The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-06-03
THE CONTEST.
just Before the Fight.
sANGUINE OF SUCCESS.

There is no possibility of ballot for candi-
dates for President before a late hour on Thurs
day afternoon or Friday morning
The Maine delegation have met and desig-
mated the following as members of committees.
etc.: Chairman of the delegation, Eugene
Hale; secretary, j. R. Libby; assistant secreta-
ry, w. w. Thomas; committee OH credentials,
A. A. Strout; resolutions Lewis Barker; vice.
president, J. r. Bodwell; rules, L. Powers;
national committee, w P. Frye.
Grants only chance of nomination now is
by wearing contest in the Convention during
which his leaders must hold their column of
Southern delegates solid. The New York de-
fection is at last seen to be stern reality, and
it is having great moral effect upon all the
Grant men. In Pennsylvania the ant-Grant
men, after great efforts, have pledged at least
20 of their number against Grant on the first
ballot and the unit rule. Some of them would
go over to Grant after few ballots. but at the
start are against Grant. 1t is this fact which
makes Cameron in favor of keeping up the
Grant fight in the Convention. The theory of
the Senatorial leaders is that Grant could pick
up majority after protracted fight, if he
does not have them at first as they are now
compelled to concede that he will not. If
they take any other candidate Edmunds must
be their man. He is the only available man
who could draw votes from all the other candi-
dates.
Gov Smith of Vermont thinks it is doubt
full whether ballot will be reached before
Friday. There is rumor, however, that one
ballot will be taken on Thursday, just before
adjournment.
The parlors of the Iowa delegation are the
anti-Grant headquarters at the Sherman house.
They are always well filled with an earnest,
thoughtful crowd of Republicans who are for
Blaine first, and the success of the Republican
party all the time.
The Washburne men are inspired with the
belief that his chances are as good as those of
any one now spoken of, and that when a break
occurs in the convention he will come to the
front. Then there is feeling that no dark
horse, Edmunds or any other man east of the
Hudson river can hope for the first place on
the ticket. Illinois State pride looks to WASH
burne fora second choice. The Washburne
men are disposed to believe that the fight in
the convention will narrow down between him
and Sherman In that event, Blaines strength
will probably go to Washburne, including such
states as Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan. 1t
will not be at all astonishing if one of these
States should take up Washburne and make
him their candidate. So he may come promi-
nently before the convention in that way. He
may be nominated in spite of Illinois, though
there is no reason for saying he could not re-
ceive many votes in Illinois, but, if Grant
goes by the board, Washburne is Illinoiss
second choice.
1t was reported inithe rotunda of the Sher-
man House that the Mississippi delegation had
been SOlidifed in some strange manner for
Grant. While crowd was discussing this re-
port, gentleman, who said he was delegate
from that state, remarked that the report was
untrue, and that Mississippi stood six for Grant,
six for Sherman and four for Blaine.
The Evening Journal, a Washburne paper,
says: "The talk about Edmunds as a compro-
mise candidate is not so favorable as it was be-
fore the publication of the statement that the
distinguished Senator from Vermont had writ
ten letter sort of half way declining the nom-
ination. 1t is generally supposed that it is a
positive refusal to permit the use of his name
for the presidency. The truth is, that it only
counseS harmony in the convention, and urges
the necessity of uniting upon some candidate
who will harmonize the conflicting elements of
the party. AT the Vermont headquarters the
feeling grows more and more joyous, the con-
stituents of Edmunds looking upon the strife
in the national committee as very favorable for
their man."
'Gath" had an interview with Gov Foster
of Ohio, and chronicles: "Grant is dead, said
Mr. Foster, II am sure of that"
Ou have no uOllOQ Oh nominating JOnn
Sherman?"
81 don't know but we shall. We are going
to stand right up for him."
''How many votes, Governor, will Sherman
get ON the first ballot?''
81 estimate that he will get 1884, Others put
it higher
''But Sherman does not seem to be drawing
many votes to himself, unless from the South"
"Well," said the Governor, 1--WE are COM
mitted to Sherman and mean to serve him to
our,full responsibility
rs it not strange, Mr.. Foster, that at this
stage of the canvass no new name has been
presented to this convention when it seems as
yet uncertain that Grant can pull through,
and probably certain that none of the leading
competitors can be nominated?"
"It would not be proper for me-" said Mr..
Foster, "to speak of any other man from Ohio
as standing in good position for that nomina-
ton. 1 am for Sherman. l have thought,
however, that Gen 1arfield might be an ac-
ceptable man if all other leading candidates
should fail. But Garfield, like myself, is tied
up. We are for Sherman here"
Senator Boutwell, says OF the unit rule: 81
have not felt that it was important. I have
thought that, whoever was nominated, he
mnst get it by a majority of the votes. do
not think the action of the committee will
have any effect on the chances of Grants sue
cess. OF course, in one sense, the unit rule is
of importance, for, if the vote could have been
counted according to 1t, it would have helped,
nomination, which, L think, is certain. We
are now so near ballot that it is not worth
while to predict. But will say that Grant,
at the most, on the first ballot, will not lack
over so votes of majority" The Senator was
asked if this convention was more bitterly
fought one than that of 1860 in the same city.
He replied that it was not. ''There were then
five candidates-Seward, Chase, Lincoln, Cam
eron and Bates. The result was a dsappoiDt-
ment to the sanguine Seward men, but the
party soon became harmonious"
Mr.. Chandler is exceedingly sanguine of
Blane's nomination, basing his hope ON fresh
accessions from the Southern delegations.
Mr.. Chambers endeavor has been to gain a
substantial advantage from the Grant trium-
virate without causing breach in the party,
and he congratulates himself that he has been
successful. On all hands Chandler's great
head for politics is admitted. Senator Blair
of New Hampshire says that Chandler is the
master spirit Of the convention, , that he grasps
the whole situation in the whole and in the
minutest detail
Col. Stevens of the Concord Monitor predicts
that there will be no choice on the first ballot
that Grant will slightly lead on the second
and that then there will be a general going
over to Blaine. The colonel says that Ala
bama, which has been given as solid for Grant,
has broken, and that half of Alabama's vote
will go to Blaine on the very first ballot. In
the Virginia delegation Blame has also made
gains.
The Cincinnati Commercial heretofore a
strong supporter of Secretary Sherman appears
with double-leaded editorial admitting the
hopelessness of Sherman's cause, and advising
the Ohio delegation to move into the Blaine
camp, bag and baggage.
The Maryland delegation held a meeting
Tuesday at which eX-Postmaster General Cres-
well made an attempt to secure control The
delegation is supposed to stand for Grant, Z
for Blaine and for Sherman. The result of
Creswell's effort was thai he got badly beaten
The Blaine and Sherman men united against
him and elected Gary chairman instead of
Creswell. Gary was also chosen for member
of the National Republican committee in place
of G. G. Fulton, who has served on the COM
mittee for twelve years. Creswell is very
much discomforted by his overthrow.
1t is said there is also trouble in the Virginia
delegation, and no longer is it expected that
Grant will receive the solid vote of the delega-
ion