The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-12
BLAINE AND MCKINLEY.

II has been remarked that none of the
friends of Secretary BLAINE are manifest
| ing any interest in the Ohio campaign, no.
withstanding the fact that the most i'm
portant political contest of the year is be-
ing waged in the Buckeye state. Some of
the BLAINE admirers, il is said, have been
asked to do something 10 make Major Nc
kINLEr governor, and they have all found
excuses for declining. 1t has also been
observed that the executive committee of
the national Republican committee, the
majority of the members of which are
friends Of BLAINE and not OF HARRISON, is
doing nothing, the apparent intention
being TO let the state go by default.
On the other hand the friends of
the President are manifesting deep interest
in Ohio, and some Of the gentlemen occu-
pylng high positions in the administration
are expected to take the stump next month
in behalf of the apostle OF high protection.
All of this furnishes confirmation of the
general belief that Mr.. BLAINE was never
in sympathy with the MCKINLEY bill. 1t
has also revived the famous interview be-
tween Senator BLACKBURN and the New
l. VI Llcf~s-S % POhoOAss eho PoOAASo"
ton of which created sucn a sensation in
political circles. II was printed in The
HERALD at the time, but will be almost as
interesting now as then, hence it is here
reproduced. Secretary BLAINE called at
the room of the Senate committee on ap
preparations for the purpose of discussing
with Senators ALLISON, HALE and BLACK
BURN the expenditures of his department
for the following fiscal year, and what
occurred was detailed TO the correspond
emit by the Kentucky Senate as follows,
and has never been denied:
THE secre ~ was in rather neglige cos
tune as suited the Temperature" said Senator
BLACKBURN, except to particularly
glossy and irreproachable silk hat-a bran new
shining plug. The tarin bill, nina you, had
nothing TO do with the subject in hand, but in a
casual way preached it after the usual greet
ings had been exchanged
Probably asked Mr.. BLAINE how he liked il.
Imagine my surprise-and shall say gratifica-
tion:-when he launched forth a torrent of in
vective against the act that MCKINLEY
fathercd This bill is an iniamy and an out
rage said Mr.. BLAINE. 1t is the most shame
ful measure ever proposed to civilized people.
Go on with it aud it will carry our party TO per
dition.'
Il was" cont 1ued Senator BLACKBURN,
feeling considerably interested and said, Il
wish you we're in the Senate, Mr.. BLAINE, to
announce yourself in such terms L wish 1
were he answered. If so, i would stamp it
under my feet and spit upon it, and then ad-
vancing towards Senators ALLISON and HALE
he snapped his fingers in the face of each
alternatively. and with rising infection said:
Go on with your driveling idiocy, and see TO
what destruction it will lead tbs Republican
PARTY! Pass this bill and in 1892 there will not
be a man in all the party so beggared as TO &C
cept your nomination for the presidency
Then he began 10 dissect the bill mercl-
lessiy particularly the sugar schedule. This
he inveighed against with all his force. l re-
minded him that theSenate had improved upon
the labors OF the House as regarded sugar; that
TO protect an American industry involving the
enormous labor OF boring a hole in maple tree
and boiling the juice the Senate had agreed to
give the maple sugar growers OF New England
bounty of cents. This was the first he had
heard of it. and he seemed hardly able TO credit |
what told
" 1t ISN'T true he said.
"ALLIsoN and HALE confirmed me- Il sup
pose this was done at the solicitation OF NOR
RIIL and EDMUNDs:' he inquired Mr. ALLISON
replied in the Affirmative.
1T is a sample of the breadth of their states |
manship.' said the Secretary; and then the eli |
max came.
Mr.. BLAINE'S new beaver was lying on the |
table in easy reach. With sudden blow he |
brought his clinched hand down on it with such |
force as to mash it hatter than pancake, and |
then seizing the battered chapeau he hurled il |
against the wall violently. I never saw such |
an eb1Ilition. but it only emphasized the deep |
earnestness with which the secretary argued !
against policy which his opinion as then given |
now seems prophetic"
MIR. BLAINE did not love Major Nc |
KISLEY then, and nothing has since &C. /
Cured to Indicate any change in his feel |
ings. The secretary was opposed to the |
bill then, and the operation Of the measure |
has been such as to confirm the opinion of |
the Maine statesman that the law would |
be bad for the party and bad for the |
country. The reciprocity feature was in |
troduced as the result of Mr.. BLAINE's |
personal solicitation among his friends. |
AS the bill passed the House there was !
nothing in it about reciprocity, but that |
clause was inserted in the Senate and /
agreed to by the House. This is oil history