Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-30
BLAINE's FOOL FRIENDS
Have Pushed Him Forward With Too
Much NigOr.

Much NiEors
Sg.-ili T.LGrGtn 70 ne Register.
WASHINGTON. April 99.-Once more
Mr.. Blame's fool friends have by their
preyiousness seriously interierred if not
Quite DESTROYED his chances Of receiving
the Presidential nomination. II they
had kept still and not forced the discus
sion of Blaiue's name as 4 presidential
possibility, HarriSon's Jealousy might
not have been aroused until convention
time was so near az hand that nothing
could have beer done 10 checNmate the
blaine movement Mr.. Blaine could
have continued 20 strengthen his posi-
tion with the Republican masses by his
administration of the State Department
and by the quiet work OF his ever dis
Greet and powerful hackers. He could
have continued 20 enjoy the essen
ual prominence which cabinet
position gives him, and which
would have brought him from
day 90 DAY before the scenes on the
National stage. This, the more careful
Blaine men believe, was all that was
necessary. They hold that Mr.. Blaine
has reached position where it is not
necessary for him % do much: that Is,
now. All that he requires Is to avoid
being forgotten. With the important
questions the State Department is now
handling. Mr. Blaiue'S mere formal IN
timation OF his place as Secretary OF
state would ensure this until the end OF
the Harrison administration. When the
time comes for the Republican National
Convention 10 assemble, without having
been called on previously TO say whether
ne was or was not candidate, Mr..
Blaine would be In situation 10 do
what seemed the very best thing
for himself. II he found that he
could be- nominated without a
struggle. he would have only TO give
the signal and the thing could be done
without any regard whatever 10 the
President II, on the contrary, Blaine
saw that his nomination would be at
tended with difficulty, he could emphat-
ically decline TO have his name used and
keep himself solid with Harrison by de-
rIarins for him, and if he found it was
lIvantageouS. could throw his strength
tu some one else.
But his fool friends have made IL im-
oo>sib'e 20 do this. They began their
shouting so early and with such indiS-
Greet righteousness that whether or not
Blaine would or would not be candidate
became burning question. They an
nounced that all they asked OF Mr.. Blaine
was not 90 write any letters refusing
the use of his name; they would do the
rest. Then Foraker, who never opens
his mouth without putting his foot In II.
made matters still worse by his break at
the Cincinnati Republican Club Con-
venuou The effect OF all this was TO
alarm Harrison and his friends, and OF
course Mr.. Blaine had TO come out and
publicly forbid the use of his name In
connection with the nomination. There
was but one other course open 10 him,
which was 10 resign from Harrison
Cabinet; aud this would have settled his
chances even more etfectualiy than does
the other course. Steve Elkins' an
nouncement that Blaine is not candi-
date Is regarded rs unauthoratiYe. IL
was M first thought that ElkinS might
be- i'm the conspiracy 10 smoke Blaine out,
rs Elkius has OK late been flirting with
Harrison 20 some extent. But ElSinS
friends assert emphatically that what
ever attentions he may have shown
Harrison, Or whatever fayorS he may
have received from him, his heart Is still
true 90 Jim. Blaine'S more discreet
friends are very sore at the turn affairs
have taken, and curse without stint tue
shouters who have forced Blaine to de-
clare himself at this early day. All OF
which shows the danger Of arousing too
mnch enthusiasm.