St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-08
CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE.
Has Power to Decide the Contest
in Blaine's Favor.


in Blaine's Favor.
MINNEAPOLIS, June 7.-T Associated
Press forecast. The first day of the
Republican national convention ends
with the presidential nomination still a
hidden secret, to be disclosed only when
the decisive ballot reveals the un-
fathOmable intentions of the scores of
unpledged and uncommitted delegates.
1t is thoroughly realized by the friends
of both the chief candidates tonight
that the result of the convention is to
depend upon those uncOmmitted. vacll-
lating delegates who are pledged to
neither candidate. and who are claimed
for both. What these uncertain dele
gates will do in the end no power on
earth can predict, and that the nomina-
ton depends upon their action tends
10 make this one of the most aggravat-
ing presidential contests that the Re-
publican party has ever known.
The day closes without any percept-
IDLY significant advantage for either
side. The Blaine element organized
the convention Dy the election of J.Sloat
Fassett, of New York, as temporary
chairman, but as Mr.. Fassett's selection
was not contested by the Harrison ele-
ment, and as his election was unani-
nous, the victory was won by default,
and no one can say what would have
been the result had the Harrison man.
ayers decided to force test of strength
by presenting an opposition candidate
for the temporary craftsmanship. No
occasion occurred during the very brief
session today to call any decided mani
feStatiOnS from the delegates of the
convention. The name of Blaine was
cheered, of course: and so, in
deed, were the names of Reed
and of Ingalls,, neither of whom
is even suggested as possible candidates
for the presidential honOrs. As mat
ter of fact, the ovation which greeted
Thomas B. Reed was more entuhusias-
tic and more prolonged than that in
spired by the name of Blaine; but then,
the eX-Speaker was present and visible,
while the eX-Secretary of state was alb
sent and invisible. The Harrison peo-
pie had no opportunity to call one of
those enthusiastic scenes which weigh
so heavily, and are considered so DO
tent in national conventions, because
the name of their candidate was meu-
toned but once, and that time by an
opponent of Mr.. Harrison, who passed
from the name of Harrison to Blaine
so quickly that the friends of the preSi-
| dent had no opportunity for any mani
festation of their devotion.
The managers of both Blaine and
| Harrison maintain tonight the same per-
| sistent attitude of claiming everything
i'll general, but giving no figures in de-
tail, that has characterized their cam
| paign for the last four days. Only in an
unofficial and nOn-committal way are
figures and details given out from either
of the headquarters. With every dele
| gate to the national convention present
| and in his seat it will require ASP votes
| to make nomination. Three days ago
| both of the rival factions were claiming
| the nomination of their candidates by a
vote of 600 Or more; but as delegations
| arrived one by one, and it became mani
fest to the public how they would stand,
these claims have been reduced, until
| tonight neither side is claiming the
nomination Of its candidate by over
500 votes. AIger will almost GER
tainly remain in the fight to
the end, and he will probably
| draw off no less than sixty votes on the
first ballot. His candidacy, it is be-
lieved, will make about equal inroads
on the strength of both the leading can
testants, although the Blaine people
maintain that his withdrawal at any
| time will certainly insure the nomina-
| ton of their candidate. The events of
today have differed from the fierce
rivalry of yesterday in one very gratify-
ing particular-there has been less re-
elimination, fewer quarrelsome scenes,
and there appears to be a general in
clination on all sides to pursue the con-
test gOod-naturcdly in order to avert
lasting hostility, which might imperil
the success of the ticket. 1t is quite
| possible, however, that the most potent