The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-05-30
THE ANXIOUS CANDIDATES.

THE ANXIOUS CANDIDATES.
Blaine and Arthur Men Talking and
Scheaming--The Former Pretend
ing More Confidence Than They
FceI--Rumors of Deals and Com
binations.
The presence at the capital of num-
Der Of delegates to the Chicago COnven-
ton from various parts Of the country,
saws a Washington special to the New
York Times, who are here to try to get
n more or less definite notion Of what
they are going to do next week, has
fresbened the political breezes somewhat,
and more talk of the approaching con
vention has been heard to-day than at
any time since the meeting Of the Ma
tiOnal Committee.
Mr.. Blaine's followers are doing their
best to impress newcomers with the re-
markable size Of their candidates boom,
but there are numerous indications that
the chief shouters have not the entire
confidence in their claims which is nece8-
sary 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 con-
vcrts. There is also the fact, which has
been noticed for some time, that Mr..
Blaine's friends continue to speak in adj
rniring 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 unable to secure the coveted nomi-
nation. 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 a bare
possibility 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 We're a short time
ago. Efforts which some of the Blaine
men are making to disparage Secretary
Lincoln are also regarded as indicative
of fear that the Maine stasesmen may
not reach the goal. If Boosting, however,
could decide the question, Blaine's nOmi-
nation could be counted on as certain.
AS might be expected the increasing
interest in matters political is accompa-
MED by a growing number Of TumOrs of
deals and combinations, which will in
crease in volume from now until the
nomination is made. The latest Of these
is to the effect that an alliance is in pro-
cess Of formation between the Blaine
men and some of Mr.. Sherman's friends
for the purpose Of destroying Mr.. Ar
thurs chances. This is said to be the
only object Of the combination, and that
it is being assisted by some who are
friendly to neither Sherman nor Blaine.
Some of the Presidents adherents have
card of this report, and while they pro
fcss to laugh at it as silly, it is undeni-
able that they are less at ease than they
care to admit. Sherman's friends show
more nerve and aggressiveness than do
Blaine's henchmen, who have for aweek
past shown apprehension at the reports
of growing strength give out by Arthur's
followers. The ex-Secretary's friends
are also reported to be engaged in stiff
eaing the backbone of the Blaine boom
as a 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 afternoon, received a large mail,
and read it while sitting in his carriage.
The report of a Blaine-Sherman alliance
is not regarded by the wisest friends of
the principals as necessarily meaning the
nomination of either the Ohio Senator OF
the Maine statesman.
Among the delegates in town are sew
cral colored men from Southern States
Frank Hatton is understood to have
taken charge of them in the interest OF
the President. and to have so secreteC
them in various lodgings as to keep then
out Of the reach of men unfriendIy to the
administration. 1t is said that these del
egates will be taken to Chicago on a spe
cial train, carefully guarded by trusty
Arthur representatives.. Enticing vision.
have been held out to them of palace
cars. unlimited refreshments, and al
sorts of good things at Chicago, all with
out expense to themselves, and if they
are lured away from the Arthur ranks i
will not be the fault of Mr.. Arthurs lieu
tenants.
At a dinner recently given by Mrs
Mackay in Paris, the table was coyere,
with a veritable grassy lawn in minia
ture; the centerpiece was replaced by
small pond of water, in which tishe
leaped about. Rare flowers took tn
place of trees.