The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-11

MIR. Depew's Story About the Selection q
General Harrison for President

Mr. Depew's Story About the Selection of
General Harrison for President
New York Commercial Advertiser.
Chauncey N. Depew is authority for the
statement that Gensral Benjamin Harrison
ewes his elevation 10 the presidency of the
United States primarily to the effects of din.
ner party MANY persons have heard of the
dinner given by Mr.. Depsw to the New York
delegation after his withdrawal from the presi-
Dental contest. on the second day of the con-
ventiOn. But the effects of that dinner have
not been made public until Mr.. Depew told of it
to-day.
After the first days ballotine," said Mr.
Depew, 1T was apparent that the West was so
much opposed TO the candidacy of a railroad
president that there was 10 show for me- 90
determined TO withdraw. Then the important
QUESTION was: Whom should the New York
delegation support Their preferences were nu-
merous. Some insisted voting for Blaine
till the end and others wanted to break for
Sherman, Gresham and the other candidates
As chairman of the delegation l called . confer
ence OF the four delegates-atlarge, who, of
course, controlled in q measure the course Of the
delegation We met Senator Hiscock, Thomas
c. PIatt, Warner Miller and nlyzelf. I epoke
fret, and proposed that Benjamin Harrison
should be supported. he the most
available man account OF his record as q
soldier, his record in the United States Senate
and. confess, urged his adoption by US on the
sentimental ground that he was the grandson OF
old Tippecanoe. But the other delegates at
large did not look at matters through my spec
tacles. Mr.. Plat favored another mar SEN
ator Hiscock had q different choice and Warner
Miller wanted q third man. STILL we were all
willing TO surrender our preferences in favor Of
the others for the good OF the party. No,
won't tell you the preferences of the other del.
egstes. j only say that / alone favored Ha--
rison. A long discussion ensued. did my share
of the talking, Won may be sure, and the result
Of the discussion that the four of us agreed
on Harrison. Then l called Cor meeting Of the
whole New York delegation. All were present
told them of the action OF the dela- c-tes- at
large and asked their opinions. Fifty-eieht
agreed with Us and twenty-four differed. No
amount of persuasion could convince them that
Harrison was the man to win.
Here was a snag of large size. New York
wanted the honor Of naming the President: still
il could not be the deciding factor in the con-
vention unless. after my withdrawal, il would
go solidiy for some other candidate.
what did dot Well, / thought the matter
over for an hour and then invited the delegation
to dinner. / did not try TO convince the recaci.
trants. L simply gave them good things to eat
and good drink TO enlighten their understand.
ing. And behold the result! By the time
the dinner ended every mothers son OF
them was shouting for Harrison. This result
WAS largely due to speeches by Senator HIS
cock, Warner Miller, ex-senator Platt and
Senator Fassett, who, after the first conference
heartily supported Harrison. The rest is an
cient history. New York voted for Harrisou
and he was nominated by reclamation. The
dinner solidifed New Yorks vote. What's the
matter with good dinner a political factor?'
asked Mr.. Depew, laughing heartily.