The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-02
THE GENERAL SITUATION.

The Contest Between Blaine and Arthur
Harrison Stock Advancing.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
CHICAGO, June 1.-The Sunday law has not
been rigidly enforced to-day; indeed, the scenes
about the hotels and railway depots have been
such as to remind an lndiahi. somewhat
exaggerated Acton campmeeting. The conSc-.
ton is nearly all on the ground now although
there will be a considerable influx of delegates
and more of visitors tomorrow. One very
striking feature of the various delegations, far
as present, is that they practically leaderless,
as are the different movements for the promi-
nent candidates. There is practically no DOM
mating personal leadership to be felt Blaines
forces are under the nominal control
of S. B. Elkins, of New Mex
leo, but Whitelaw Reid modestly but
effectually divides the honors with him. The
Blaine headquarters are in the ladies' ordinary of
the Grand Pacific, a monster room, and by all
odds the most pretentious of any of the head
quarters 'gThe Peoples Choice" and Blaine
and Victory are the legends that adorn the
walls and doors Portraits of Blaine are thick
as leaves in Vallambrosa, and there is an air of
hustle and activity in the vicinity that becomes
the brilliant and dashing man from Maine quail
tiles upon which his campaign is being
pushed. When "Blaine and Victory"
on huge canvas was hung upon
the outward walls, observing statesman
remarked that however people might differ as
to the candidate for President Victory for
Vice president was the unanimous favorite of
the convention.
President Arthurs headquarters are at the head
of the main staircase of the Grand Pacific The
gentlemans parlor is filled with his adherents,
spicuous among them being the members of the
New York business mems committee, with neat
red badges that serve as an introduction. Elk
Speaker Sharp is the apparent leader of the
Arthur forces at this place Parlor W, at the
Palmer, is also another headquarters, where
another phalanx of the business committee is
constantly on duty. These are reinforced by a
committee of Chicago business men, prominent
among whom is ex-Congressman Farwell. His
love for Arthur is probably more dislike for
Logan.
The Logan headquarters are at the Grand Pa
cifc. A local demonstration was made for him
last night, but the elements were not yet quite
ready to melt with fervent heat, a condition of
things necessary to make such booms really i'm
pressive.
The independent or Edmunds vote is also cen
tered at the Pacific where Geo. William Curtis
and Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt are the leading
men, Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts; Col.
Hooker, of Vermont, and Carl Schurz being
their adjutants. At the Palmer House there
are duplicate headquarters for all these, and SO
both hotels are the principal and really the
only central points of interest.
DIAGNOSING THE SITUATION
somewhat careful study of the forces and
the situation reveals the fact that there are
three distinct main lines along which the cur
rents move The Arthur line, the Blaine line,
and the TX" line. for the present principally
represented by Mr. Edmunds. Mr.. Blaine's
friends and General Arthur's friends ami
mated by a desire to nominate their favorites,
and the TX" men animated by purpose to
defeat both and name third and compromise
candidate. OF course the Arthur men and the
Blaine men are decided and aggressive They
are backed up in their claims by the local
press, which is divided between the
two. The Tribune each morning is3flled to the
last column with detraction of everybody but
Blaine, and asserts his nomination without any
are as positive for President Arthur and dc not
admit the faintest doubt of success on the sec
ond or third ballot at the furthest. The Arthur
men are the more digniied and conservative.
There is not so much noise and buster appar-
emily, as among the Blaine men, but there is no
abatement of either zeal or assertion among
either; but to a lookeron only desirous of find
ing the truth and speaking it, it is
quite apparent that neither the friends
of Mr.. Blaine nor Mr. Arthur regard success as a
foregone conclusion Mr.. Whitelaw Reid for
the Blaine forces, speaks only with hope and not
with assurance. He counsels the more impetu-
Gus to wait until they count noses better than
it is possible to do now, and the same conserv
atism is to be found in the prudent and sagacious
friends Of the President There has been an in
crement of Blaine enthusiasm, if not of strength,
to-day. resulting from the arrival of the Pacific
coast delegations and the agitation of the Chi
nese and silver questions, about both of
which these Western men are excessively inter-
ested. Between these two great fanks of
the army stand the third element which en-
braces the forces of John Sherman, whose
strength is not only respectable, but is solid and
likely to gain; those of General Logan. for the
present seemingly confined principally to nh-
nois but whose friends have assurances Of assist