The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-15
Lew Wallace Presents the Claims Of General
Harrison in Forcible and Eloquent Words
Meeting Of the National Committee.
sK1Rm1sHING FOR POSITION.

sKIRMISHING FOR POSITION.
Frie0ds Of the Candidates Survey the General
Lookout for Points Of Vantage.
Special TO the Indianapolis journal
CHICAGO, June 14-This has been day of
general maneuvering on the part OF the forces
massed about the Chicago hotels in the interest
of the various presidential aspirants. In the
language Of . soldier delegate the generals
have been figuring for position. and little more
has been accomplished By any one than the
making of acquaintances and getting better
idea Of how to 60 to work to accomplish desired
results The Indiana crowd Is the largest and
most earnest contingent in the field, and have
impressed themselves upon all a. being thor
oughly devoted to the idea that they have the
true solution to the problem ''who can we electP
in the person OF General Harrison. There has
been a steady influx of delegates and interested
parties from all directions to-day, but IS yet the
former are coming scatteringly.
Indiana headquarters were formally opened at
the Grand Pacific this morning. and have been
crowded all day by Hoosier Republicans and the
friends of their candidate. The delegation has
been reinforced by the arrival of delegates
Chambers and Gardner, of the Vincepnes dis
trict and Early, of Terre Hause, while the out
side forces have been greatly strengthened by
the presence Of Hon. j. h. Baker. of Elkbart.
and others All doubt as to the solidity and
aarnestness of the Hoosier delegation. for Har-
rison has been dssipated by the decided stand
taken by those who have the votes to cast. and
no 10 now expecting the break which, &C
cording to the vehement statements Of certain
outside newspapers, was to be made 80 early in
the fight The Indiana men are being
kindly received on all sides, and
. favorable indication of the feeling
entertained for their candidate by delegates
from other States is to be found In the readiness
with which they listen to presentation of his
points of availability, and the unanimity with
which they acquiesces in the statements Of his
friends. OF course, it is too much to expect
that everybody approached will throw mp his
hands and come over to Harrison at the first at
tack or that none among those who favor the
nomination Of some one else would say anything
in deroaation of his candidacy. 1t has long
since been recognized by the friends of the
other candidates that if any Of these sspirants
is to meet with success General Harrison must
DO got out Of the way. and therefore, much
talk has been directed against him. After care
fully searching every particle Of his record, per-
sonal and political, in . vain attempt to find
some flaw that could be exposed to
advantage, they appear TO have
reached the conclusion that the only course
open to them is to sndeavor to convince some
body that his record on the Chinese question 10
not all that It should be. but the Endorsement of
Senator Mitchell, of Oregon. and the fact that he
has votes in the delegation Of nearly every one
of the Pacific States and Territories are sufficient
rsfutations Of that charge.
The Indianians accept every opportunity that
is offered for debste as to the availability Of
their man and have the best Of the argument
every time General Harrison is rapidly COM
ing to the front 40 one among the most probable
nominees. and the fight 10 regarded as having
already narrowed to three men-Harrison, Sher-
man and Alger There can be but one thing
which may be made to interfere with General
Harrisons nomination, and that is the at
ttude assumed by very few Indiana men. who
are conspicuous about the Gresham head
quarters. and who imply by their conduct. and
by indirection, if not by word Of mouth that the
sentiment of the State Is divided. Major ". H.
Cslkins, ex-Attorney-gensral Baldwin and G. w.
Fairbanks are prominent figures at the head
quarters Of the Gresham people. and this fact is,
of course, commented upon by the friends of
Sherman, Aleer. Allison and others, who seek,
naturally enough. to distort the fact that the
gentlemen named are for General Gresham az
individuals into 81 evidence of lack of harmony
In the party in Indiana Such q State Of affairs
10, Of course, disclaimed by tie Indiana crowd,
and there 10 no lack Of proof that it does not
exist
tits perfectly plain. and the subject of COM
msnt in the Hobbies. that Judge Gresham is not
The Tribune and other Chicago papers have,
for weeks. We'd with each other in the extrava-
gancs Of their claims concerning his strength.
Delegation after deeRatiop has been represent
ed as being solid for him. but now that they are
beginning to arrive 1t il becoming evident that
these claims do not matsrialize. General Har-
rison's friends have been extremely judicious.
and have not allowed themselves to be drawn
into any controversies. They hxvs none but
kind words for Judge Gresham. simply stating
that hc 10 not the candidate of Indiana and
the friends Of the Illinois candidate seem
to have. for polieys sake. ceased, in measure,
their Wholesale denuneiAsion Of everybody else.
Major Cslkins states in interview 10 the Chi
cseo News Of this evening: ''Thers Is no fight
in Indiana between Harrison and Gresham. The
delegation Il solidly 10 favor Of Harrison. aud
think they are A. solidly In favor of Gresham
Is second choice 1t 10 not case Of loving
Gresham less. bat Of loving Harrison more.n As
for the Harrison men, il has been several times
represented that gentlemen prominent among
them shave stated Extensively that Gresham
could not hope for any help from Indiana in any
emergency. Ast to this. IL may BE- well to state
here. positively, that nothing Of the kind
has been said by any one having even
q shadow Of authority to Say anything Of any
character. General Harrisop's friends are not
here for pastims merely, nor are they engaged
in ssnvAssins the question Of second choice.