom be found who polite in all his
duct as General Hayes He is purely negative man,
and while he has unusual power tho way of absorb
ing the ideas and opinions of other men. at the
time has equal power in retaining his own opinions
upon all important questions.
As tho cap sheai to these qualities all desirable in
an aspirant for Presidential honors, Hayes is rich
man, thanks to the kindness OF an opulent uncle
lately deceased. II now safely be set down that
majority Of the leading republicans of Ohio and the
masses stand committed TO Hayes first choice
Taxing It for granted that Hayes is good first choice
OF the 0hioans the question who will. be second
choice is order. The frequent excellent cam
paigns made in Ohio by Senator Morton has won for
him some very stanch admirers. among them several
admirable wirepullors, who in q position TO do
their man much good
THE SECOND
At one time Mr.. Blaine stood very high with Ohio
people, but his timdity last fall in refusing to come
West 10 help the republicans out Of tight place pretty
eiectually settled his case in Ohio
The determined stand taken by Mr. Bristow has won
him golden opinions here but he has special Presi-
dental strength at this time but has good chance to
grow
There a time when James A. Garfield might have
had almost any thing Ohio for the asking; but
that was in days agone, and although some OF his
friends in his own district attempting work
up interest for thor favorito 1t must fall stborn
Other candidates somewhat prominent in the East arc
not spoken OF here and a wind up II is reasonably
certain that to-day Ohios second choice would be o. r.
Morton.
THE DEMOCRATIC OUTLOOK
II would, indeed require least the Of prophet
to give with any degree Of satisfaction the rs choice
OF the Ohio democracy the Presidential question.
Here political chaos has again. 1t would be too
long story to tell OF all the which led this
BeheEaiiy mixed OF AFFAIRS among the Ohio
democracy, because they run back long way and
have many rainlications
For many years Senstor-or, he Is generally
known IN the eWest Judge-Thurman resident here,
having at one time occupied seat upon the Supreme
Bench He was well-to-do citizen entertained hand
soinely, had large practice and admitted to be
one OF the best lawyers IN the state When the-war
broke OUT he being vrgnian and bitter partisan.
allowed himself to side with the antiwar faction OF his
party HIS WIFE, also vrginian, openly IN sym
pathy VITA the peace party aud being Of svmpa-
lhetic nature brought much local odium upon herself
itE Enuln
Chase. Upon the return Of Naandgham from his
Canadian exile, he Vallandigham) at to
work for ofiee using his martyrdom as lever
TO elevate himself to the coveted placc-thc
United States Scnatorshp-about TO be vacated
by Ben Wade As this was the place Mr.. Thurman
had in his minds eye a very strong rivalry soon
sprung up between these gentlemen. Thurman
cold, calculating, was in sympathy with the peace
wing OF has party and eminen,ly respectable vallan-
dlgham was IN TACT, cold stone, yet impulsivo
with him man OF large and warm heart He had suf-
Tered Tor the sake Of the cause had been driven from
homo by federal bayonets had been forced live upon
eharliyi Was SUI poor while his opponent was rich,
and was qualified Tor the place sought The contest
parted the party IN twain, yet In the end Thurman
was the victor but took long years and the death Of
hs opponent TO heal the wounds by this fight
Then there season of galvanisn for the Ohio
democrats Campaign after campaign came 10 naught
ana at last the seemed hopeless that IL
difficult to ind men who competent that weru
willing TO make race Tor State offices and contribute
the necessary campaign expenses. IL in 1873.
when matters looked as dark they had that
Senator Thurman took his place at the helm.
The Liberal Democratic Convention, rs IL called
had been held, at which General fom Ewing had pub
lcly declared that he iully convinced that the
democratic party as an element OF reform had ceased
Candidates state oices had been nominated
machinery set In motion for the party and Senator
Thurman had just arrived, tired and travel stained
from Washington
'oLD BILL ALLgx"
Calling upon the gcntionan at his hotel TO interview
him on the situation | assured by hIm that, no
matter what others might think say he iully
satisfied that there was yet great future Tor the demo-
cratic party IN Ohio hc said he was here TO take per-
eOnal charge Of the campaign, felt certain all
would yet be we'll Some time after the public were
startled learn that TEurmans candidate for Governor
William Allen, OF ruit Hil Ross county. The
elder politicians know that Mr. Allen the uncle or
Mr. Thurman and that be had been a power In the land
nj one time, but the masses knew nothing OF the
and learned then Tor tue first Time that such person
existed Al once the cry OF ''Old Ball Allen
vouched for by Thurman IL took but little time TO
make II immensely popular. In due time the state
Convention was called and "Old Bill Allenr
Nominated amid great enthusiasm. Senator Thurman
settled down To Office work here and his uncle
victory tina: made the hearts OF the long
democracy leap Tor JOY. IL was splendid campaign,
ana 10 MI Thurman was gwen the glory aud. addI-
lion, reelection 10 the Senatorship
The names OF Allen aud Thurman we're as watch
words Tor some time but the Senator had counted
without his host Alter time the name OF the man
who had invented Allen as gubersatorial candidate
aud carried him victory heard and less and
then IL discovered that "Old Bin Alcn was the
stun that Presidents made Of his niends arguing
that " he could transform strong republican
State INTO democratic stronghold what might
he not do as q Presidential candidate. Mr. Thurman
quite enough heard OF these rumors, and no
uoubt concluded that individuals as well republics
are ungratcfu Governor Allen, while declaring that
he altogether In the hands Of his friends without
N doubt commenced 10 see visions OF the White House
q few months alter his Inauguration.
RISE FALL of BILL ALLEN
The democratic slogan had so long been "Old Bill
Allen and victoryih that mouths democratic refused
to shape themselves for any other The papers
took It up, forgetting even their old avortc, Mr. Pen
dlcOu Tor the nOncc, well Knowing they at every
cry tearing At The heartstrngs OF their ancient enemy
Ar. Thurman. When tho next State campaign came
on Mr. Thurman discovered that his throat was badly
Affected aud tna his weary frame needed rest, which
positively forbade his taking active part In the cam
paign, aud 50 he hied him away to the quiet mountains
nnd there remained during most OF the campaign.
Unfortunately tor him. his throat sufficiently re-
sovorcd 10 permit him 10 make several speeches
In Maryland and then At grew again This
temporary illness OF his throat very unfortunate
thing Tor the senator, and his Buckeye countrymen
queried that II well enough speak In MARYLAND WHY