Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-11
HARRISON REJO|CES,
How He Received the Con.
yention News at the
Presidential Mansion.
SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS
He Calmly Watches the Ballot That
Means a Second Term.
HE TELLS OF HIS GRATITUDE
To Those Who Fought His Fight in the
Nominating Convention.
CONGRATULATIONS SH0WERED UPON HIN
HE TELLS OF HIS GRATITUDE
To Those Who Fought His Fight in the
Nominating Convention.
CONGRATULATIONS sHOwERED UPON HIN

| vention had Endorsed his administration Dl
nominating him for second term. He wa
sitting in his Office at the time chatting IL
the most composed manner with severa
members of his Cabinet in regard to the
work of the convention, and was probably
the least excited man in the group.
The arrangements at the White House
for the reception of news from the conven'
tion were admirable, including a special
wire with supreme right of way, establish
ing free and uninterrupted communication
between the convention hall and the White
House. The Executive telegraph Office is
on the northeast corner of the second floor,
and is almost directly across the hall from
the Presidents office.
Very interesting events occurred in these
two rooms during the afternoon. The tele
graph Office had been closed during the
forenoon to everybody except officials OF
the Executive mansion, but 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 gath
cred in the hall and in the adjoining room
to await the result The privilege was
gladly accepted and the small room was
soon crowded.
Waiting for the Only Ballot
The telegraph instrument was in one cor
| ner of the room, and Mr.. Montgomery, the
| operator sat beside it with typewriting
| machine in front of him, with which he
printed the bulletins as they were received
| over the wire.
Mr. Halford sat at q table by his side, and
Postmaster General Wanamaker occupied
nm tlNar flaaE hoo nv ThaN We Sll H.
piled with tally sheet containing the names
of the candidates. together with the number
of votes each State was entitled to and the
test vote taken last night on the report OF
the Committee on Credentials. This latter
column of figures was to show gains or losses
in the case of each State. Crowded around
and behind these gentlemen were about 81
newspaper men and friends of the Presi-
dent
Secretary Elkins gravitated between the
telegraph office and the Presidents room,
and showed thorough knowledge OF the
situation as 1t developed. He frequently
consulted the Postmaster Generals figures
and as the votes of the different States were
recorded he remarked significantly at inter-
walls that everything WAS going all right"
that ''the Harrison delegates knew their
business" and that 1--WE are gaining votes in
some places where we did not even hope for
gains
Some Who Were Interested.
Among the other occupants of the room
eller and Colonel Ernst, or the army; Treas
urer Nebecker, Auditor Hart and nearly all
the empfoyes of the Mansion. The operator
handed the bulletins to Mr.. Halford, who
reau them aloud, recorded the votes on his
tally sheet and then passed them over to
netber MIR. Russell Harrison or Lieutenant
Parker by whom they were carried in to
the President, who read them to Secretaries
Noble, Rusk and Tracy and Attorney Gen
er,il Miller.
There was not the least rush or excite
ment during the balloting up to the time
the wire announced that Ohio had cast 10
votes for Mckinley. This was entirely un-
looked for. and for the first time caused a
doubt OF Harrison's nomination on the first
ballot, which up to that time had seemed
assured. 1t was here remarked thut It was
now clear that the opposition meant to
swing all the votes they could get on Nc
Kinlev, and that Pennsylvania's IS votes
would be great factor in that direction.
When it was announced, however, that the
Keystone State had given the President Il
votes, an increase of ten votes over last
nights vote, the small cloud of doubt that
had arisen was speedily dispelled.
The Most Exciting Moment
wanamaker said that the President now
wanted only TO votes from States which last
night had cast over ITO votes against the op-
position. After the vote of South Dakota
had been received and while every one was
waiting they heard the vote of Tennessee.
The sounder went "click, r"click, ""click, :"
and without attempting to write out the
message the operator repeated e1citedly:
Harrison is nominated" Great excitement
followed the announcement.
Good, >" shouted Mr.. Wanamaker, and Mr..
Halfori darted out of the room to prevent
the message reaching the President in ad-
vance OF its official confirmation.
He said he wanted to avoid flash in the
pan." He was, however, too late, as Mr.. Tib-
Dott, the Presidents stcnographer, who had
been standing outside the door, had heard
the words and carried the news to the Pres
ident be ore Mr.. Halford could interfere.
He had hardly delivered the message
when Mr. Halford entered the Cabinet room
with the official vote of Texas, which gave
the President clean majority in the con-
vention and settled all question as to the
nomination. The operator rema ed at the
instrument to record the votes OF the re-
manning states, but he no longer had any
company.
Congratulations Showered on the Preside mt
Everybody else, including the newspaper
men, crowded into the Cabinet room ana
showered congratulations on the President.
He received them most cordially and shook
hands with each. He was cool and COM
posed, but took no pains to conceal his ill.,
tense qualification.
The news soon reached the private part of
the house. and Mrs. Mckee, Mrs. Dimmick
and Mrs. Parker hastened to the Presidents
side. He received their congratulations in
q most affectionate manner.
One of the members of the Cabinet sug-
gested that the President say few words to
the newspaper men, remarking that they
were extremely anxious to hear from him.
The President hesitated few minutes,
and then made short address. He stood
behind his desk, and the Cabinet officers,
ladies and newspaper men formed u semi
circle in front of him. While his manner
was calm he showed deep feeling in his re-
marks. He said:
Tho President Expresses His Gratitude.
"Well, gentlemen, 1 have had good deal
Of intercourse with newspaper men. 1t has
been mostly at arms length, except on fe w
occasions of this kind; and yet some of you
know that while 1 am very averse to inter-
views, my doors has always been open to n
friendly call from any of you, and any in
formation about public business has been at
your disposal.
II can only say with reference to this event
that has brought you here that the first
thought that fills my mind is one of graft
tude and thanks to the great multitude of
friends who have in this way and divers
other ways expressed approval of very con-
scientious. though possibly now and then
mistaken, attempts to serve the country
upon Republican lines l claim no other
credit than that OF having attempted, with
out sparing myself as TO labor, TO discharge
these pnblic duties tonscientiously. I can
not expect my Democratic friends to think
have been on the right lines always, and
vet it has been very gratifying to me to
know many things have secured the ap-
proval Of my political opponents.
al have been filed with thoughts that this
country WAS coming to an epoch when flags
and those things which it symbolizes will
be upon n still higher plane than now, and
whom our influence among the powers OF
the earth will be enlarged wisely yet ener-
getically.
No Malice in His Heart.
81 have a sincere care tor all our people.
exclude no faction. take into my affection