Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-05-27
THE BLAINE PUZZLE.
THE SECRETARY'S INTENTIONS a
SUBJECT OF MUCH SPECULATION.
Robert Graves Thinks Blaine viii Be
Nominated at Minneapolis, and That
He Will Accept-His Relationship to
the Harrison Administration.
Especial Correspondence.l

the Harrison Administration.
Especial Correspondence.l
WASHINGTON, May 16.-What are the
politicians talking about? A good deal.
Principally the presidency, and the NOM
nations to be made at Minneapolis and
Chicago during the coming month. By
the politicians | mean everybody in Wash
ington, for in Washington we are all pol
iticians. Here we easily fall intothe belief
that Washington rules the country, and
that our scheming and gossip and chatter
and plots really make and unmake can
didates and parties, though it is undoubt-
eddy true that we lave precious little in
fnence upon what actually occurs, and
that the great country, with it's millions of
voters and powerful delegations in the ma
tlonal conventions cares precious little
what we do or say ut the national capital.
Nevertheless, some of this talk which we
hear ut Washington is interesting. For
instance, it is pretty well settled in our
minds that the president is to. be renomi-
mated ut Minneapolis unless Mr.. Blaine
consents to run. Blaine is the only man,
the we'll Informed politicians say-the big
senators and members of the cabinet who
know what they are talking about-who
can beat Harrison. Will Blaine do it?
That is the question of questions here, as l
suppose it is throughout the country with
people who take keen interest in the for
tunes of the Republican party. will give
you my opinion frankly, and you may take
it for what it is worth. 1t is that Mr..
Blaine will be nominated at Chicago, that
he will accept, and that the president and
his friends will do all in their power to Sc.
cure his election.
Mr.. Blaine is the most puzzling man we
have ever had in national politics. His
most intimate friends do not understand
him. He is an enigma that is never
solved, and yet which every one delights
to spend his time in trying to solve. 1t
seems to be his delight to do things differ
emily than any one else does them, to be a
man of mystery and surprises. -Four years
ago the shadow of Blaine hung over all the
efforts of the Republican party to find a
candidate for the presidency, and this year
the same specter is disturbing the visions
of all aspirants and all ~manipulators.
Blaine could have been nominated four
years ago, and would lave been had Mr.,
Boutelle taken the responsibility of burn
ing Blaine's cablegrams, as his friends
urged him to do. Blaine will be nominal
ed now, unless he writes another and more
positive letter of withdrawal. This do
not believe he will do. And therefore I be-
lieve he will be nominated.
Let me sketch for you rapidly some of
the points of Mr.. Blaine's career during
the last four years and his relationship to
the administration. will say nothing in
malice, for ] am simply a student of men
and affairs. | will write nothing which /
do not know to be absolutely true. Four
years ago Harrison had been nominated.
The campaign was on. 1t was with the
utmost difficulty the Republican managers
could rouse the party. Lethargy was ev-
erywhere apparent. Then Mr.. Blaine
came home from Europe. What is not
generally known, but which l happen to
know, is that he cam to take part in the
campaign at the urgent request of General
Harrison. AS soon rs Blaine appeared in
the campaign the party reused, shook off
its listlessness and prepared for victory.
1t was early understood that MI. Blaine
was to be secretary of state in the new ad.
ministration. But it is known that Cen
eral Harrison did not like the idea of TAX
ing SO great a man as Blaine into his cab.
met, and that he did endeavor to find a
way to organize his council without Blaine
in it,. For more than two months after the
election Mr.. Blaine did not know whether
he would go in the cabinet or not, nor did
any of his friends. General Harrison was
naturally suspicious that Mr.. Blaine
would attempt to o~vershadow him, and
there were times in which, it is now APP
parent, it was a tossup whether Blaine
would be taken in or When the appoint
ment was finally made and the two men
met in Washington to take up the work of
the administrator they did so with a mu-
tual determination to live in peace and
work in harmony. Much was at stake on
the ~amicability of their intercourse, and
each was resolved to bear and forbear.
Unfortunately an incident occurred at
the very outset of the administration
which had a powerful tendency to drift
them away from each others confidence.
Mr.. Blaine leaned heavily upon his son
Walker, who was his companion, help
meet n c%onfidant. Walker was a useful
and able young man, with much expert
ence in the department of state. When
MIR. Blaine was secretary of state under
Garfield, Walker had been appointed So
licitor Of the state department on General
I Garfield's suggestion. Perceiving how USE
full the son was to the father, and divining
that the formers appointment to an official
position would be gladly received by the
latter, Garfield suggested it himself and
promptly made the appointment.
General Harrison did not happen to think
of this, and so Mr.. Blaine called it to his
attention, thinking that the mere sugges-
tion would be enough. To Mr.. Blaine's
great surprise the president refused to ap-
point Walker to the post, giving as his
reason therefore that the appointment
would be open to criticism as nepotisnl,
and that he didnot wish to set such a prec-
edent at, the beginning of his administers
tion. Mr.. Blaine was too much hurt and
too proud to press the matter, and there it
was dropped. But it always left a sore
spot in his heart, and proved the greatest
obstaclein the way Of confidential and al
together friendly relations between tie
two distinguished men.
They had no open quarrel, and as a rule
got along pretty well together. For a brief
period their relations were somewhat close
and confidential. Then they drifted a little
farther apart, and have not since come
nearer together. Mr.. Blaine's ill health.
has prevented his taking full and continu
GUS charge of his department, and much.
of the work ordinarily devolving on the
secretary Of state the president has person
ally performed. Growing out of this has.
been some friction, but nothing of a def
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