The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-06

At the end Of the fourth session the conven-
tion found itself ready to proceed to the exciting
work of nominating candidates. Although there
has seemed unnecessary delay in the preliminary
work, still, it has been done with as much celeri
ty as could have been reasonably expected
while the confning of the varieties of opinion to
the several important committees was better
than to have turned the questions upon which
there were differences to adjust upon
the convention, which is notably weak
IN debating ability and absolutely without
strong leadership in any special direction.
Whatever be the result of the action of the con-
vention there is this to be said that it is owned
and controlled by nobody, There are no blocks
of men who can be transferred at will to some
dominating chieftain. There are no delegations
that respond as automata when some one may
conclude to pull the string
After the adjournment, at o'clock, of course
every delegate was relieved from committee
work, and there was nothing to do but to boom
the favorite candidates. Whether there would
be ballot tonight was generally discussed, and
frequent illusions made to the incident of the
gas going out, at Cincinnati, in 1876 which SAC
cident' is credited with great potency in defeat
ing Mr. Blaine. If ballot shall be taken to-
night, and either side is strong enough to
force one and then concludes to keep it up the
gas will not go out here-not at least in the same
alleged interest for if Mr.. Blaine's friends want
to ballot, they will have all the gas they want
Chicago is full of gas and full of Blaine.
The Endorsement of President Arthur in the
platform was received with a very hearty round
of applause, participated in by the delegates and
the audience. 1t was not an Arthur BOOM"
but 1t was dignifed assent to proper and de-
served tribute of respect to the Presidents ad-
ministration
EFFORTS FOR COMBINATION.
The Evening journal, in its review of the sit
uation, says:
MANY efforts have been made to unite the
Arthur, Edmunds and Sherman men on some
candidate who would be acceptable to all, but so
far without success. They are inclined to mass
their forces in favor of General Sherman, though
tits doubtful if they could do so because, in the
event of a break for Sherman, there is so much
Individual independence among the delegates that
enough of them would go to Blaine to make his
calling and election sure. That move was
checked by what supposed to be the positive
refusal by Gen. Sherman to be a candidate un-
der any circumstances IL is now known that
Barkis is willin'.' The opponents of Blaine have
been canvassing other names. Harrison might
nave been accepted by many of them
compromise had he not become candidate for
President before anybody asked him to- and was
somewhat obtTusive in booming his own boom.
Gresham is now under consideration. but it is
believed that he not be nominated, and the
sober second thought of the delegates may con
vince them that, even if he could be nominated,
1t would be unwise to put him N the field. con
sdering the fact that the veterans of the Grand
Army of the Republic would not be enthusiastic
Tor him, either as candidate before the
convention before the country Next
to Gresham it is believed that President
Arthur desires to evacuate the White House to let
in Secretary Lincoln rather than anybody else,
and there is some inclination on the part of the
Arthur men to spring Lincolns name at the
proper moment with the expectation that, in
one OF those insane breaks to which conventions
are subject. they might on the strength of his
great fathers name, place him at the head of the
Republican party. There are those who antici-
pate movement looking toward Lincoln, and it
would not be surprising if the Blaine opposition
concentrated on him, hoping that he may down
the man from Maine Ex-Secretary Sherman is
still possibility, but more"
1T LOOKS LIKE BLAINE.
give this as local view of the situation, re-
marking only thai it is somewhat colored with
personalism, are all Chicago opinions, but
this less than most others.
Theodore Roosevelt, of New Rork, said this
evening; ''My first choice is Edmunds, and
would like to see him nominated. After Mr.
Edmunds, Robert Lincoln would be very accept
able to the people of the East
Show many ballots do you think will be
taken2"
TOh! that would be- hard thing to
gT =. l believe however, that the contest
be protracted one and that in the
of Edmunds failure some dark horse
win"
Do your views coincide with those of Mr..
urtisl'
Pretty closely"
Henry Cabot Lodge said: Everybody is hold
ing firm. My personal opinion is that Arthur
has gained ground but still l must admit that
believe the nomination is between Blaine and
dark horse. l do not think the balloting will last
long"
Mr. Martin I. Townsend of New York, CON
tinues very confident for Arthur
Gen. Boynton, the veteran correspondent,
said: II am afraid it will be Blaine, while J. B.
McCullagh, of the st. Louis Globe Democrat,
thinks it looks very Bainelsh.
Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, confesses he
cannot see any great light on the situation and
the Senator honestly voices the real fact and
the opinion of many who are not honest enough
to say So AS it looks to me- there must be
rapid and effective concentration of the opposi-
tion to Blaine, or he will be the nominee He
has not the nomination in hand yet but if the
field is kept open too long the inevitable drift
will be toward him.
The Logan men deny that there is any arrange
ment between them and Blanes managers, but
they assert the greatest confidence in final sue
cess. General Logan will have very respecta
BILE vote, and his nomination is not by any means
out of the possibilities.
Mr. William Henry Smith, who has attended
all of the political conventions for the past QUAR-
ter of century, said: ''The situation is more
mixed than have ever seen it. 1t is impossible
for any one to tell who the nominee will be- The
prevailing sentiment is Blaineish but no fellow