The Portland daily press., 1888-05-05
ASSURANCES FROM Mr.. BLAINE
Discovered by Correspondent of the
Philadelphia Times,
who says the Maine Statesman will
Accept the Nomination.
A Rem arkable Story which will Find
Few Believers.

PHILADELPHIA, May 4-The Times will
publish tomorrow the following triple head
ed special from New York which 1t will en-
dorse as coming direct from the most authen-
tic source:
"NEw YORK, May Al have entirely reli-
able information that the friends of Mr.
Blaine have, within the last three days, re-
celyed direct from him assent to the aggres-
siye movement for his denomination for
President, and the assurance that, If nomi-
mated in the face of his Florence letter Of
declination, he would not feel at liberty to
decline. A general systematic effort has
been made by Mr.. Blaine's closest friends,
such as Chairman Jones, W. W. Phelps,
Whitelaw Reid, Charles Emory Smith and
Others for months past to get Mr.. Blaine into
the attitude of passive candidate. The
Washington conference was only part Of the
varied methods by which influence has been
brought to bear upon Mr. Blaine. and the
publication of his portrait. freshly taken
from life in Italy. issued by the Judge, this
week, was decided on more than month
ago as starting point for an av0wed effort
to make Mr.. Blaine the candidate Every
possible pressure has been put upon Mr..
Blaine to get from him a direct assurance
that he will not decline, if nominated, and
that assurance has been received in this city
from Mr.. Blaine within the last three days.
In few days more it will cease to be a Sc
cret that Mr.. Blaine is in the hands OF his
friends, as the Blaine leaders will at once
come to the front and make an aggressive
campaign for his denomination.
1.-THE movement has been pretty clearly
f0reshadOwed for some weeks in such Blaine
organs as the Tribune, of this city and the
Philadelphia Press and all atfectations about
Mr.. Blaine's candidacy will now soon be
thrown off and the battle made an aggres-
sive one. Part of the original programme
was the election of Charles Emory Smith as
delegate at large from your State. His
Blaine junta in this city, bnt Mr.. Smith gives
the assurance that Mr.. Blaine can command
the majority of the Pennsylvania delegation
under any circumstances, and II Mr.. Blaine.s
nomination shall seem to be assured the del
egation will be solid for him. The unex-
pected expressions in Massachusetts, and
Vermont for Mr.. Blaine were not accidental,
nor are they unexpected to Mr.. Blaine's
friends. When all the anti-Blaine men were
reposing ON their arms because they regard
ed Mr.. Blaine as out of the fight, the friends
of Mr. Blaine were most energetic In their
work in the two anti-Blaine New England
States and got possession of Vermont and
Massachusetts while others were sleeping
in fancied security. 1t was this expression
by three hitherto anti-Blaine New England
States that made Mr.. Blaine cast aside his
doubts and assent to the opportunities OF
his friends for denomination. 1t is now a
positive fact that Mr.. Blaine is in the field.
His friends have his assent to movement
in his favor and that he will be nominated at
Chicago, if hard work and plenty OF enthuSi-
asm can accomplish it,"