St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-15
BLAINE OR GRESHAM,
The Indianapolis Conference
Considers Both Of These
Gentlemen.
Gresham's Inability to Recon-
cile Hostile Factions May
Shut Him Out.
He Is, However, Recognized
as Very Popular Among
the Workingmen.
Strong Argument in Favor Of
Blaine by Col. Conger, Of
Ohio.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, June 1.-THE
Blaine conference has caused a pro-
found political sensation. Indiana Re-
publicans are not likely soon to get
through talking about it. The friends
OF the president are greatly disturbed,
though they say there was nothing in
the conference to cause surprise, as it
has been well understood all along that
the men who are at the head of the
Blaine movement would oppose the
nomination of Harrison quite as vigor-
ously in 1892 as they did in 1888, and they
would select as their candidate
against him the man of the
greatest popularity. They claim
to have had information several days
ago that the conference was about to be
held, and that it would be made the oc-
caslon for starting new presidential
boom. 1t was supposed, however, that
Judge Gresham would again be put for
ward as the candidate of the anti-Harri
son Republicans. The presidents sup
porters call the leaders of the new move
ment the "klckers," and speak lightly
of the conference. Fl. C.. Adams, one of
the most influential of the few Harrison
men who have not been taken away from
home by a federal appointment. says of
the promoters of the Blame boom:
''These kickers are like the third
party men; they are making a
Good Deal of Noise
inst now, but next year they will not be
heard Of. When the time comes we
will show them who is running the Re-
publican party in the state. Harrison
will have the Indiana delegation"
The object in holding the conference
in this city wars to ascertain before tax
ing any steps what the anti-Harrson
men in Indiana would undertake to do,
and. besides, it was believed that the
home of the president would be good
starting point for the boom of an Op-
pOnent. 1t was originally the purpose
to keep the conference secret, but it
was so largely attended, and there was
so much enthusiasm among the partici
pants over the prospects Of great de-
velopmentS, that the leaders of the
movement, who had so earnestly en-
Joined secrecy, were the first to give
out information so that it reached
the public. They are quite evidently
impressed deeply with the belief
that the conference will have historic
Importance. While there was unanim-
ity of sentiment on the question of
making fight against the nomination
of Harrison, there was some discussion
as to who should be put forward as the
candidate Of the opposition. There were
three or four persons mentioned, but
the discussion very quickly narrowed
down to two men,
RIaine and Gresham.
The great popularity of the latter
m
winning quality, and he was frequently
referred 20 very effectively as the ''tin
bucket mems candidate" The discus
sion, however, convinced the Gresham
men that an anti-HaIrison movement
led by Gresham could not unite all the
elements opposed to the administra-
ton. Beside, Judge Gresham could not
again be brought forward as the candi-
date of Illinois. In 1883 Senator Gull
lom was persuaded not to go before
the convention as candidate on
promise that if he would then give
Gresham the full benefit of his oppor-
tunity the friends of Gresham would
give him their support as an illinois
candidate in the next contest. The
Gresham men are under the necessity
of making good this pledge in in 1892,
and if Gresham is a candidate he must
be backed by the delegation from Indi-
ana. 1t was this consideration that
placed him at a disadvantage. The po-
litical arguments advanced by Mr.. Con-
ger in behalf of Blaine were indisput-
ably forcible, and it was conceded by
the Gresham men that it would be bet
ter to give their support to him, with
the understanding that if Blaine should
not become a candidate Gresham or
Alger should be put forward in his
place. In assuring the conference that
Blaine was available as candidate.
Mr.. Conger said that his relations with
the administration would be no embar-
rassment, as he had gone to Bar Har-
Dor and would not return to Washing
ton as secretary of state.
Another conference will probably be
held soon. In the meantime the work of
organizing the Republicans in Ohio, In
diana, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin,
Minnesota and Kansas will be pushed.
State and local conferences will be held
in furtherance of the movement, and it
is probable that bureau under the di-
rection of the leading participants in
the meeting will be opened soon in
ChiaaUO