The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-20
IN 1899.

The announcement that Presiden
Harrison will enter the race for the re-
publican nomination in 1892 at las
comes from IN official source. The
Daily Russell B. Harrison, an admins
tration organ printed six days in the
esting special dispatch from an obscure
town in Minnesota known as Owattona
In view OF the fact that the s~ix-days-in
the-week daily has not yet succeeded il
maintaining a new system that will
supply its readers with news, we may
that special significance is to b,
attached to the Owattona (Minn.) spe-
cial. We quote from that interesting
communication:
On his return from Washington this
morning Congressman Dunnell gave out an
interesting piece of news regarding the
presidential possibilities. He said: ''Blaine
need not longer be considered a candidate.
He is out of the race. He thinks it would
not be right for him, as secretary of state
in the Harrison cabinet, to originate or
countenance any movement looking to his
OWA ~ p1C6AOCliGs II Will ~
true to Harrison as he would have been true
to Garfield had he lived.
''In my opinion the nominee of the next
republican national convention will be Har-
rison. The Harrison administration is not
open to much criticism. He has been care
full in his selection of men for Office and has
q good cabinet, above the average. He tries
to do the right thing. Yet, he is not a pop
ular man; the masses do not cling to him.
or course, nc one can tell absolutely how
he will pass the ordeal of the next session
CT congress when many bills not in har-
mony with his views will be thrust upon
his consideration and then twelve months
may make gieat changes in the presidential
possibilities.
From the shaping of events in the
past six months it is more than safe to
prophesy the presentation of President
Harrison's name before the lex repub-
lican national convention. 1t is quite
definitely settled that his most formid-
able rival, Secretary Blaine, is out of the
race. He has had his fill of presidential
nominations. Despite Mr.. Blaine's great
strength in the republican party his
chances of election would be far less
than any those of a dozen candidates
that might be mentioned. He has alien
ated factions of the party beyond
hope of reconciliation; his record as a
personally dishonest man is too vulner-
nerable and his candidacy would meet
with much fiercer opposition from the
growing ranks of tariff reform than in
1884. There is much meaning in Con-
gresham Dunnell's statement that
Blaine will be true to Harrison; not that
Congressman Dunnell says so, but be-
cause 1t is a generally accepted fact
among observing Washington politicians
that the president is completely under
Mr.. Blaine's thumb. If this we're not
SO we would hardly find the imperious
leader giving a tacit endorsement to the
presidents candidacy for the nomina-
ton. Mr.. Blaine will not resign the
leadership because he does not see his
W way clear to the presidency. His
cohorts will move as he directs; he will
rally them to a candidate who will like
wise be under his personal direction. If
Blaine will be true to Harrison it is of
course understood that Harrison will be
true to Blaine. Under the conditions
as outlined by Mr.. Dunnell we NAV
safely put down the stories of executive
snubbing of Mr.. Blaine as bosh.
What candidates are likely to oppose
President Harrison? Alger may try
again but he would prove a weak conf
petitor. He is without considerable in
t1uence among the republican leaders.
and the Grand Army alone can neither
nominate nor elect a president.
Gresham is a good man, but he likewise
lacks the support of politicians. Allison
would likely prove the strongest com
petitor, but what could he do against a
strong sentiment backed by Blaine?
With Mr.. Blaine behind him President |
Harrison will have no great difficulty in
securing the nomination unless unlocked |
for changes occur in the next twelve
months.
Now, then, how will the Montana del
egation stand? Will Russell B. Harri.
son and Commissioner Carter be able TO
turn the very strong tide against the
president? The Harrison school of mol
ltics and the Harrison administration
have proved peculiarly offensive to the
republicans OF this state. The presi-
dents opposition to free silver, aided by
Carter, and the princes manipulation of
the Helena postoffice, are among the
grievances difficult to remove. While
the sentiment is overwhelmingly in
favor OF Blaine, 1T is exceedingly doubt
full if it can be turned to Harrison
Carter and the prince are great men.
however, and may succeed in MAKING
the local leaders knuckle to their
dictum.
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