The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-03-04
GENERAL GIBSON
On the Political outlook as Seen from
Now York-Seven for RIaine'to Three
for Sherman-The Different Candidates

fofBhermnn-The Different Candidates
discussed.
Special Dispaieh 10 the Cleveland Leader.
CoLuMBus, March 1.-General Gibson
returned from the East this morning;
After talking q short time on general maj
ters, the conversation turned to politics
and the following interview took place:
In answer to my question as to the
Presidential situation the General said:
81 spent three weeks in New York City,
and during that time mingled with per-
sons Of all classes and nearly every State
in the Union. The proportion, as far
could judge, seemed everywhere to be
seven for Blaine, to three for Sherman
and one for Grant. Sherman was only
popular iamong the commercial and the
financial element, but
BLAINE
always had enthusiastic supporters"
"What candidate do you prefer, Gen.
eral?"
"0h, am first for Blaine, second for
Washburne and third for Grant. have
no personal objection to Sherman, but l
do mot think he should be nominated"
"Why do you prefer Blaine?"
because think he can win. He Ia
man who is thoroughly seated in the
hearts OF the Republicans. He has been
an able and conspicuous leader. He has
wonderful magnetism, and his nomination
would bind the different elements OF the
party together and animate the campaign
with continuous enthusiasm. He has all
the elements Of the popular leader, and it
seems TO me that no better selection could
be made"
BLAINE IN OHIO.
"Would Blaine carry ohio?"
"He would be very strong here. l
think he would poll larger vote in Ohio
than any Republican that can be named."
"why so?"
Because he is . leader, and organizer,
and popular man. He attracts people TO
him. Mr.. Blaine may get on railroad car,
and every traveller win feel his presence.
The people like such man."
Glow about New York;"
81 have no doubt that Blaine is the
choice OF New York"
SHERMAN.
"Could John Sherman carry ohio?"
Probably he could; but it would be
dead fight. We would have to put out
the pickets and bring in every recruit to .
the polls"
"You don't seem to favor Sherman"
"No, sir; do not John Sherman is
not q popular leader, and never was. The
very things that made him popular to-day
will hurt him before the people. The
men who are working for q dollar day
don't care whether the national bonds are
OF par or not. They don't like to see the
clique at Washington trying to manage
their elections. These are the men who
do the voting, and they will hardly be
satisfied with q man as cold.blooded as
Secretary Sherman" - -
"How about Washburne?"
"Washburne would be O strong candi-
date, and I think he would poll more votes
than any OF the others. AS compromise
he stands fair chance for the
He Is the second choice OF
the Grant men, and none OF the other fac
tions will oppose him."
The conversation here drifted over 10
:, THURMAN, ..
and, on asking as to whether his being an
Ohio man would not injure his chances as
a Democratic candidate, the General re-
piled ,emphatically that he thought not,
and went on: IT think that Thurman Ii
the strongest man the Democrats can
nominate" .att4
"How does he stand in the East?n
HEa ata nda wall and a1an In tho Enpth
I met O great many Soathern men In New
York, Colonel Smead, Of Maryland; Judge
Bramin, OF st. Louis, and Mr.. Pancoast,
OF Texas. My interviews with these and
with Eastern politicians generally have
resulted in the expression that Western
man alone can win, and that Of all the
Western Democrats, Judge Thurman
stands the highest" .i..nj.
"This leaves Tilden out OF the calcula-
toni" e..s .sl u
Eyes, sir, that unreconciled and unre-
concilable element in New York politics
leaves Tilden out Of the question. Besides
the old man Is getting too feeble, l don't
think he could stand another contest. /
saw him while in New York, and he was
trembling with palsy and old age"
"How about Bayard?" w,t
"Well, Bayard has many strong friends
In the East, but he will not combine the
antagonistic element like Thurman"
"Jewett?'
"oh, as to Jewett, the boom for him is
entirely in the West. heard him hardly
spoken Of until l arrived here. He Is not
much talked OF in the East"