The Portland daily press., 1892-06-11
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
How The President Heard the News
Of the Nomination.
A SHORT SPEECH TO THE NEWS.
PAPER MEN.

They and the Reporters rendered Com
CALCULATIONS to Which the President
Responded.
WASHINGTON, June 10--It was half
past five when President Harrison learned
that the Republican convention had en-
dorsed his administration by nominating
him for second term. He was sitting
in his Office at the time, chatting in a
most composed manner with several
members of his cabinet in regard to the
work of the convention. He was proba-
bly, the least excited man in the group.
| The arrangements at the White House
| for the reception of the news from the
convention were admirable. A special
wire with supreme right of way estab-
lished free and uninterrupted COMMUNE
cation between the convention hall and
the White House.
The executive telegraph Office is On me
northeast corner of the second floor, al
most directly across the hall from the
Presidents Office. Very interesting
events occurred in these two rooms
during the afternoon, The telegraph
Office had been closed during the fore
noon to everyone except the officials of
the executive mansion. About o'clock
when it became known that ballot was
to be taken, Private Secretary Halford
directed that the room be opened to the
newspaper men and others who had
Ii
the the uo adjoining min ., room pm, to TO- await
crowded. The telegraph instrument
was in one corner of the room and Mr..
Montgomery, the operator, sat beside it
with a typewriting machine in front of
him with which he printed the bulle-
tins as received. Mr.. Halford sat at the
table by his side and Postmaster General
Wanamaker occupied another desk near
by. Each was supplied with tally
sheet containing the names of the eandi-
dates, together with the number of votes
each state was entitled to, and the vote
taken last night on the report of the COM
nlittee on credentials. This latter col
umn of figures was to show the gains or
losses in the case of each state. Crowd
ed around and behind these gentlemen
were about 80 newspaper men and friends
of the President
Secretary Elkins gravitated between
the telegraph Office and the President S
room and showed thorough knowledge
of the situation as it developed. He fire.
4 quently consulted the Postmaster Gener-
ais figures as the votes of the different
states were recorded. He remarked sig
niticantly at intervals that 'everything is
going all right that Harrison dele
gates know their business and that ''we
are gaining votes in some places where
we did not even hope for gain
There was net the least rush or excite
ment during the balloting up to the
time the wire announced that Ohio
had cast As votes for Mckinley. This
was entirely unlocked for and for the
first time caused a doubt of Harrison's
nomination which up to that time
seemed assured. 1t was here remarked
that it was now clear that the opposition
meant to swing all the votes they could
get to Mckinley and Pennsylvania's
factor in that direction. The
When it was announced that the Key
stone State had given the President 10
votes, an increase of 10 votes over last
nights vote, the small cloud of doubt
that had arisen was speedily dispelled.
Mr.. Wanamaker said the President now
wanted only 60 votes from the states
which last night cast over ITO votes
against the opposition. After the vote
of South Dakota had been received, and
while every one was waiting to hear the
vote of Tennessee, the operator repeat
ed excitedly Harrison is nominated"
Great excitement followed the announce
ment.
The President was Immediately sur
rounded by the gentlemen present and
the members of his family by whom he
was warmly congratulated. At the sug-
gestion of a member of the cabinent he
spoke briefly to the newspaper men pres
emit. He satd showing much feeling:
81 can only say with reference to this
event that brought you here that the first
thought that fills my mind is one of
gratitude and thanks to the great multi
tude of friends who, in this and divers
other ways, have expressed approval of
my very conscientious, though possibly
! now and then mistaken attempts to serve
the country upon Republican lines.
claim no other credit than having at
tempted without sparing myself as to
labor, to discharge these public duties
conscientiously. [ cannot expect my
Democratic friends to think have been
on right lines always; and yet it has
been very gratifying to me to know that
many things have deserved the approval
Of my political opponents. / have been
filed with the thought that this country
was coming to that epoch when the flag
and those things that it symbolizes will
be upon still higher plane than now,
and when our influence among the
powers of the earth will be
enlarged, wisely, yet theoretically.
l have sincere love for all our people.
l exclude no section, and take into my
affection and respect all the states and
all our people. In entering upon this
campaign I shall do so without malice
towards any one. think have some
times been suspected of being very little
of politician from the fact that have
never drawn inside my party personal
lines. I have tried to treat every one
with the respect to which his
station entitled him, and 1 have
never, liz any case, suggested
much less demanded, personal loyalty
from anybody. / have asked of all pub
lie officers a faithful performance of
their duty. [ have felt great regret that
| was unable to find q suitable place for
every deserving friend, but have insist