The Portland daily press., 1892-06-06
Especial to the Press.1

&c izes.
Especial to the Press.1
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, June 5.-Gener
al Alger is no longer a candidate for the
presidential nomination at the hands of
the Republican party. This is the most
important, as well as the most significant
development of the day. 1t is the first
actual result that can be traced directly
to the resignation of Mr.. Blaine, and
brings a direct fight between the Presi-
dent and his recent Secretary into the
convention. Last night there was much
talk in the air and among the leaders re-
regarding the nomination of favorite
sons. Mr.. Platt was openly saying good
words for Sherman; Mr.. Clarkson was
suggesting Alger; the Wisconsin men
saw the picturesque figure of Rusk
looming up in the distance, and even
Senator Cullom supposed that he saw
the handwriting on the wall. Today all
this is changed. The dispatches which
the President yesterday sent to the In
diana delegation to stand by him to the
end had the effect of convincing the
Blaine men that they must fight the bat
tie to the bitter end. Consequently
they prepared to meet the issue. First
of all it was necessary to abandon i'm
mediately the idea of combining on
third man. This was speedily done.
The next step was to take out of the
field any candidate who might draw
away some of the Blaine strength and
thus allow Harrison to win the victory
over divided forces. As the only candi-
date who had any votes at all was Alger.
it was to him that the Blaine managers
appealed. They did not entreat in
vain. II am in your hands, do as YOU
think BEST" wired General Alger from
his home in Detroit to Chairman. Clark
son this morning, and he added that he
would not come to this city or in any way
participate in the convention. Upon the
receipt of this telegram, General Alger's
friends at once held conference at
which were present Senators Gallinger
and Stockbridge, Col. Dufield and 9th
ers. Knowing as they did that he
would receive quite number of votes
that would otherwise go to Blaine, and
aware that this, if allowed, might mate
rally aid the President, it was agreed
without dissenting voice that the Mich
igan man had better retire from the
field. 1t was all the easier to broach
the decision also for the fact that poll
of the Michigan delegation showed that
at least two-thirds of it's members intend
ed to vote for Blaine on the first ballot.
When the result of the conference was
wired to General Alger, he promptly re-
piled that he would very willingly retire
from the race rather than be put in NOM
nation as a rival candidate with Mr..
Blaine. He said that he and Mr.. Blaine
were now, and had always been friends,
and that he did not propose now to do
anything to mar that friendship. With
the receipt of this telegram the Blaine
men at once began to see that the Alger
men switched themselves into the Blaine
column. They found few who were
not willing to be transferred, but the
number was so small as not to cut any
figure in the case.
The news of Alger's withdrawal
spread rapidly through the hotel and
caused sensation. The Blaine shouters
were jubilant for it removed, what to
them, had seemed the only danger,
while the Harrison men gritted their
teeth and grew more nervous. Of the
action of the the general a prominent
Blaine man said: 'For the first time in
the history of the party, the Republicans
are about to hold a convention with only
two candidates in the field. The nomi-
nation must therefore be made upon the
first ballot for only two men will be voted
for. 1t looks to me as if General Alger's
strengthened the Blaine col
umn and should say he quitthe field in
good humor. General Alger would
rather see Blaine nominated than himself
at any time. 1t is true that the general
when he announced himself as a candi-
date believed that Mr.. Blaine was out of
the range of probability and had assur-
ances that he would not conflict with
Mr.. Blaine's intentions. If he had had
any thought that Mr.. Blaine was in the
race he would never have allowed his
name to have been used. He will how
ever yield to the general sentiment for
Mr.. Blaine and will support the latter
heartily. He has asked the delegation
also to vote for Mr.. Blaine believing him
to be the strongest candidate that the
Republican party can now put forward.
Warner Miller Out for Blaine.
While the withdrawal of General Alger
was still matter of excited talk, espec-
tally in the Michigan headquarters, an
other sensation though of much milder