Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-15
The Battle Begins.

CHICAGO, June 15.-'I say emphatically
that no third letter from Mr.. Blaine is in
existence, and that no communication
from him will be presented to the conyen-
ton next week"
This is what Chairman B. F. Jones, of the
Republican National Committee, said to
representative of the United Press last
evening. He had just finished reading one
Of the news dispatches of that organization.
This dispatch quoted an afternoon paper
Of Pittsburg as reiterating the declar-
alton that in spite of Mr.. Jones'
3enials, such a letter was in existence: that
the information came from a trustworthy
source; that the letter would be read to the
convention, and that Blaine's friends,
who were still working for his nomination,
were using every effort to accomplish its
suppression. Mr.. Jones read the dispatch
carefully a second time, and then re-
sumed: Il received the first letter
from Mr.. Blaine, and Whitelaw Reid
the second. No further communications
have come 10 either OF US, and if Mr.. Blaine
had addressed himself to still third party
| think that l would be likely to have
heard of it by this time. j thought that
uy denial of yesterday would have settled
the matter. As it seems not TO have done
20. however, i would thank the United Press
to say for me absolutely and unqualifisdly,
llldl kIO" SUN lchbcl.
"And as TO Blaine's friends still working
for his nomination. was asked.
That" replied Mr.. Jones, Goes into
the same category. None Of his friends 50
far as / know, are doing anything of the
kind. They recognize the fact that his
withdrawal is absolute and unequivocal;
that he is out of the field in every
sense; that his name cannot be
considered in even the most remote
H. = nA
that is the position of his friends. What
would it avail for them to work for 9 nomi
nation which even if successful would be
Immediately followed by a declination.
Mr. Blaine's friends do not want TO put
either him or the Republican party in any
such a position"
Then the individuals who are still
booming him are" Mr.. Jones interrupted
the query with suggestive shrug of the
shoulders and wave of the hand. He could
not have any more plainly answered Fool
friends even if he had spoken the words.
No matter. however, how one of the
most intimate friends of the man
from Maine may regard those who
refuse TO abandon his flag it is
nevertheless certain that the latter are just
as earnest and enthusiastic as the hench-
men of some of the other candidates. Wit
ness, for instance, the contretempts that
created so much commotion in the rotunda
of the Grand Pacific yesterday. Col. A. C.
Babcock, the weil-known politician, ap-
peared at the desk with an armful of Blaine
Autographs. He wanted one placed along
side the pictures of Sherman, Allison, Al
per and Gresham But mine host Drake
wouldn't have il so. Blaine isn't candi-
nate" he said, "And his picture can't be
nut up here I'm not q going
to encourage any Blaine furore."
Roth Of the white headed men were angry
and a personal collision seemed imminent
The crowd that had gathered cheered Bah
cock- IL cheered again when he placed the
picture in the window of one of the store1
In the hotel rotunda, and it went into par
oxysms of enthusiasm when after mailing .
Blaine lithogrsph on one'of the pills1 n
engaged two colored stslwarts to guard ft
with the threat, I've put that pictur,
there and I'd like TO see the man that viii
take il down. lean lick Drake or any one
else" The irate Colonel concluded with
the declaration that he would cover the ho
tel and the town with Blaine pictures be.
tween now and the convention, and ne will
keep his word.
Still another straw indicative of ths
latent Blaine feeling is found in the action
of the Young Mems Rlaine club of thi,
city. This organization which numbers
some twelve hundred men and boys will
turn out in force on Saturday with banneri
and badges to meet the Calfornians. The
Irish-American club will unite with them,
a~oetween the two they propose TO make
aSlaine demonstra ton that will be al
once imposing and significant. A thou
sand cream colored hats each of which viii