Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-06-29
Another Chapter on Inside Workings
of the Great Blaine HippOdrome.
Senators Afraid They Could Not Intlu.
ence Sherman as President.
Republican Leagues Arranging for a
Meeting TO Plan Campaign Work.
THE Blame HIPPODROME.


Other Candidates Ask Blaine to lead His
Party-Why the Plan Failed
CHICAGO, June 26.-U o to 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning two words would have
made James G. Blaine the candidate of
the republican party for the presidency.
Practically the same votes which nCmi-
mated Harrison could hsve been used 10
nominate Blaine. His managers hCd the
whole situation in their hands, and were
ready to do just what they pleased
There was but one thing in the way, and
that was Sherman's candidacy. Blaine
had made i a condition not to be over
borne that for him to accept the nomina-
tioa all of the candidates must Join the
request that he do so.
Under this condition Elkins, Mapley,
Fessenden, Phelps and Boutelle had Sc
cured such assurances from al the candi
dates that they were justified In stating
that when Sherman had consented all
would have consented and the nomina
tion could have safely gone on.
SHERMAN WAS ovER-ooNFIDENr.
But Sherman would not consent.
He believed that by holding out he
could tire the opposition and force II to
him as the solution. Sherman vas finally
told yesterday that the time was ripe
for him to act. He must either prepare
to Join the Blaine chorus or be beaten by
Harrison. Sherman could not believe it.
1t never seemed either to him or to them
possible that the party would pass Sher-
man by and take up Harrison.
The Blaine men waited for Sherman
until the very minute that Boutelle went
on the stage with Blaine's kilograms in
his pocket The Blaine men waited even
then, and looked toward Ohio, but Ohio
made no sign, and then tho irrevOcable
kilograms were read and Harrison was
practically the nominee.
OF course even then ii was eagerly
pointed ont by the Blaine or busters that
there was nothing in the dispatches
which uneqUivocauy declared that under
given circumstances Blaine would not ac-
cept. II Sherman had simply said II
cor sent" even when the fatal ballot had
begun, Blaine might still have had the
leadership.
SOME INSIDE FACTS REGARDING BLAINE.
This is perhaps a good time for secret
history of the campaign told some days
ago. The whole Blaine programme in the
convention was worked out just as it was
announced before the convention began.
There was c hitch in California, and this
hitch was one of the causes of the break
down of the whole scheme. 1t was in .
tended that Blaines name should not be
heard until the exhausted convention
turned to him as a last resort. Califor-
ria spoiled this by forcing the Blaine is
sue before the delegates from the first,
and by its clumsy and officious loyalty
knocked the whole elaborate card castle
which Eikins had constructed.
THE PLAN WELL LAID.
1t was after California's mutiny was
seen to be a serious and persistent men
ace that a message was received in Chi-
cago which laid down the whole line of
the Blaine campaign, which the Blaine
managers have followed. The message
was not from Blaine himself, but it was
from one who knew his mind, and it said
that Mr.. Blaine would accept the nOmina-
ticn If it came after complete and
manifest failnre to nominate any other
candidates, ard if the other candidates
Joined in request that he should accept
3 nomination so offered to him.
BLAINE HAD OVER 500 VOTES PLEDGED.
To produce both these results Elkins
and his lieutenants labored. 1t violates
no confidence now to state that instead,
as was announced, of having 423 Blaine
votes, there were more than 800. On
Saturday afternoon all the plans were
laid to make Blaine the choice but one
thing, and one thing alone was wanting,
and that was John Sherman's consent to
join in the call on Blaine 70 run. 1t was
said that this consent had been obtained
and that everything was fixed. The tick
ct was to be Blaine and Harrison, and
some of the politicians licked their chops
over the statement that $2,000,O00 had
been pledged for the campaign fund.
REVENGE Is SWEET.
When Sherman finally determined that
he would not go into the scheme, even for
cabinet position and great patronage,
the Blaine camp was for time in great
CONSERVATION, but finally new plan took
shape. Sherman had killed Blaine and
Blaine's friends would kill Sherman. Har-
rison was the weapon used.
On Sunday night the Sherman men, be-
lieving that the Blaine scheme was off,
fattered themselves with the idea that
they had chance for their man. But
Sherman had lost the game before mid
night, and yesterday morning he had as
clear an idea of the situation as any one
could have. 1t was explained to him, but
he would not move, and so Harrison was
named and the days work was done.