St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-18
THE HENDRICKS BOOM.
Howit was Planned and How it was
Discovered and Defeated.
[Chicago News.l

Chicago News
Very few people who participated in the
tremendous applause for Thomas A. Hen
bricks yesterday knew that they were aiding
well-considered plot to defeat Grover CleYe-
land. Most of them honestly applauded him
as the representative of the fraud of 1876,
while in fact they were participating in
scheme concocted by Ben Butler, and John
Kelly to defeat Cleveland. 1t is suspected
that Hendricks had guilty knowledge of the
scheme.
The plan was formed just after the conven-
ton adjourned Thursday night. Butler and
John Kelly met and went into executive
session in Buffers room. Roger A. Pryor
was also present, the three were unanimous
ly of the opinion that Cleveland had the best
of the fghtahnd that a new name must be
sprung upon the convention. Tilden's was
out of the question, for Kelly could NOT
bring forth the man he had fought so per-
sistently in New York. At Buffers sugges-
ton it was agreed to take up Hendricks, as
representing the same idea as Tilden He
argued that the applause given to Hendricks
showed that a popular wave could
be easily aroused for him that would
stampede the convention and result in
Cleveland's overthrow. Butler suggested
that if Cullerton, of Illinois, gave his vote
for Hendricks yesterday morning. it should be
taken as the signal for raising the hurrah.
This idea was accepted. Two of the Indiana
delegates were sent for and acquainted with
the plan. They agreed that if the scheme
looked feasible, Mcdonald should again be
sacrificed for Hendricks. Then that cele-
brated "relegator," Thomas Z. Powers, of
Michigan, was sent for. To him the idea
was suggested that he present Hendricks as
candidate as soon as the opening prayer was
made. The bait was quickly gobbled by the
Michigander. He saw an opportunity Tor
making himself prominent, and from that
time out circulated around as though the
whole convention was centered upon him.
In the meantime Daniel Manning sus-
pected that some scheme was being con-
cocted, and prepared to checkmate it. He
sent for an Illinois delegate, and commits
stoned him to ferret out the scheme OF the
opposition. The first man he struck was
Powers, of Michigan, whose manner indi-
Gated that he was full of a scheme. He was
wildly gesticulating to several delegates.
The Illinois delegate con cluded that Powers
was the man to see. On approaching him
he said: ''Wel the jig's up, and want to
go with the winner"
''Is that the way you feell'' inquired
Powers.
''You bet it is. There is no sentiment in
me. want to go with the winner.''
"Just come here,' said Powers, whose
eagerness to show his Importance overbal-
anced his judgment, and he unfolded the
scheme to man he had never seen before.
''We have it all arranged" he said II am
to nom mate Hendricks in The morning, and
twenty-five Michigan votes will go to him.
"Will Butler support him." inquired the
Illinois delegate, anxious to know the full
extent of the deal.
CHE WILL, said Powers. 81 have just seen
him"
''Well, l must see him and know just what
he says. We must not 90 into this thing on
a mere guess declared the scheme hunter.
Then Powers led him off to Buffers room.
At the door they were met by Roger A. Pryor
Powers explained the mission, and vOlun-
teered the information that the Illinois dele
gate could swing the line in that state. ''But
we must see Gen. Butler about this matter,n
said the Illinois man.
''You can't see him; he is engaged; res
pended Pryor. While talking he had opened
the door so wide that the Manning emissary
could see into the room. The reflection on
large mirror showed him the forms of Gen.
Butler, John Kelly, and two Indiana delegates
whose names are not given out. The Illinois
man insisted upon seeing Butler, to know
from his own lips whether he was for Hen
bricks. Pryr refused to admit him, but de-
clared that the Hendricks scheme had been
adopted, that the Indiana delegation had
agreed to 1t, and that Butler and Kelly were
both into it. He declared that the details
had not been entirely arranged, and made
an appointment for yesterday morning at
O'Clock.
The Illinois delegates had learned enough.
He left Powers as soon as possible, and re-
turned to Manning. Although it was after
2 O'Clock in the morning, Manning formed
his plans to checkmate the scheme. Runners
were sent out to all the delegations. The
leaders were informed Of the plan, so that
they could prevent their men from stampe-
ding. The Illinois man went among his
colleagues and informed them of the Hem
bricks move. Before he went to bed thirty
four of the Illinois delegates had agreed to
support Cleveland. This was gain of six on
the original vote.
Thus the matter stood when the conven-
ton met The roll-call was begun. Before
Illinois was reached w. A. Day, Of Cham
paign, polled the vote. He was the hardest
worker in Illinois for Clevela and it was
largely through his efforts that the delegation
was kept in line. He had been informed Of
the plan 10 spring Hendricks by Manning,
and was thus able TO use Illinois as a check
against the expected tide Believing that the
Cullerton vote for Hendricks would start the
ball, he made up his tally sheet so that the
Hendricks vote was announced first. 1t was
upon this single vote that the Hendricks
wave was started. When it began several Of
the Illinois delegates wanted to 20 with it.
They were held in line by vigorous efforts.
Finally 1t became so apparent that
there was a well-laid plan to turn the con-
vention over to Hendricks, that the Cleye-
land vote was increased to 38, and when
Gen. Palmer was finally permitted to finish
the announcement Of the vote Of the state.
it was 80 announced. These 80 votes die
the business. They held back the STAN pede.
and showed the the convention that Illinois
had not lost her head. The result was that
when Indiana, in pursuance Of the plot TO
knife Macdonald, withdrew his name and
voted for Hendricks, the announcement had
no effect upon the convention. Had not
Day been Informed of the situation, how
ever, and prepared his tally sheet as he did,.
there might have been a different result,