Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-03
THE FLOWER BOOM.


Name at Chicago, Backed by Forty
two New YOrkers-The Cat Out of the
Bag.
Midway between Broadway and New
street, New York, an opening is found on
Exchange place, which runs back twenty
feet and stops abruptly at four-story
brick building with a row of iron steps
leading up to a small wooden balcony.
The alley, for such it is, is known as Ex-
change court, and the high buildings on
each side almost shut out the sunshine
which struggles feebly to penetrate the
dark area. Blue-coated messenger boys
continually race up and down the iron
steps and dart into the hallway, over
the door of which is a big blue sign with
gilded letters: ''Roswell p. Flower & Co.,
Bankers and Brokers'"
On entering the hall passageway leads
to a large reception room on the left, over
looking the busy crowd on New street. A
stock Indicator reels off yard after yard
of narrow tape, and prosperous looking
men with heavy gold watch chains and
high white hats crowd around the "ticker'
and discuss stocks and politics alter
nately. A small room containing plain
writing desk, several chairs and a book
case is entered by a door from the big
room, and Tuesday a New York journal
reporter who glanced in through the open
door beheld Mr.. r. p. Flower sitting at
the desk and industriously writing.
When the reporter entered Mr.. Flower
pushed a plotting pad over a sheet of pa
per, from the corner of which the words
'Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut" and other
presumably pivotal States protruded. Mr..
Flower is apparently about 46 years ofage,
and is the type of a Well-fed, prosperous
banker. Bushy black sidewhiskers cover
his face in orthodox English style, and his
upper lip is clean shaver. His eyes are
of a cold, gray color, sharp and penetra-
ting, and which light up somewhat brill
liantly when he talks of his political pros
poets. His dark, almost black hair, is
brushed up from high forehead, and a
healthy glow illumines his face. Mr..
Flowers thick neck was encircled by a
No. II rundown linen collar, and a cameo
pin, representing a Grecian female figure,
shone in his plain drab necktie. The man
who expects to be the next President is
short of stature and weighs about 200
pounds. He is also good man, and even
his enemies acknowledge that he is not
homely. His manner is frank and pleas
ant, and he greeted the reporter with a
cordial shake of the hand, and exclaimed:
''What can L do for yOup'
On learning his visitors errand Mr..
referred him to the Flower Literary Bu-
reau In the Herald building, where all his
communications are prepared and given
to the press. He at length consented to
give a short statement of his views on
the political situation, and the reporter
asked:
"What do you think of your chances,
Mr.. FlOwer"
The man with the barrel thoughtfully
stroked his chin and then replied:
"They are as good as ever they were,
and that is not a discOuraging statement.
The night before the New York State Con-
Vention my friends made a careful cam
vass of the delegation and received the
absolute pledges of forty-two of the dele
cation out of a total of seventy-two. This
gave me good majority, but we consid-
cred it best not to press the question of
instructing the delegates, preferring to
make still hunt and show our hand at
Chicago. Since that time have no rea-
son to believe that the delegates have
changed their minds or have another pre-
ference. There was one curious feature
about the State convention which seems
to have escaped the notice of the newspa-
peIs. That was that, while States which
are not friendly to Samuel j. Tilden passed
resolutions in honor of the great states-
man and against cOndCning the fraud of
'76, the Democratic convention of this
State did not notice Mr.. Tilden in any
manner. This was due to the efforts of
the supporters of Grover Cleveland.
''Do you think" exclaimed Mr.. Flower
in a loud voice and banging his fist forci-
bly, upon the table, ''that the friends of
Mr.. Tilden will vote for Grover Cleveland,
or that they are in favor of his nominal
ton?
ssNo, sir,o he continued. ''John Kelly
and Tammany Hall and Charles A. Dana
and the Sun and the great majority of Mr..
Tilden's friends are against Grover Cleve-
land and do not hesitate to say sou
sWho will present your name to the
conventionT' asked the reporter.
s'Gen. Lester B. Faulkner, a delegate
at-large, and one of my most earnest sup
porters."
ssDo you expect to have the vote of the
New York delegation?"
s'Well," answered MIR. Flower, slowly.
''Those forty-two delegates will not vote
for Cleveland, and believe that am the
only other candidate for the nomination
from this State. There are nine delegates
from Kings county who will vote for me
first, last and all the time, and who will
not Ego' Cleveland"
'sHow is. your strength in the West and
South? If you receive the Endorsement of
the New York delegation, do you expect
Mr.. Flower tapped the desk with his
fingers and replied:
81 am in the hands of my friends. |
cannot say how the other States will 90,
but have pretty fair idea. No, shall
not tell the idea. / can count confidently
on those fOrty-two New Workers, though.
The outlook is encouraging to my friends
and / am very hopeful, although we fear
that the liberal use of money at Chicago
may change the present aspect Of the sit
uation.v
'sWho will use the moneyra
sob, don't know that, but we are
somewhat afraid of it."
Some political friends of Mr.. Flower
here hustled into the room and looked at
the reporter In a manner which indi-
Gated that they would like to see the
great banker alone. The reporter with
drew, followed by Mr.. Flower, warning
not to quote him as having said anything.