The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-01
SECRETARY MANNING.
His Diney Little Office at Albany Where the
Cleveland "Doom" Was Started.

His Diney Little Office at Albany Where the
Cleveland Groom" Was Started.
Albany Letter in New York Tribune.
Daniel Mannings serious illness naturally has
recalled him wildly to the minds of the people
in this city, where he lived so long. When he
departed for Washington year ago there were
few men in Albany who were universally
known; politics and journalism had brought
him in contact with thousands. He was a
methodical man. Every weekday could
meet him at certain moment on the State
street hill walking down to his dingy little Office
In the Argus Building, and upon Sunday in Lam
caster street on his way to st. Pauls Protestant
Episcopal Church.
The Office in the Argus Building would in
stantly arouse the suspicion that it was inhab-
tied by some one profoundly interested in poll
tics for upon the walls there hung the portraits
of demigods of the Democratic party-Samuel
j. Tilden, Winfield Scott Hancock, John T.
Hoffman, Edwin Croswell, William Cassidy and
Peter Cagger. Mr.. Manning, although an ex-
cellent business man, was indeed deeply inter
ested in politics. His little room had witnessed
many secret conference of the chiefs of the
Democratic party. Here IL was that the Cleve-
land sboom" was born. Edgar K. Apgar one
day called upon Daniel 8. Lamont, then manag
Ing editor of the Argus and found him scissorlng
press extracts. ''Dan," said he. "whom do
you think sse had better run for Governor this
fall2' Mr.. Lamont laid down his scissors a nd
said carelessly: "Well, am beginning to think
we had better take up this Buffalo man, Cleve-
land Mr. Apgar knew that Lamont never
talked thus without some inspiration. He went
below stairs to find Mr. Manning anl sound him
on the same subject Mr. Apgar, as he had ex-
pected, found Mr.. Manning also leaning toward
politician strolled in, and, joining in the CONVEX
sation. said: II hear that Cleveland is
friendly terms with Tammany Hail. Would it
be safe therefore. to nominate himp Mr. Man
ming was not perturbed. He replied "Well
don't know anything about Cleveland, never met
him. nor do know how he stands with Tam
many; but do know this-that, if elected Gov
ernor, in less than six months after his inaugu-
ration, he will quarrel with John Kelly. He
can't help doing So guess We can safely take
him il we want him. Mr. Mannings pre-
diction was fulfilled; in less than six months
Governor Cleveland did quarrel with Mr.. Kelly;
The Tammany Senators ''hung up Cleveand's
nominations and there was breach between
nearly cost him his election as President
Mr. Manninc's greatest political triumph was
the nomination of Cleveland for President It
was not till late in the spring Of 1884 that Mr.
Oiofoi6uos couSenb 10 become candidate Tor
the nomination was obtained In the mean
while Roswell P. Flower, the Tammany Hall or
ganization and other opponents of Mr.. Cleve-
land had nearly gained the control of the Demo
cratic State convention in New York. It was
foreseen by Cleveland's rivals outside of New
York that if he lost the delegation from his own
State, or If there was serious opposition made in
the convention to his nomination for President
their own chances of being dominated would be
increased. They fomented dscord. Mr. Man
ming. by great effort, suppressed all outward
manifestation of opposition to Cleveland in the
convention. boldly left the New York delegation
"unpledged" to Cleveland, and went to Chicago
apparently with little backing. But in the in
tsrval between the State convention and the ma
tional convention he secretly gained possession
OF the votes of majority OF the New York del
egates. bound the others to Cleveland by 'sthe
unit rule" and, as all know. nominated C1eve-
land for President
There was one triumph at the national Demo
cratic convention more pleasant to Mr. Manning
even than the nomination of Mr.. Cleveland
BE said 10 the writer the day after the conven-
ton adjourned: s'There are some compensations
for the hard work even of such convention as
this; and people little think what they ask when
they request q business man TO leave his home
and Office and engage in such terrific struggle
as We haye had for week past What pleased
me is this-that Indiana delegation played fast
and loose with as all through the convention.
At heart they were for Mcdonald but they
promised again and again they would aid as.
Well, they hung of till we didn't need their
help and We nominated Cleveland without them.
Then We turned about, stampeded the conyen-