Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-06
& NPBELL HAS QUIT
Harrison's Campaign Manager
Lays Down the Reins
EARLY in the Game.
HIS REASONS MADE PUBLIC
He Only Took Charge Provided His
Business Would Allow.
CONFERENCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Resulting in the Announcement That New
Deal Will Be Made.
HIS REASONS MADE PUBLIC
CONFERENCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Resulting in the Announcement That New
Deal Will Be Made.
SOME OF HIS POSSIBLE SUCCESSORS
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH

WASHINGTON, July 5.-W. j. Campbell,
of Chicago, the recently elected Chairman
of the Republican National Committee, had
a two hours talk with the President this
afternoon, and after returning to his hotel,
made the announcement that he should re-
,Sectfully decline to serve as manager for
tne Republicans in the coming Presidential
-smpaign. This is the statement referred
.:
When l was elecJed Chairman of the
National Committee it was with the distinct
understanding that my business engage
ments then pending might rdnder it impos-
sible for me to accept in that capacity. This
contingency was fully understood by the
committee and others directly interested.
Since the adjournment of the committee 1
have been unable to adjust my affairs so
to render it practicable for me to
act as Chairman, and therefore, as 1 re-
served the right to do, announce that 1 will
not so act. Under the authority vested in
me by the National Committee 1 will prob
ably announce the Executive Committee
within the next few days,and that committee
will meet at an early date. At that meeting
will formally tender my resignation and
nv successor will be then elected. My sue
cessor will be chosen by the Executive Com
mittee, as authorized by resolution adopted
by the National Committee.
The Conferences at the White House.
The President and Mr. Campbell were
not alone at the White House conference,
for some of Mr.. Harrison's closest political
and personal friends were present to talk
over the unpleasant situation and make
suggestions as to the most diplomatic way
to handle it The gentlemen present at the
conference besides the President and Mr..
Campbell were Secretaries Rusk and Elkins,
ex-senator Spooner, of Wisconsin, General
MIchener. of Indianapolis, and Washing
ton, Harrison's manager at Minneapolis
and Land Commissioner ''Tom'' Carter, the
undermined Secretary of the National Com
mittee.
These gentlemen canvassed the political
situation thoroughly, carefully considered
the effects of Mr. Campbell's declination,
and assisted in preparing the above state
ment which that gentleman gave to the
press.
After leaving the White House and
having dinner, these Republican wise men
locked themselves in a room at the Ar
lington Hotel and proceeded further to
discuss the situation. They were all
wonderfully noncommunicative, but it is
understood that the reorganization of the
National Committee made necessary by Mr..
CarApbell's withdrawal was the chief dis
cussion under consideration.
New Chairman Under Consideration.
At 10 tonight the President, Mr.. Camp
bell and Mr.. Carter began another confer
ence in the library of the White House,
its object being the selection of Chairman
to slcceed Campbell and the further organ
ization of the committee. 1t has already
been arranged that Mr.. Campbell shall re-
main a member of both the General and the
Executive Committees.
The politicians in Washington refuse to
believe that Mr.. Campbell is sincere in the
reasons he gives for declining to serve as
Clarkson's successor. They are confident
that he lays down the newly acquired bur-
den for two reasons First because the
criticism caused by the knowledge of his
connection with the Armour beef monopoly
of Chicago would certainly be most in
furious to the Republican party; and Sec
ond, because ex-senator Farwell has made
known to the public the fact that President
Harrison once characterized Mr.. Campbell
as "a professional lobbyist, unfit to be ap-
pointed to anv Federal office"
Mr.. Campbell is known to be a high
minded, dignified man, and he undoubtedly
resented such slur as this, even though it
emanated from the lips of the President of
the United States. He knew, however,
when he permitted himself to be chosen
Chairman, just what Harrison's opinion of
him was, for it had been given to him by
Mr.. Farwell at the time the President ex-
pressed it
Real Reason for the Resignation.
The ex-SeDator's little exposure had not
much of anything to do with Mr.. Camp
BELLS action, however, and neither did the
publication of the fact that he is Armour's
attorney. The real cause of Mr.. Campbelrs
declination to serve his party is that his
employer, Mr.. p. ID. Armour, put his foot
down, and said that it must not be. He did
not want his meat business mixed up with
Republican politics. 1t was therefore a
question of bread and butter with Mr..
Campbell, and like the wise man he is, he
soon saw clearly which side his bread was
buttered on.
In this connection there has been rumor
current in Washington for several davs to
the effect that Mr. Armour was about to an
nounce his conversion to Clevelandism. A
prominent Democrat who talked with the
Chicago millionaire few days ago, how
ever, says that Mr.. Armour's real position
is that he does not care who is elected, as
either Cleveland or Harrison would be ac-
ceptable to the business interests of the
country
How Campbell Was Selected
Mr.. Campbell's selection at the recent
meeting of the national committee was
known to be but temporary, and was
brought about for the purpose of putting an
end to and covering up Republican family |
quarrel caused by the dethronement of |
Chairman Clarkson. A majority of the |
national committee resented the Presidents |
reputation of Clarkson and were deter |
mined to force his reelection. |
In order to avoid the fight that |
would nave followed, the Presidents |
friends adopted the expedient of presenting |
the name of man acceptable to the friends |
OF Clarkson. The name of Mr.. Campbell |
was the best one that could have been |
chosen, as he having been member of the |
National Committee for several wears, and |
all that time an earnest supporter and |
admlrer of James G. Blaine, was of course |
popular with Clarkson, Fasset, Fessenden |
ana the other Blaine men on the committee |
The Presidents idea was that by calming
ihe tempest Tor moment he would be able |
to look about him for Permanent Chair
man He probably has one selected now,
but II so he is keeping his name quietly to
himself for the present.
Inc Western Democrats, particularly
those from Illinois, have quite generally |
pronounced the choice of Mr.. Campbell for
the Republican leader as an unwise one.
and many OF them have predicted that the
President and his friends could not afford to
have Mr.. Campbell as the Republican fig
urehead during the campaign On this
point Senator Palmer, of Illinois, said to-
day:
Democrats Sorry Campbell Has Quit.
II am not surprised to hear that Mr..
Campbell thinks of retiring. I have
thought it likely that he would. His be-
ing at the head of the committee would be
apt to cost the.Republicans great many