The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-07
THE EVE OF The BATTLE
Marshalling the Forces for the
Decisive Struggle.
THE LINES CLOSELY DRAWN.
Blaine Gains In the Pre-
Iiminary Skirmishes.

The National Committee Decides the Con.
tests for Seats in tho Convention In Favor
OF the Blaine Men-This Decision Gives
Blaine About Forty votes-J. Siont Fas-
sett Chosen for Temporary Chairman
Warner Miller Made Chairman OF the
New York Delegation on Motion OF Mr..
Platt-A Row In the Indiana allegation
New York Mea OF tho Blaine Faction
Trying to DO Missionary Work for Their
Caudidate-The Colored Brethren =. I'm
portsnt Factor In Deciding tho Contest
They Arc Keeping Themselve. Tn.
pledged. Now that AIger. Their Bene-
fnctOr OF Four Years Ago, Has Catered
the Race to Stay-Incidents of the Day.
MrNNEApoLIs. June 6.-This has been great
day for the colored brother. AS the fight be-
tween Blaine and Harrison becomes moro
close and uncertain. the importance Of the
delegates from Southern States is found to be
more essential to the success OF either side.
1t is a historical fact that delegates from
Mississippi. Arkansas. Georgia, and q few
other States in the South always hold
themselves uncommitted to the lost
moment as they find that they can
make moro advantageous terms by this
method. 1t thus happens that in the calcula-
lions made to-day by the Harrison and Blaine
managers the delegates from some OF the
black belts are allowed to stand in the doubt
ful column as uncertain quantities In the
fight Many Of them were on tho point
to-day OF announcing their final stand when
the joyful news came that their benefactor OF
1888. Gen. Russell Absent Alger. had deter
mined to withdraw his withdrawal Of yester-
dav mir a1f hap
Of the Michigan delegation as candi-
date. Hearing this. his moro or less
loyal supporters OF the last Convention. re-
Numbering his beneflciaries decided to keep
themselves unpledgcd for day or two longer.
Accordingly tho tables OF estimates made
VA by the managers contain. as gen.
eral rule. column Of doubtful delegates.
aggregating about seventy-flve in Florida,
Georgia. Kentucky. Mississippi. North Caro-
lima. and South Carolina The lists are still
open. both sides being confident Of their abil-
ity to add these delegates to their lists. but
as the Harrison men performed their
missionary work during the past month
or two and did the best they could. They are
not so hopeful as the Blaine mon Of securing
the support OF tho old-time AlRerites.
There have boon lively times to-day among
these delegations and some very fine manipu-
lating has been carried on. AS many OF the
delegates from these States, in fact q large
majority OF them. are offloe holders. 1t
has been necessary for the Blaine men
to convince them that their man will win. or
course the delegates easily perceive that IL
Harrison Is to retire at the end OF
his present term. his Job and theirs
would cease at about the same time. II
Blaine is going to win they wish to
be with him and the friends Of tho Pumed
Knight have not hcsitated to promise the sal
aired delegates equally good places as they
now have II they will Join the force Of the OPP
ponents Of the President on the first ballot.
1t being generally conced ed that there will
be a one-round fight in the Convention it is
thought highly important that the vote OF the
first State OF the roll should show majority
for one Of the candidates
To this end much OF the work OF the managers
to-day has been concentrated upon the deega-
tons from Alabama. Yesterday it was thought
that this vote would be about equally
divided between Harrison and Blaine. and
eleven Of tho twenty votes OF the State were
therefore put down on each side. To-day.
however. some flno work In the matter OF
promising better appointments than the dele
gates now hold has resulted in adding four or
fv" to the Blaine column.
This was done in order that Blaine may reap
Ile III tHe thaI Will RO w
when it is learned that he has a majority of
the delegates in the first State called
In some OF the other States tho efforts OF the
Blaine men have not been SO successful tho
delegates evidently prcferring to think
that a bird In tho hand is worth two in
the bush. and that as Harrison Is In now they
are not going to take any risks by dcserting
him for candidate who may be beaten either
in the Convention or ut the polls. When
tho Blaine men heard OF this Harri-
son work they became very much
alarmed. and J. Soat Fassott and Henry
G. Burleigh constituted themselves general
committee OF two. and. assisted by three lesser
lights of the New York delegation. they have
mado a personal tour OF all the hcadluar-
tiers. cndcavorinR to break the force OF
the Administrations patronage movement
and hold their men together They met with
some success. but Just how much will prob
ably not he known until the ballotting begins
In the Convention.
DARK HORSE TALK-AIhiER IN THE RACE
Since the arrival OF Gov. Mckinley this morn
ing dark horse talk has suddenly assumed
great proportions. and the name Of Mckinley
is on every tongue A private letter from a
prominent Ohio Republican to the Harrison
men received this morning snid that there is a
plan on foot to nominate Mckinley II the issne
should not be settled on tho first ballot. The
Indiana people went to Gov Mckinley this
morning a nd a SIX ed him what he would do a bout
1t. The Governor assured them that II they
wished he would rise in the Convention and
ask the delegates from Ohio not to vote for
him. Notwithstanding this assurance talk
about Mckinley is heard everywhere. The
dark horse movement has brought out the
other minor candidates again. and the
talk in political headquarters is blaine or
Harrison on the first ballot or II dark horse"
Senator Cullom has heard the mutterings OF
the storm. and his lightning rod is in position.
Word has gone out among his friends that II
Harrison is not nominated on the first ballot
he would like to have the Illinois votes thrown
10 him on the secoad ballot. Out of this. prob
ably, arose the story that Senator Cullom had
| a letter in his pocket from the President au-
tboriZing tho withdrawal of his name on the
second ballot
rumor was put In circulation shortly after
| noon to-day that the Massachusetts dclega-
| ton had decided to divide its vote between