The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-06-07
STEVE ELKINS JOB.
Attempt to Repeat the Deliberate
Slaughter Of 1883.
A MIGHTY INTERESTING STORY.
The Part Taken in the Affair by the
Present Secretary of War.
oID-rraE INTIMACY KorruHED.
Harrison Four Years Ago.
Blaine Trfcked.

MINNEAPoLls, June THE count of
delegates last night shows that Blaine
had at 10 80 q pretty sure majority of
forty-four over Harrison. This looks
fair for man whom Secretary of War
Steve" Elkins a week ago so positively
insisted would not be in the field. It
causes people to wonder why it is that Ell
kins was SO positive. When he was called
into the cabinet, perhaps that matter
was decided upon. Now, whenever
Elkins has asserted his close relation
ship with Blaine, it is as clear as the
noon-day sun that he mildly prevari-
Gates. The old-time intimacy has been.
ruptured. and the story of the cause is a
mighty interesting one. 1t is now told
for the first time. When the national
of 1888 was opened the init
mate friends of Blaine were determined
to nominate him, despite the Florence
assertions from the present secretary
that he could not and would not accept.
It was the policy of the Blaine men not
to force the nomination; to let each of
the candidates; Allison, sherman, Alger,
Harrison, Gresham; have his day in
majority, and then, with view to
peace and harmony, lead the convention
round to Blaine, feeling sure that if once
nominated he would not refuse to accept
This plan worked fne
Up to Saturday several fruitless ballots
had been taken, which left the result in
doubt. But that the Blaine men could
at the right time control the nomination,
on Saturday morning Boutelle, as floor
manager, had made his dicker with New
York's big four, and arranged to have
New York swing solid into the Blaine
column. Earlier in the day there had
been conference of the Blaine managers,
Steve Elkins being present, at which
the situation had been thoroughly dis
cussed and the conclusion reached that
the time, was then ripe for bringing the
balloting to close. Before the mana
gers separated to go to the convention
hall it was decided to send a cablegram
to Andrew Carnegie. This cablegram,
which was signed by Elkins among
others, read as follows:
tsVictor's interests and honor abso-
lutely protected. Urge upon him the
necessity of absolute silence"
Victor was the code name for Blaine
The managers considered it necessary to
send that dispatch because the situation
then was very similar to what it is to-
day. In some of the conferences Elkins
had rather surprised his associates by
bringing the name of Harrison forward.
The convention met on Saturday and an
adjournment was tal<er until Monday.
It was Steve. Elkins who forced the ad-
journment for purposes of his own. Be-
tween Saturday and Monday Mr.. Blaine
had sealed his fate. He had sent dis
patches to Boutelie and other friends
declining to allow his name to be used
any further. 1t was whispered that the
alleged cable from Blaine was a forgery.
There was hasty conference. 1t be-
came only too apparent to Boutelle that
he had not been imposed upon. Others
of Mr.. Blaine's friends had received dis
patches of like import. There was,
then, nothing left for him except to
break the unwelcome news to the con-
vention. This be did. Blaine's name
was Withdrawn and Harrison became the
nominee. What had induced Mr.. Blaine
to send these dispatches? The answer
comes in two words: 'sSteve Elkins. y
When Mr.. Blaine returned to the United
States and learned how he had beer
tricked he was very angry.