Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-09
The Convention Takes a Recess After
a Short Session.
DELEGATES WEARY OF TIE DELAY,
Work of Building the Platform
Goes On.
CONFIDENTIAL E STIMATES
HARRISON MEN FESTIVE.
They Are Impatient of Delay and Want g
Vote Taken.

changes IN the situation every moment, vet in
the aggregate there is no change which is sub
stantial. At the beginning OF the third day Of
the convention there wGs really no tangible
evidence Of sudden weakening on the part of
either of the great contendiug factions. Ordi-
narily the fact that the Blaine people were try
/ ing to postpone test Of strength as long as
possible might be accepted as an indication Of
weakness. but under the present circumstances
| this Is not necessary. The Blaine people are
assaulting the ranks in certain quarters with SO
much energy ms TO have rendered them exceed
lngly weak, If, indeed, no material break
has been made They naturally, therefore,
want as much time possible to work.
On the other hand the Harrison people. being
on the defensive and trying TO hold the votes
they have already been promised. have come to
a realization of the fact that delay is dangerous
to thsm and they are anxious now to make
some test which will disclose thAr full strength
as it now stands instead Of waiting for a later
day when they may be weaker.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
There have been good many ups and downs
| in the contest behind closed doors today The
great fight, Of course, has been in the commit
tee on credentials. The Blaine people are on
most votes in the majority. but occasionally the
Harrison people win victory. As general
thing the Blame people show the greatest
| sagacity and skill in the manipulation of situa-
tions, and up to the present time they have
| scored more points than have the Harrison
people in the matter Of organization prelimi-
nary to controlling the convention. Both sides,
without hesitation or the least indication of
doubt or conscious prevarication. declare with
absolute confidence that they have a majority
of the convention. In such a case it is a ques-
| tion Of veracity or of accuracy or information.
Under the peculiar circumstances it might be
expected that Mr.. Baine's supporters would be
better able TO keep reckoning. Mr.. Harrison
starting with all the votes is put rather in a
position Of keeping track of those that are lost
from time to time than in counting up gains.
The Harrison people may at one time have
certain number Of votes that are assured and
yet under the terrible assault that is being
made upon them they may not be absolutely
| certain the next hour how many of these votes
may have dropped away.
On the other hand, however, the Blaine peo-
pie are engaged in picking up delegates wher-
ever they can and it is an easier matter for
them to keep tally of all they get. However. at
this time it is more question of strategy and
wire pulling, apparently, than anything else.
The organization of the Blaine people has been
very strong at the top. The great head CEN
tiers of the movement-those who Law out the
plans and do all the calculating in better
position for their peculiar work than are those
doing similar duty for Mr.. Harrison Their
influence through the national committee with
the general organization of the convention IL
stronger and they are in a better position TO
take advantage of every opportunity TO
strengthen themselves in the matter of orsani-
zation.
The Harrison people, however, have bad
very much better organization of minor
workers, the men who get down among the
crowd watching those delegates who are under
promise land at the same time under suspicion).
visiting the various delegations and in a gem
eral way looking after those men whose votes
must be had in the convention in order to
secure the nomination. Not until yesterday
did the Blaine people get an organization that
in any way rivaled that of the Harrison people
for this sort of work They discovered their
weakness, however, and now have secured the
services of some of the best political workers on
their side and are engaged in giving direct and
ptIeOndi attc-itioil, not ONLY 10 every
delegation, but to every delegate who might by
any possibility be influenced.
DEMONSTRATION OF BLAINE CLUBS.
Last night there was a noisy Blaine demon
stration of marching delegations, fiambeau
clubs with bands of music and general glare of
red lights marching through the streets to the
sound of Blaine, Blaine, James G.. Blaine,''
while the crowd, packed together too close for
anything else, raised their voices in cries for
Blaine.
The Harrison people at the same time got up
an impromptu rival demonstration on a similar
scale, and between the two the night WAS made
hideous around the hotels. Thousands OF peo-
pie crowded around the West Hotel and found
themselves unable to move one way or the
other, while inside the Harrison and Blaine /
sbouters engaged for hours in trying to shout |
each other down.
THE MKINLEY MOVEMENT. i
1t is becoming apparent now, in fact it is be- |
yond question, that Mr.. Mckinley has begun to |
consider himself very seriously a dark horse
and q very earnest and determined effort is
being made by some of his friends to brir him |
out into full candidacy. He has been ex-
posed for three or four days to the infection
ana ne shows all the symptoms OF having bad
case of presidential fever. The movement in
his direction is so marked and earnest and his
attitude is so embarrassed while doing his best 4
to support President Harrison that some Of the
Harrison men have been suspicious that he
may not be in q state of mind TO devote as
much of his efforts to secure the nomination
of Mr.. Harrison as was at first expected he
would. The Blaine people, too, are watching
the development in that quarter with great
deal Of interest, and one of them with whom I
spoke this morning said that he regarded the
prospect Of Mr.. McKinley's candidacy as much
more dangerous now than the candidacy of
Mr.. Harrison He said he knew they had Har-
rison beaten, but that there was some uncer-
tainty as to what might happen il . large
number OF the delegates should 60 10 Nc
Kinley spontaneously.
cHARoEs sr TEE BLAINE MEN.
T ferceness OF the contest between Blaine
md Harrison hes had An effect upon the dele
gatss who are not pledged 10 either. They see
hat the fight y injurious to the party and that
III many con00 mira ne1Aehnana <hn sro<;v> ~