The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-08
Plat, Quay and Clarkson Are not
Sincere in Pressing His
Candidacy.
He Is Stalking Horse and Likely
to Be Dropped by His
Backers.
The Third starter Ce stain to Appear In tho
First Heat-Harris0n Forces
Stand Firm.

CONVENTION HALL, MINNEAPOLIS. June z.
Especial. Look out for the dark horse.
He will be in the race whsn the balleting
begins, unless the situation changes before
tomorrow morning. Harrison and Blaine
are wearing one another out slowly but
surely, and unless ono Of them wins early
in tho voting neither will ever get there.
The Blaine yoIl is ON the wane. He still
has his small, devoted following, intoxi-
Gated with its own enthusiasm, bat that
Platt, Quay and Clarkson are not sincere in
pressing his candidacy 10 as plain as any
thing can be. Blaine is nothing more than
a stalking horse. He will be dropped when
ever third man develops enough strength
to beat harrison. There 10 NO doubt that
Blaine's resignation embarrassed Plat and
Quay. His Willingness to accept the nomi-
nation startled them, and il is equally Ger
tain that they had NO intention of nomi-
mating him whom they set out. He IL
more serious candidate to-day than
they ever intended to make him. and they
are going to check the movement for him
by pushing AlRsr in for third starter, be-
sides giving encouragement to both Sher-
man and Mckinley. They want to dis
cover Harrison's strong and weak points on
first ballot, and then they will make their
combinations where they can. Cool and sx-
perienced party leaders who are not raving
Blainiacs or federal dependents are becom-
ing more strongly convinced hourly that
party safety lies in dropping both Blaine
and Harrison. There have been little con-
fsrenees to-day between moderate men on
80 = L.
after two or three ballots about twenty
five of the leaders will get together and see
il they can unite on a man. Their candi
date will be Sherman or Mckinley. The
latter il the general favorite of the conven-
tion, but the bosses lean towards Sherman
and this is bosses convention.
But Harrison is not beaten yet and the
delegates that Steve Elkins picked out and
instructed for him are standing their
ground like regulars. Wolcott. Of Colo
RADIO, and Payne. Platt's lieutenant, and
Algsr's boodlers, are picking up few Of
the colored brethren from Alabama and
Blaine camp but the great mass stand
firm AZ rock. John g. New and the other
Harrison leaders are still confident that
Harrison will win on the first ballot but
that looks extremely doubtful to an i'm
partial observer. He will have more votes
than Blaine, however, unless all calsula-
tions are at fault, but Plat and Quay will
have that third man in the field to prevent
3 majority going to Harrison, unless they
have lost their cunning.
The opening session of the convention
waa nuiet and uninteraatino Thara warn
! thousand or two vacant seats in the hall
md enthusiasm was slight. Fassett, Platt's
man for temporary chairman, made
uishy -washy speech, with little bloody
shirt and force bill sentiment in it, Quay,
Reed. Ingalls, and Mckinley got cheers
whenever they were seen and mentioned.
is the popular favorite with the
but wait until you hear Fire
Alarm Foraker nominate Blaine to-mor-
'ow. A. W. l..