New-York tribune., 1879-12-18
THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
SENATOR CAMERON ELECTED CHAIRMAN.

The Republican National Committee met
at Washington yesterday, and elected
Senator Cameron as chairman. He re-
ceived q majority of only two votes. much
to the surprise of his friends, who expected
he would be chosen almost unanimously. The
National Convention will meet in Chicago
June 3, 1850. A few comments on the action
of the Committee by Republicans in Wash
ington are given below.
THE CONVENTION TO MEET IN CHICAGO.
WORK OF THE NATIONAL REPu uBLICAN COMMITTEE
Mr.. CAMERONs VOTE SMALLER THAN HIS
FLTENps EXPECTED-DRlEF COMMENTS BY RE-
PUBIICANs.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRrBUSEl
WAsHISGTON Dec. 1.-THE proceedings of the
National Republican Committee to-day were
watched with lively interest by Republican poll
tcians in Washington. The interest IN the ques-
ton of the chairmanship increased as the
hour set for the meeting of the committee
approached. Ii took the committee two hours
to effect temporary organization and to dispose of
the claims of those who appeared as tho proxies Of
absent members. A lively discussion took place rs
TO whether Mr. Purman, OF Florida, or q new men,
Der appointed by the State Committee recently
should he admitted. The point was settled in Mr..
Purman's favor.
The result of the vote for chairman was as fol-
lows Senator Cameron, % cx-Congressman Av-
crill 10; L. C. Platt. 1. This vote a surprise
to the Cameron men, both in and ont of the conf
mittec They had expected on almost unanimous
vote for their candidate. This expectation appears
to have been based on various considerations. The
Grant men and the Sherman men were all for Cam
cron. Some of iir. Blaines Western friends also
favored Mr.. Cameron. 1t Is asserted, too,
that not only did Republican sena-
tors press the candidacy Of Mr.. Cameron,
but that " Administration influence" " was exerted
in bis behalf. BY the Administration influence"
is probably meant the influence exerted by sccre-
tary sherman. Regarding the strength of this
there are some differences of opinion but the gen
eral belief among members Of the Committee up
pears to be that it is not very strong One member
f the Committee said to a TRIBUNE correspondent
tonight that he does not believe there is Sherman
man on the Committee. "Of course" said he,
there are some who tell you that they are, but
they do it with wink"
Another member OF the committee said to-ngh :
Senator Cameron was placed in nomination by
Mr.. Gorham who battled against the Republican
ticket in the last election III California. He re-
ceived the votes Of all the members from the
Southern States, except or two. Among the
Southern members are Mr.. Purman. of Florida,
whose residence in that State and whose Republi-
canism are both disputed; Mr. Patterson, of South
Carolina, who is not resident OF that State. and
Mr.. Haralson, of Alabama, and Mr.. Deveaux, of
Georgia. who are Treasury employees. The mem-
bers of the committee from all of the safe Republi-
can States except two or three voted for Ayerill"
Mr. Platt, of Ncw-York who received one vote
for chairman was not a candidate for that posi-
ton. On being asked whether he thought the
selection of Mr.. Cameron as chairman has any sig
nificance with reference TO the prospects Of any
particular candidate for the Presidency Mr.. Platt
said that Senator Cameron expressed himself yes
tcrlay as being "a Grant man, first, last and all
the time.'
While il is true that the selection of q
chairman mt this time can have little po-
lltical significance, there il no doubt that
those who are hopeful that General Grant
will be the candidate, and who voted for Mr.. Cam
eron because he is supposed to represent the Grant
movement, are considerably disappointed because
Mr.. Cameron's majority was not greater. Several
Southern members of the committee in particular
expressed considerable dissatisfaction at the re-
suit.
The drift of sentiment toward Presidential candl-
dates among members of the committee sets
strongly in favor of Senator Blaine. Even some
of the strongest Grant men admit that the feeling
iaVOr OF Is very In tner SIat
A member of the committee. who is in position
to kuow said to-day: " have, of course. no direct
knowledge on the subject of General Grants
wishes regarding the Presidency. know Senator
ConkIing is confident that General Grant wants the
and yOu will observe that with all
those who assert that Grant is not in the field the
wish is father to the thought"
The selection of Chicago as the place for
holding the convention was expected. but
at one time this afternoon the advo-
Gates of Chicago were considerably disturbed.
That was when the claims of Saratoga were being
urged in an eloquent speech. The selection of
Chicago meets with general satisfaction. The time
of meeting, June 3, was fixed without much dis
cussion, as q compromise between May 20 and O
day late in June.
At the meeting Of the Committee this evening.
the following resolutions of respect to the memory
of the late Chairman were adopted:
Rssolred That in the death OF the Hon. zachariah
Chandler, late chairman OF the National Republican
Committee patriotism has lost one 0 It's greatest up
holders the Union OF lts noblest detenders liberty
an and devored friend the public a servant and
this committee an able, IN energetic and ntirng officer
Resored. That tender the bcrcaved family in their
an cnn deepest sympathy, realizing that his
ory VIII be fresh and green. sustaining and comforting
Rcsoircd That THIS preamble and these resolutions
will bo spread upon the Journal OF the committee aud
copy thereof De forwarded to the family Of our late
Speeches euogizlng the late Senator Chandler
were then made by Mr. Root. of Chicago. Repre-
sentative Frye the Hon. VIM. T.. Chandler ex-C;ov-
ernor Mccormick and others. Later motion was
made to authorize the Mississippi member of the
committee 10 issue call for a Republican State
Convention in that state. with u view TO the rcor-
eanlzation of the party there. but the committee
decided not TO take any action The most clear and
well defined opinion to be found among members
of tho committee on any political subject, Is that
the republicans can carry the country next year
with any good candidate for President.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE MEETING.
AN ANALYSIS or THE VOTE FOR CHAIRMAN.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBUSEl
WAsHI.GrDN. Dec. 17.-As near as can be ascCr-