Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-06-01
The Republican Convention.
HOW THE DELEGATES STAND.

AS it says, the New York Herald of
Sunday presents a carefully prepared
survey of the republican situation,
based on facts and figures, which
furnishes a solid basis for intelligent
reckoning as to the action of the Con-
vention which meets in Minneapolis
on June 18th, to nominate a successor
to President Harrison
Up to the time the Blaine boom was
launched amid loud hurrahs by some
- of the shrewdest political managers in
the republican party it looked like
plain sailing for Mr.. Harrison in his
efforts to secure a denomination. Since
then, however, the situation has been
extremely mixed.
The Herald sent to every delegate at
large to the Minneapolis Convention
the following telegram =
Twill you kindly wire how your dele
cation stands for choice for President :;
whether in favor of restricted or I'M
restricted coinage, or high or low
tariff -
The responses show that Mr.. Har-
rison will have 1866 delegates, Mr. Blaine
265, Mr.. Alger 20, with one original
Mckinley man from Montana. This
leaves in the doubtful list 1913 delegates,
and it is from these that Mr.. Harrison
must get the "a or Mr.. Blaine the 1856
votes which are necessary to secure the
much coveted prize.
DOUBTFUL DELEGATES.
An analysis of the list will prove
interesting on this point. The black
and white republicans in three of the
Southern States have split and will
send two delegations to Minneapolis
They are Alabama, with % votes !;
South Carolina, with Is, and Texas,
with 30-a total of 70 votes.
If the Presidents friends are able to
organize the Convention so as to admit
the regular delegations from these
States he will have within IA votes of
enough to get the nomination.
Friends of.the President claim, how
ever, that other votes mere than suffi-
Gent to give him the prize can be found
in the doubtful list. In Massachusetts
they expect to get some votes, in Cali
fornia they are not without hope. In
Maine there are delegates instructed
for the President New Hampshire,
also, may add few to the column.
NEW YORK'S POSITION.
The big, doubtful contingent in New
York will probably follow very largely
Mr.. Platt's lead into the Blaine column,
but Warner Miller's friends prefer
Sherman to Blaine, and it is not at all
improbable that few of the thirty
four doubtful will support the Presi-
dent.
In Illinois there is strong Blaine
sentiment, but the State Convention
and many of the district conventions
instructed for Mr.. Harrison, and, as
Senator Cullom is supporting the Presi
dent, it is not at all unlikely that a
majority of that delegation will be on
his side at Minneapolis. The proba
bility is that the four doubtful men in
Maryland will vote with their col
leagues.
The claims of the Presidents friends
that he will have votes to spare is not
therefore without some foundation,
apparently.
With the information at hand it is a
m 10
Blaine's 1876 needed votes are to come
from. 1t will be necessary for him to
get all the doubtful votes outside of
the three Southern States and, be-
sides, to induce Alger to throw his
strength to him, or to make inroads on
those delegates who have declared for
the President.
The managers of his boom are shrewd
politicians, used to the manipulation
of conventions, and they appear con-
fident of carrying their man through
with rush.
1t must be taken into consideration
that many of Mr.. Harrison's pledged
supporters are from the South and
that these delegates, when the Con-
vention meets, are amenable to "argu-
ments" of various kinds. This may
have bearing on the answer to the
question.
On questions of platform there seems
to be an almost unanimous opinion
Not delegate apparently opposes the