Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-15
WHAT REALLY WAS DONE.
Details of the Conference at Which Colonel
Conger Was Chairman.

Conger Was Chairman.
INDIANAPOLIS, June 1.-THE admin
istration Republicans are attempting TO
break the force Of the anti-Harrison
caucus by discrediting the value of th3
past party service of the participatorS.
Nevertheless it has caused no little con-
sternation and no end Of profound as
constituent.
The conference was admirably
planned, and those who came had a
variety of plausible excuses with which
to disarm suspicion. The Ft. Wayne
fellows were interested in the natural
gas, awaiting oral argument in the
Supreme Court. General McNulta, OF
Illinois, was looking after railroad busi-
ness. Conger, Of Ohio, was interested
in the formation of tin plate industry
at Elwood. Some of the editorial gen.
tlemen were returning from meeting
OF the Northern Editorial Association,
and so it ran. None of them knew from
what source the latter came. inviting
their personal attendance, but they
acted as of one mind.
All OF them pledge themselves to
secrecy. General Alger OF Michigan,
who was not here, knew OF the meeting
and its objects. Hon. Add Harris, OF
this city, in whose office the conference
assembled, was called away by the pro-
ceedingS in the Fort Wayne gas case,
but he knew of the intent and purposes
OF the meeting and was sympathetic
Herewith.
Col. Conger, of Ohio, was chairman OF
the meeting, and it's inspiration, and he
was correctly reported in saying that,
while he did not speak by authority,
he could give assurances Blaine would
write no more embarrassing letters TO
paralyze the efforts of his friends.
As matter OF fact, the most respect
ful consideration which Harrison re-
ceived was from the Gresham men, and
those who were outSpoken against him
prior to the Chicago Convention. They
conceded that he was an honest man.
Every person present acquiesced in the
assertion that, as national adminiStra-
tiOn. and one calculated to build up the
party, HarrSon'S reign had been fail
ure, and the following was unanimously
adopted:
alton of Harrison inadviSable.
General McNulta, during his talk,
discussed the situation in a quiet, mild
way. but expressed his honest judgment
that Harrison could not carry Illinois.
The sentiment was generally approved
that it was mistake to undertake to
nominate any man for second term un-
less the.conditiOnS absolutely require IL.
Among the conditions expressly mimi
cal to Harrison the Farmers Alliance,
the school difficulties in Wisconsin and
Michigan, and the political tangle in
Nebraska, were mentioned as particu-
larly burdenSome. 1t was also asserted
that the apparent party supremacy In
Ohio was not due TO the strength OF the
administration, but rather to the mis-
takes of its present Governor. Col. Con-
ger claimed the only work to be done
was in the Middle and Northwestern
States. for the Pacific Slope was all
right and the East would be found in
line. What was desired was TO make
this movement so unanimous that its
own weight would carry it through, and
il can't disturb the harmony OF tine
party. The suggestion was unanimous
" approved that an executive COM
mittee should be appointed and an or
ganization perfected in the Middle and
Northwestern States, and by tacit con-
sent this was all left in the hands of the
inceptors of the conference, whoSoever
this might be.
No one present claimed to be respOn-
Sibe for the assembly, but by implica-
tion the responsibility was vested with
Conger. Great chagrin is felt by Harri-
sons friends that the conference should
have been held here in his own home,
and the IndianianS who joined therein
are Stigmatized as lacking State pride.
The Harrison men also say that the
meeting will come to naught because it
will be impossible for faction to sue
ceed in the face Of the Federal patron
age controlled by the administration,
and they affirm that no maleontent with
political aspirations in this city or coun-
ty will dare go into the next convention
against Harrison, for If he did he would
be damned politically for all eternity.