Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-05-16
SnariAg an Editor.
How 0ne Conversion to BIaineism was
Accomplished.

How 0ns Conversion to BIaineism was
Accomplished.
Washington Dispatch to the New York Telegram ]
There is a good deal of amusement here
among those who know the facts at the at
tempts of Mr.. 3os5ph Medill, of the Chicago
Tribune. TO explain the cause and reason of
his sudden conversion to Blaine. From 1872
until about six weeks ago A1edill has been
not only violent but malicious in his attacks
upon Blaine, SIS was clearly shown by Gail
Hamilton In a letter she wrote to the New
York Tribune in 1877, which she commenced
by saying: 1.-THE next portrait 1 shall hang
in my Rogues' gallery is that of Joseph Me-
dill, the editor of the Chicago Tribune"
MIR. MedilI aays in explanation that he was
inhaled by Horace White in his opinion of
Mr.. Blaine's honesty, and that he was eOn-
verted by the letter of William Walter Phelps.
In respect to tie first reason, Mr. Medill
could not have been misled very much by
Horace White. for the latter gentl sman had
no part 10 the conspiracy OF 1876 against
Mr, Elaine, bat Mr.. Medill was the leader
himself, and submitted to the Cincinnati con-
ference the charge which Mr.. Phelps eight
years later attempts to answer. MIR Medill
wrote to Mr.. Blaine in 1915, asking for an
explanation of theas same charges about the
1854 900 in Eozt Smith bonds, which Blaine
received as reward for his ruling as Speak
er, and which were afterward, when worth
less, taken off his hands by the Union Pacific
company as a reward far services to that cor
poration. In an interview with the Associa-
ted Press agent at Chicago, which can be
found in ALL the papers of that date-on or
about the 18th of April, 1S76-Mr. Medill
stated that Mr.. Blaine's explanation was not
satisfactory. and he could not support for
the Presidency al9 NAN of his record.
If Mr.. Blaine himself could not explain
theae charges satisfactorily in 1876 it is a
compliment TO ir. William Waiter Phelps to
have Lar. Medill accept his explanation of
them in 1884. In May, 1876, Mr. Blaine
made personal explanation of the matter in
the House of Representatives, and few
| days later went before q committee which
had been dir ated to Investigate them and
made s~arl. statement that they were false.
| Then Mr.. MedilI refused to believe what Mr.
Blaine said under oath, but now he believes
what Mr.. Phelps says in a newspaper.
Mr.. Medlll came here for his heath about
| six weeks ago. He had not heen in town
| twelve hours before HE Blame called upon
| him at the Aatek=a very unusual thing for
| tia ex Secretary 10 do. The two gentlemen
had not net for eight years or more. Mr..
| Blaine, In 1877, was in Chicago, and he told
gentleman there at that time that Mr.. Me-
| dill had called at his hotel and sent up his
| card, but he (Blaine) refused to see him.
Mr.. Msdill at the time said 10 did no such
thing, but that Mr.. Blaine sought an inter-
view with him. which he declined. This is a
Nu6stf9A 9k SeyaclLy DeLWeen d Sreat euIGo1
| and great historian, but when Mr.. Blaine
called at the Arlington Hotel, 1884, M. Me-
dill not only saw him, but accepted several
| invitations to dine at his house, took several
rides with him il Arg carriage. and was won
| away frora the support of General Logan,
whose, nominatipn he had been advocating up
| to that date, to the suI port of Mr. Blaine.
| Mr.. Blaine bilaself and his friends have since
| laughed at the easy way in which the editor
! of the Tribune was captured, aud it was
done in the same manner that foolish people
! are advised to catch birds,
Blsine was anxiops 70. have an organ at
Chicago, a rex9pepeE which should defend
hing eaa advocate his CAUSE while the dele
gates we're in that city, and he knew Mr.. Me
| diIrs weakness. There is no man gifted
| in the art OF coquetry as the ex-senator
| from Maine, and for two weeks he piled Ne
dill with fattery until he captured hlre soul,
body and newspaper. The fetter Of Mr..
Phelps was not published until the Chicago
Tribune had been supporting Blaine fog
fertnight.