The Washington critic., 1888-06-25
A PRoTRAoTED MEETING.
All the Elements Opposed to Harrison
Hold Conference.

Hold Conference.
CHICAGO, June pa meeting OF all
the elements opposed to Harrison was
held at the Gresham headquarters in the
Grand Pacific. 1t began about midnight
and ended little after 2 o'clock this
morning. The result Is said TO haye been
an arrangement by which all the OPP
posing forces will hold together against
the movement of the New Workers to-
ward Harrison, and when two or three
ballots have shown that he cannot be
nominated, will adjourn the convention.
No attempt will be made to concentrate
the opposition OH any candidate, because
tins Is not looked upon as necessary.
All the candidates had their claims ad,
vocatcd by their respective friends, and,
while it was not the intention to agree
on anyone, IL was evident that such q
result could not be achieved. Mr.. ALI
son was highly spoken of by nearly all
the representatives Of what might prop
erly be termed the Blaine element In the
convention, and more than ordinary in
terest is centered in Senator Quay. He
did not express q preference for any
particular candidate, but he was opposed
to hasty action, which might jeopardize
the party.
Mr.. Clarkson of Iowa, Hayden of Mas
sachusetts, Quincy of Texas. Fessenden of
Connecticut and others insisted that Sena-
tor Allison was the most available man,
and Senator Farwell Lynch of Mississippi
and others declared that Judge Gresham
could be nominated and elected and at the
same time unity the party. Mr.. McKin-
ley, being bound to Sherman, was not at
liberty to act further than to do all he
could to prevent stampede. Colonel
Hecker of Michigan was the only gentle
man who did not evince any anxiety to
have his candidate recognized.
Major Mckinley left the room about an
hour before the meeting adjourned. He
said that Ohio, despite all reports to the
contrary was for Sherman first last and
| all the time. Senator Quay felt reason
| ably confident that the inroads of the
| schemers for New York's vote had made
no inroads in the Pennsylvania delega-
| ton. He made it pretty certain that this
| mornings conference of the Pennsylvania
| delegates would not be likely to agree on
| giving Harrison more than 80 or 30 votes.
He thought there would be no trouble in
| getting an adjournment after two or three
| ballots, then another conference could be
held and plans made for the future.
! During the meeting the statements said
to have been made by Patrick Ford about
| Harrison and the Irish vote of New York
we're repeated. They were to the effect
| that Harrison's Know Nothing record
had been investigated and that it would
be certain to ALLEVIATE the whole Irish
vote ofNew York, which is now drifting
toward the Republicans.
The Sherman men are fighting desper-
ately to sustain the fast waning fortunes OF
their candidate. They will not go into
any combination that would afterward
demand the sacrifice of their candidate.
The action of the New York delegation
had such an effect on the situation that
the Pennsylvanians have been filled with
the idea of making themselves great fac
tor in the fight. On Thursday night tae
Pennsylvanians seemed nearly ready to
60 over to Harrison in body when they
should drop Sherman.
| They let New York get to the front o
the Harrison column, however, and to
night Matt. Quay, ambitious to be him
self the controlling power in the conven
ton, is disposed to place himself at the
head of the Allison party. To-day
Allison's strength may be so great as tc
make him the candidate, against whom
it will be necessary to make the combina
ton.
Harrison will go into the convention
to-day with 200 or more behind him, anC
Sherman with as many more. There viii
still be left more than 400 votes for othel
candidates. It's anybodys fight yet.