Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-28
THE ANXIOUS CANDIDATES.

Blaine and Arthur Men Talking and
scheming-The Former Pretending
More Confidence Than They Feel
Rumors of Deals and Combinations
The presence at the capital of a number
Of delegates to the Chicago Convention
from various parts Of the country, says a
Washington special to the New York
Times, who are here to try to get a more
or less definite notion of what they are
going to do next week, has freshened the
political breeZes somewhat. and more
talk of the approaching convention has
been heard to-day than at any time since
the meeting Of the National Committee.
Mr.. Blaine's followers are doing their
best to impress newcomers with the re-
marka5le size Of their candidates boom,
but there are numerous indications that
the chief shOuters have not the entire
confidence in their claims which is neces-
sarv to make their arguments effective.
Some Of their opponents, indeed, are cruel
enough to intimate that the Blaine men
are talking quite as much to keep up their
own courage as to make converts. There
is also the fact, which has been
noticed for some time. that Mr.. Blaine's
friends continue to speak in admiTing
tones of the good qualities of Senator
Sherman, and to remark that he would
make an excellent candidate in the event
that Mr.. Blaine should, after all, be una
BILE to secure the coveted nomination.
When the suggestion is made that their
positive assertions that Blaine cannot be
beaten do not tally with their talk Of
Sherman as a compromise, the Blaine
followers shrug their shoulders and say
they are speaking only Of bare pOssibil-
ity when they mention Sherman.
Friends of President Arthur and all
other aspirants for the nomination look
upon these references TO sherman as
proof that Blaine's henchmen are less
confident than they were a short time
ago. Efforts which some Of the Blaine
men are making to disparage Secretary
Lincoln are also regarded as indicative
of a fear that the Maine statesmen may
not reach the goal. II Boosting, however,
could decide the question, Blaine's
nomination could be counted on as Ger
tain.
As might be expected, the increasing
interest in matters political is accOmpa-
MED by a growing number Of rumors Of
deals and combinations. which Will in
crease in volume from now until the nomi-
nation is made. The latest of these is to
the effect that an alliance is in process of
formation between the Blaine men and
some Of Mr.. Sherman's friends for the
purpose of destroying Mr.. Arthur's
chances. This is said to be the only OBJ
iect Of the combination, and that it is be-
ing assisted by some who are friendly to
neither Sherman nor Blaine. Some of the
Presidents adherents have heard of this
report. and while they profess to laugh at
it as silly, it is undenIable that they are
less at ease than they care to admit
Sherman's friends show more nerve and
agzressiyeness than do Blaine's bench
men, who have for a week past shown
apprehension at the reports Of growing
strength given out by Arthur's followers.
The ex-Secretary's friends are also re-
ported to be engaged in stiffening the
backbone Of the Blaine boom as part of
the fight against Arthur, and some of the
Maine mans followers feel encouraged
thereby. Mr.. Blaine has shown a daily
increasing interest in the developments
OF the situation. He drove to the post
office with his youngest son this after
noon. received a large mail, and read il
while sitting in his carriage. The report
Of a Blaine-Sherman alliance is not re-
garded by the wisest friends of the prin-
cipals as necessarily meaning the nomi-
nation of either the Ohio Senator or the
Maine statesman.
Among the delegates in town are
several colOred men from Southern States
Faank HattOn is understood to have
taken charge of them in the interest of
the President, and to have so secreted
them in various lodging places as to keep
them out Of the reach of men unfriendly
to the administration. 1t Is said that
these delegates will be taken TO Chicago
on special train, carefully guarded BY
trusty Arthur representatives. Enticing
visions have been held out to them OF
palace cars, unlimited refreshments, and
all sorts of good things at Chicago, all
without expense to themselves, and if
they are lured away from the Arthur
ranks 1t will not be the fault OF Mr.. Ar
thurs lieutenants.