Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-28
A SNARE FOR SHERMAN.
How His Supporters Walked Into the
Foraker Steel Trap.

COLUMBUS, April 97.-The Republi-
cans would have 1t appear that all was
harmony at the meeting OF the State
Central Committee in this city Friday
night. That this was not the fact is no
longer questioned. Sherman had sew
eral Of his smoothest workers here,
among them ex-Speaker Cowgirl, OF
Champaign, Jake Donaldson, OF Wash
ington and Ohio, and Assistant Post
master Lanning, OF Columbus, TO watch
his interests. They succeeded in
sitting the proposition TO indorse
candidate for the United States Senate,
which unquestionably meant the choice
OF Foraker, but in other matters they
were not so successful. On the author
ity OF a prominent Republican, who
spent the day in feeling the pulse OF the
committeeman as they arrived, II is
stated that the endorsement proposition
could have easily been put through the
committee. He says that had the plan
been forced by Foraker's friends 1t
would have carried by one vote, despite
the fact that the Sherman contingent
had gathered up several proxies to aid
them. Judge King, chairman OF the
committee, 1t will be remembered, failed
TO arrive until the business was practi-
cally completed, and this was for pur-
pose. The Judge has always been
rated as stanch Foraker
man, but he was placed In
peculiar and trying position when the
proposed Endorsement was sprung by the
Sherman following and so suddenly
dropped by them as soon as they dis
covered that it was loaded TO the brim
for the icicle OF Mansfield. Mr.. King
has political aspirations and he was
forced to choose position that would
keep him from being ground TO pieces
between the two factions. To save him
self he came out in long letter in oppo-
sition to the plan, but a careful reading
of the document convinced the most
casual that he had left ample space be-
tween the lines to hedge on the letter.
In view OF this fact his absence from
the meeting was significant. He pro-
posed to and did stay away long enough
for the question TO be settled II II had
been pushed.
The Smooth men" managing the
Sherman interests started movement
to make him temporary chairman OF the
This was and Is now
strenuously denied by them. but 1t Is
fact nevertheless. Their play was to
confer upon the political idol some |
mark OF special distinction in order that |
the inference, at least, might go out |
that he was the choice OF the Republi- |
cans OF Ohio. On this point they were |
determined, and II ii could not be done
by making him temporary chairman,
then the same object was TO be accom- |
pllshed In some other way. The mana
gers soon discovered that Bob Nevin, OF |
Dayton, had the reins in hand and was
sure OF being selected for the chairman
ship, and the Sherman contingent began |
10 beat the bushes for some other means 1
Of placing the stamp OF approval and
giving to their leader a quasi indorSe-
ment from the committee. A trap was
laid for them, aud they walked into the
machine while the opposition to Sher-
man closed the doors on them. Eagerly |
they caught at the proposition to invite
Senator John TO attend the convention
anu utllNtT UlHrtll vi IL oPN''As "''s
they thought, would really be prefer
able to the craftsmanship, and they
dived headlong at the bait, neverdream-
ing that they were to be strung up on
the Foraker hook. But they were
caught. When the resolution was
offered il was found, to the
and CONSERVATION Of the
Sherman contingent that In addition
to the Senator's name, the resolution
also included Foraker, Foster and Nc
Kinley. They were neatly caught. To
make a kick would have been useless,
and they were forced to accept the reso-
luton in its blanket" form or get no
recognition at all. With wry faces they
were compelled TO swallow the dose,
and did so with mutterings OF discon-
tent. 1t is an entirely new proposition
to invite the party magnates TO the con
for the purpose OF regaling the
delegates with oratory, but Foraker,
whom OF all Others Sherman Is trying to
force into the background, is on the list
with his adversary, and, II there Is not
A marked change in the condition OF the
so-called grand old party, he will be the
ion OF the occasion.