The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-07-05

1AohJ OhullAldA' mlh6 DS1 dnO
Greed Raymond were the rabid Blaine
men, and we had terrible time trying tc
control them. As you know, Raymond
threatened to denounce me if 1 tried tc
prevent the precipitate nomination OF
Blaine"
"Mr. Elkins, is it possible that you anG
your friends worked like Troians all weeh
without having any direct assurance from
Mr. Blaine that he would accept"
NO ASSURANCES FROM BLAINE.
I'VE had no assurance whatever, but we
knew. that he would accept unanimou:
nomination if the party called on him
These other candidates had entered the
field in good faith and while they remained
we could not force his nomination upon
the convention even if we had the power
ibid you at any time have majority
for Blaine?"
clam not sure that we had, but even if
we had nominated him by vote of APO
few more than bare majority-it
wouldn't have been good thing for
Blaine or the party. On the first ballot
we might have had less than a majority,
and on the second ballot might have nom
mated him by reclamation, but then again
some of the delegates might have held
that his letters of declination were still in
force and might not have given him their
votes, which would have left US in an
awkward position. AS you know, every
thing was arranged to nominate Blaine
with rush on Saturday afternoon, when
it was discovered that we could get but
six votes from Alabama; that Clayton of
Arkansas, wasn't willing to give US the
solid vote of that state, except on condi-
tions impossible of fulfllment, namely,
that We should get the votes of New York,
Pennsylvania and Iowa; and as Allison
wouldn't withdraw we couldn't get that
state. What could we do under the cir
oumstances but adjournH and adjourn we
did"
SATURDAYS ADJOURNMENT EXPLAINED.
"The adjournment on Saturday has
never been satisfactorily explained.
swell, the minority was composed of
Harrison men who were eager to force the
convention to vote. We passed word to
the California and other delegations that
things weren't as we expected, and that it
was absolutely necessary to adjourn.
California voted aye, but New York was
loyal to Harrison and voted no. Had they
deemed it important to vote with the
Blaine delegates for adjournment they
would have done So"
SIN what position were you then?"
"Well, the position Saturday night was
about thus: We knew that Blaine would
not ACCEPT while any of the candidates
we're in the race. That had been our po-
'ition right along. Then the delegates
rom Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and
Michigan formed strong combination
against Blaine. Indiana wasL'J present,
out it was in sympathy with the move
nent. My play was to get Indiana to de-
vas Blaine, and in this way win the Blaine
delegates over to Harrison. By keeping
he Indiana men out of the opposition
caucus this scheme was furthered. In
rider to alay the fever of excitement in
he combine against Blaine, had to go
before them and give them my word
hat Blaine would not accept a nomina-
ion while any of the other candidates
we're in the field. This Gained them
somewhat. There had been some talk
bout Sherman retiring, but when he re-
used to do so we knew that it was all up
With Blaine and we turned our attention
o Harrison. had cablegram in my
pocket Sunday night from Blaine stating,
IS before, that he would not accept a nom
nation as against any other candidate"
THE SUNDAY NIGHT CAUCUS.
"Why, then, did you have a meeting of
Blaine delegates Sunday night?"
"We had to do that to prevent them
rom busting; we had to give them a
hance to work off their superfous steam.
they had to be shunted and side-tracked
Il some way, and that was the safest way
nut of it. We had twenty-five states
here, and l tell you it was hot crowd.
freed Raymond shook his fist under my
lose and De Young was half wild. 1 told
hem it was useless to talk of Blaine any
urther, but that only made matters
worse. Kerens fumed around-he's up at
chicago yet, fuming-apd insisted upon
having a sub committee of seven ap-
pointed to nominate Blaine Monday
morning. told them it wouldn't do, but
hey wouldn't listen to me. Kerens was
placed in charge of the committee,
which actually met on Monday morning
md discussed the matter, when Blaine's
,ablegr9m to Boutelle settled it. Boutelle
lad cablegram Sunday night, and was
lpologizing to the meeting for the state
# affairs, when asked him if the state of
Maine would vote to nominate Blaine. He
lad to answer no, and this created an
lproar. To place myself right before the
world, told an Associated Press reporter
sunday night that, so far as 1 was con-
erned, Blaine would not be nominated
While there was a single candidate before
he convention. On Monday / insisted
hat BOutelle should read the cablegrams.
10 did SO, and these, together with his
peech, settled the question"
HOW SHERMAN WAS DONE UP.
"When Sherman declined to get out OF
he way, you went in to do up Sher mani"
swell, he wasn't nominated, was her"
sked Mr.. Elkins in return, while CLEAN |
" satisfaction flashed across his face.
The Blaine men had no love to waste on
Ohio Sherman. But | believed always |
hat Harrison was stronger man than
sherman. If Joha Sherman or Alger |
lad been from Indinna, or if Gresham
lad gotten the support of Indiana, .
,ither of these might have been nomi- |
lated. The logic of politics required
hose two Offices for New York and In
LLAMA. New York couldn't present can |
to difference of policies
md politics-therefore the next best thing |
vas to 90 west, and we had to go to In-
Llama. 1t vas not so much question OF
persons as of location, and If Gresham