The Portland daily press., 1880-06-05

A leading member of the New York delega-
tion says that the convention may prolong its
session for week, and that some of his col
leagues who have important business at home
will return on Saturday, leaving their alter
mates to cast their votes How much of this
Grant talk is sincere and how much is buster
cannot be exactly determined. 1t is known,
however, that some of the very men who are
talking SO positively about Grants nomination
are quietly endeavoring to take the Grant
strength OF some of the Southern delegations
to Edmunds
Gen. Gile says that the inevitable result OF
the vote is the nomination of Blaine. When
Journal man suggested that the combined
Grant and Edmunds vote would equal that Of
Blaine, Gen. Gile replied Sherman men
won't combine with Edmunds men, so where
are you?"
Editor Stevens of New Hampshire is sure
that good many Grant men, particularly in
the New York and Pennsylvania delegations,
will never vote to nominate Edmunds, but, as
soon as they are released from the binding
force of their instructions, will join the Blaine
army.
Senator Blair, like the rest, thinks that this
is the last of Grant, and that only twenty-five
per cent. OF his strength will fall to Edmunds.
Gen. Logans swarthy features are not
wreathed in smiles; his plans for carrying ON
the Grant campaign in Illinois have resulted
In disaster, if not defeat, and the blame is
thrown upon him. He finds that his political
adversaries have availed themselves of this op-
portunity to strike back at him, and they are
making it very uncomfortable for him. Grants
friends, too are disposed to make him their
scapegoat and to say that had it not been for
the fracas in Illinois matters would have gone
differently.
Governor Boutwell, continues to firmly MAIN
tain that General Grant will be nominated.
He says that the Grant forces are well organ
1zed and will fight to the bitter end. In his
opinion this Convention is likely to witness q
more protracted series of ballots than any of
those which have preceded it.
Plumb of Kansas says "Edmunds has been a
good party man, not factious, and such scruples
as he exerts have widened confidence in him in
the senatorial circle. Don Cameron told me
some time ago that he had piece of legislation
to propose, and, not being speaker, he fall
tered it out in the Senate, and then Edmunds
got up. Cameron said he thought Edmunds
was going to take his proposition to pieces
Instead OF that, with few bright, thoughtful
words Edmunds strengthened his proposition
and fastened it on its passage. 1 know that
Cameron has great admiration for him. 1
don't believe a political party" said Mr..
Plumb, "ever had three men In the Senate at
the same time of the aggregate ability of Conk-
ling, Edmunds and Blaine. The Democrats,
while they ike Edmunds personally, have
mertal terror of his subtle ability. | asked
Morgan of Alabama not long ago why tine
Democratic party had not accepted Edmunds'
joint resolution to settle the counting of the
electoral vote. 1T was so fair said 1, that it
might have come from Democrat That is
true, said Morgan, but we are afraid of any,
thing that emanates from Edmunds. Nobody
on our side can match him for getting up
scheme with his matchless head Senator
Sumner used to call Edmunds an obstruction-
1st! Il don't think said Mr.. Plumb, 'he is
anything of the kind. He exerts Just enough
1nquisitiveness and inquiry ON every PROPOSE
tlon that comes up there to have o full UNDER
standing of it. We are willing to let anything
go if we know that Edmunds has passed it un-
der his eye or asked a question about it, and
never saw such an omnivorous man in my life.
He wants to know about everything, and all
about it. If he were President of the United
States, he would be President of every State in
it, and have full understanding Of every
thing that was going on