The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-07-11
The Passing of PORTER.


The Passing of Porter.
1t is understood that ALBERT G.. PORTER
has contracted to run for governor and
deliver the republican and independent
labor vote to Ben HARRISON, in consider
alton of receiving portfolio in the latters
cabinet "when he gets to be president.
This is a contract that neither ALBERT
G.. PORTER nor BENJAMIN HARRISON can
carry out. Both are going to be cheated
in the transaction.
Mr.. PoRrER's nomination for governor,
which is already assured, is a confession
of weakness on the part Of the republican
managers in this state. Mr. PORTER doesn't
want to be the candidate. He has
said so repeatedly, and we are
bound to take his word He doesn't
want to be governor. He has had all the
honor and distinction that the Office can
yield, and a second incumbency of it is no
temptation to him. Gov. PoRTER's ambi-
ton scars higher. He would like to
be president. Failing in that, he would
like to be vice-president. Missing that,
he would like to go to the U. s. senate. Or,
that being out of reach, he would like a
cabinet office. Or he would, probably, be
willing TO accept a first-class foreign mis-
sion. Iut, as we said, he doesn't want to
be governor. Least OF all does be want to
be a candidate for governor when the
prospects of defeat are so strong as
they are this year. He has only con-
! sented to accept the nomination with
! the understanding above stated; that, if
elected, he's TO be transferred to 'Presi-
dent" HARMsoN's cabinet next March,
provided, OF course, there is President
HARRISON next March; and that, other
wise, he is to have the call on the next u.
S. senatorship, provided again, OF course,
that the republican party has the bestowal
of that prize.
Here are good many ifs and butts and
4 provisos and conditions and contingencies,
but such is ''politics" Especially republi-
can politics, u l in these days of the @. o.
! p.s sorrow and tribulation. What ap-
pears in the whole matter is, that the re-
publican managers of Indiana, having Sc
cured the nomination of their candidate
or one of their candidates-for the presi-
dency, are turning imploringly to ALBERT
q. PORTER, begging him TO come to their
rescue and save the state for them. There
are several ambitious republicans
with claims" on the party, who would
like to head the ticket this year. There is
Col. ROBERTSON, who has been a pack
horse for the party for years; who has
never got anything for his party services
but kicks and cuffs and an occasional idle
promise, and who was "martyrized" last
year in the interest OF Ben HARRIsoN's
senatorial aspirations, with the promise
that the martyrs crown should come to
him in 1888 in the shape of a unanimous
gubernatorial nomination. There is Chair
man Huston, who has set up for a states
man, and who has bar'l. He wants to
be governor as badly as PORTER doesn't
want TO be. There is pious WILL CUM
BACK, who has spent the better part of his
life a-hewing of wood, and a-drawing of
water for the g. o. p. He wants to be gov
ernor. And there is Gen. HovEY,
and there is Gen. SHAcKLEFoRD,
and there is JOHN NJ. BUTLER,
all of whom have Claims" and all of
whom demand that they be recognized
now. But the machine will have none of
them. 1t demands PORTER. 1t insists
that only his nomination can save" the
state to HARRISON The situation is anon
alous. BEN HARRIsoN was nominated at
Chicago upon the strength OF positive as
surances that he could bring the.ffteen
electoral votes of Indiana to the ticket.
1t is the first time, we believe that a
''favorite son, nominated by either party,
for the purpose of carrying his state, has
felt constrained to ask an old time rival
and enemy TO take the burden from his
shoulders and carry it for him.
The democrats can afford to view the
situation with complacency. The nomi-
nation of PORTER for governor will be, to
begin with, an advertisement of republic
can desperation, the moral effect OF which
will be all with the democrats.
The Harrison machine detests PORTER.
1t has kept him in the background and
snubbed him or ignored him whenever
there seemed to be danger that he would
interfere with HARRIsoN's ambition. Now
that it wants him to pull HARRIsoN's
chestnuts out OF the fire it isvery sweet
on him" all of a sudden. 1t is fattering
him and putting him up and assuring
him that he is, after all, Won
derfully great and a phenomenally
popular man and that he alone of all the
republicans in Indiana is able to pull
HARRISON through. Mr.. PORTER is very
susceptible TO that sort OF thing. He is
excessively vain in fact, and is profoundly
impressed with the idea that he is inn
mensely popular with the voters of Indi--
ana. He vaunts himself much on his
facility as a .'mixer" II will be remem-
bered that he told the Chicago convention
in presenting HARRsoN's name, how he
saved the day for the republicans in 1880
by carrying Indiana at the October cleo
ton. How it tickles him now after all
these years OF neglect and humiliation at