The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-18
CHAIRMAN JONES.

He Thinks Blaine Fought Good Fight
Against Fearful Odds.
Gath, in Philadelphia Times
Mr.. Jones, the Pennsylvania chairman of the
Blaine national committee, met on the street,
a day or Two ago. and he stopped quite time to
talk with me. He has remarkably good face,
and 10y inquiries of the young men around the
committee find that he has kept the respect of
everybody there 10y his good temper, good in
tentions and entire absence of self seeking. Mr..
Looms, of Ohio, young newspaper man, who
has been in a confidential place in the commit
tee says that he believes that Jones had not the
least expectation OF Office, and would not have
taken any place under Blaine. l asked Mr..
Jones how he came to go into the committee.
He said that he had known Blaine for thirty
years, that be loved him personally, and regard
ed him as one of the three great men OF the
world the other two whom he Indicated being
Bismarck and Gladstone, If he has known
Blaine thirty years, that takes him back to 1884
which about the time Blaine was school
teacher Mr.. Jones said: 81 thought the Re
publican party was broken all to pieces in the
elections of 1882, when sehismatic movements in
New York, Pennsylvania and other States were
successful, and when New York, especially,
gave her majority of almost 200, 900 against the
Republican Secretary Of the Treasury. knew
how deep the injuries of Garfelds death had
sunk IN the public mind, and how
faction was eating at the heart OF the
party. ] thought" said Mr.. Jones. that Blaine
might Ret through. Dnb JlldJ he was tle only
one who could make any approach to it, When
he was nominated / wanted to help him and let
him say how. My judgment, think. has been
confirmed, when he has reduced Mr.. Ceveland's
majority to "A few hundred in the State of New
York, increased his own majorities in Pennsyl-
vania. Ohio and other States. and but for any
one of half dozen kinds of opposition he
would be President-elect" | asked Mr..
Jones which Of these forms of opposition ne con
sidered the worst. ''0h." said he, mo candi-
date probably ever ran with many ambushes
laid for him. Here was the independent move
ment in New York, which l suppose
took off forty thousand votes then the
more; then the Stalwarts, to the extent of some
thousands designedly attacked Mr. Blaine
The speech of Rev. Mr.. Burchard consider to
have lost us the State of Indiana, where the
Democrats had conceded us as good q ma iority
as Ohio gave in October. The administration
at Washington does not seem to have shown any
eOrdiality to Mr.. Blaine and | cannot under
stand why General Arthur would prefer to be
the last Republican President of the line. The
fact is, said Mr. Jones, this and other cam
paigns go to show that it is not possible any
more in America to elect great man President
Between man like Blaine. with great record
great experience and great powers. and some ac-
cidental person the contest is unequal Every
body jumps on the big man, He has his rivals,
his writings, his past debates"
Said |: What view do you take Mr. Jones,
about the immediate futurel"
II think we are going tn have hard times.
Things have been getting bad for some little
while past but uncertainty, SURPRISE etc. will
probably weigh down the coming year. | have
no idea" said Mr.. Jones. that Mr.. Cleveland
can resist the solid South. James Buchanan
was very able man, one of the ablest statesmen
we ever had, and they just sat down on him and
broke his fame all to pieces"