The Portland daily press., 1888-06-04
THURMAN OR GRAY THE MAN.
Indiana Democrats Fear Defeat In
Their State
And Urge Governor Gray as the For.
lorn Hope.
War Horses Averse to CIeveIand's q
Nomination by AcciammatIon.

ST. LOUIS, June '3.-Gov. Grays friends
are hard at work trying to stem the tide that
has set in for Thurman for Vice President.
Dispatches were sent from here today to
Mr.. Thurman informing him that he would
be nominated by acclammation, but Gray
men profess not to be discouraged. The
Hendricks Club from indianapolis arrived
this evening and marched through the streets
and visited the principal hotels. The execu-
tive committee of Indiana met the Pacific
coast delegates today in the headquarters of
the California delegation. Col Matson,
Democratic candidate for Governor in In
diana, pointed out the necessity of carrying
Indiana, and claimed that without an In
diana on the ticket, the prospects would be
ANYTHING but encouraging in that State, par
ticularly if the Republicans should name
Judge Gresham or Senator Harrison for
President Speeches of the same general
tenor were made by Charles Jewett,
Chairman of the. State Committee
Judge Holman, of Indianapolis, and others.
The California delegates listened to all their
visitors had to say but as far as is known are
still solid for Thurman. The fight for Vice
President has practically narrowed down to
Thurman and Gray. Probably Blacks name
will not go before the convention and rumor
withdraw. There is more talk today Of Post
Master General Dickinson, but his friends
from Michigan say he will not be a candidate
Commissioner Morrison is not candidate,
and, after the first ballot. will probably throw
his votes, in all numbering perhaps 80, to
Gray. 1t is claimed majority of the Iowa
delegation are for Gray and Kentucky, also,
is claimed for him.
Henry Watterson does not like the Thur
man idea and frankly says SO. Considerable
opposition to Thurman has developed in the
South and Gray men are full of fight and
hopefulness. Congressman Scott today said
he had no intention Of trying to force the
nomination OF Thurman or anybody else, and
had not come here for that purpose. Other
friends of thePresident declare thatCleveland
has not said one word concerning his choice
for Vice President and claim he has stead
lastly refused to express preference. Mayor
Grace, of New York, says Thurman's nOmi-
nation is assured. Some of the advance
guard of the New York delegation are, how
ever, opposed to the Ohioan. Gray Is un-
doubtedly gaining strength, while Thurman
sentiment is being much weakened by the
objection to his age. The Ohio delegation is
acting rather queerly about the matter. They
profess to be for Thurman, and yet great
number covertly throw cold water on the
movement to nominate him. They say that
Ohio will not present him as a candidate un-
less he can be nominated without roll call
and the Indiana men insist they are going Ito
make fight to the finish.
The common theory about the Admins
tration's relation to Thurman's candidacy is
that while the President has said nothing,
Mr.. Scott and Secretary Whitney desire
Thurman's nomination in order to patch up
certain party differences in Ohio and because
they sincerely believe the old Romans name
would add strength to the ticket. The plat
form was quite as much talked about today
as the vice presidency. The programme is
to elect Gen. Collins permanent chairman, but
for this honor, Henry Watterson will probably
contest Chairman Barnum, Secretary
Prince, Senator German and others are said
to have joined in a scheme to have the tariff
plank in the platform of 1884, reaffirmed
without any stronger endorsement OF tariff
reform and without any mention of the
Presidents message or the Mills bill. This
programme does not please Morrison, Scott,
Watterson and the Democrats of the South
and Southwest, while the Mills bills ad-
herentS evlnce determination to have that
measure endorsed in resolution but the 0p-
position is so formidable at times as to seem
insurmOuntable.
A slight ripple of excitement was caused
this evening when it was learned that not.
withstanding the fact that the election of
chairman was almost foregone conclusion,
the Indiana delegation had selected Mr..
Stealey to represent it on committee or or
ganization with instructions to favor a
southern man to preside over the conven-
tion. 1t is doubtful, however, whether at
this late day the effort to defeat Mr.. Collins
will prove successful. The Pennsylvania &
Texas delegates are said to favor Thurman
for second place.