Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-26
[HURSTON'S CHICAGO RECORD.
How He Opposed Nebraska's
Break For Harrison.
SECONDED BY CHARLEY GREENE.
Tic Nevertheless Bobs Up Serenely
and Claims Credit For an Act
That Rightfuily Belongs
TO His Colleagues.
Oil Roim Johnny's Nerve.

LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. 24.-l SPECIAL TO THE
BEE. The story that John NJ. Thurston
swung the Nebraska delegation TO the sup
port of Harrison in the Chicago convention,
is the subject Of considerable ridicule here.
The first votes Harrison got from Nebraska
were cast by Delegates Baker and Einsel.
Representatives Baker relates the circum-
stances under which he made the first break,
and his statement shows that Thurston made
amost determined fight against IT..
al left home a Gresham man. says Mr..
Baker "but when got to Chicago | found q
magnificent lot of men representing General
Harrison and my sympathies were turned to
him. Ne soon found that Thurston had
traded off the whole delegation to secure his
temporary Craftsmanship, but ! could stand
that for awhile. On Saturday told the boys
was going TO vote for Harrison. Thur ston
and Charley Greene objected and after con
siderable talk | agreed to vote
with them for that day, believing
no nomination would be made. On
Monday morning l told the boys 1 was
going for Harrison and asked Greene, who
was chairman of the delegation, to so an
nounce my vote. He said he wouldn't do it.
and told him would poll the delegation IL
he didn't. | knew how l wanted TO vote.
Thurston and Greene went at me hammer
and tongs, and we had an angry discussion
for an hour. After we had cooled down |
offered to vote with them for Allison once
more After that ballot Einsel said he, too,
would vote for Harrison. Charley Greene
angrily said he would not announce his vote,
and Einsel threatened to poll the delegation.
The other fellows finally concluded we were
in earnest. Thurston remarked: We'll,
let's gather in the patronage before you
VOTE and he left the crowd in a rush. II
was quite evident at that time that Har-
rison was going to be nominated Consider
ing all the circumstances, 1t is absurd Tor
Mr. Thurston to claim the credit of having
swung the delegation to Harrison
Apropos the question raised as TO the ln-
fuence ex-senator Saunders will have with
the new administration, an animated conver-
sation bC tween several prominent polltClanS
this afternoon is in point.
81 have it an unquestionable authority
that Governor Saunders went to John 4.
New at the Chicago convention and said he
would not ask to control the federal patron
age of Nebraska in the event of Gen
eral Harrlson's nomination and cleo
tion," said one. but he did not say he
wouldn't ask for an Office was added with
significant look.
You may talk all you want to-, said
another, but Saunders will control the
patronage if he wants TO. Harrison and he
were in the senate together. That was now
their families became acquainted and
led to the marriage of their childaen.
Saunders is a level headed man. Harrison
knows that and learned to respect him. In
view of all these things don't you think the
president would rather have the advice of
man he knows than that of strangerss
You can't make me believe Saunders will
not WELD great deal of influence
with the new administration. He may not
openly dictate the distribution of the spoils,
but his whisper will be heard long dis
tance"
81 don't know much about Saunders in
fluence,n broke in third, but know that
Russell Harrison has intimated that he
would like TO have ME sign the old gentle
mans petition for the internal collector
ship"
''Speaking of young Harrison, to change
the subject" remarked another, Il would
not be surprised to see him bob us senator
from the new state of Montana. His resi-
dence, you know, has been at Helena for
four or five years. He is interested in big
cattle ranch out there and now has full
swing on that Helena paper. IL gives him
good deal of influence and prominence, and
he is clever, capable fellow. Just watch
my guess, will you!"
Here Charles Greene in response to a
query, SAID;
~ think you will fud that the president
will divide his favors between the two fac
tons in Nebraska"