The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-07-22
CARTER FOR CHAIRMAN,

The hunt for Chairman of the
Republican National Committee was
ended last Saturday when the republi
can national executive committee
met at the Fifth Avenue hotel and
Thomas H. Carter OF Montana, the
present Commissioner OF the Land
Office at Washington, was elected to
the position. The honor had been
previously declined by at least a dozen
men.
Mr.. Carter's selection was clearly a
case of the Office seeking the man.
He did his best to get out of the way,
but was practically forced to accept
it. Mr.. Carter was Mr.. Harrison's
chief manager at the Minneapolis con-
vention, it is regarded as fitting that
he should manage the campaign for
the President. The friends of Mr..
Blaine professed to be much relieved
that one of their number was not
going to be a. the head Of the Nation.
al Committee. The responsibility for
the management Of the campaign now
they declared would be where it be.
longed, on the shoulders Of the Presi
dent and his friends.
Late Friday night the available men
FOR the Craftsmanship seemed to be
narrowed down to Henry c. Payne
and John Spooner. Mr.. Payne got a
dispatch from Senator Sawyer soon
after his arrival Friday which had been
forwarded to him from Milwaukee
Mr.. Sawyer informed Mr.. Payne tha,
either himself or Mr.. Spooner must
take Chairmanship; that it was the
personal desire Of the President
After conferring with some of his
business associates Mr.. Payne told the
representatives Of the President, Rusk
and Sawyer, that he could not take
the place. This was final. he said
but neither Rusk nor Sawyer seemed
to SO regard it. They went about
whispering in the ears Of their friend;
that payne would take it."
The hour for the meeting of the
Executive Committee was II o'clock
but 1t was nearly IL before they al
assembled in parlor ~. r." on The
second floor. These gentlemen were
present: James S. Clarkson, Iowa
J. II. Manley, Maine: Thomas H
Carter, Montana William A. Suther
land, New York; Cornelius n. Bliss
Sam Fessenden, Connecticut, II. &
Payne, Wisconsin; J. K. Tanner, Hi
nols and X. Z. kerens, Missouri
Mr.. Hobart, Of New Jersey, was repre-
sented by Mr.. Battle, and William O.
Bradley. of Kentucky, by Mr.. Sparks
VIM A. Sutherland was elected
temporary chairman. Mr.. PAYNE
then made 4 formal announcement
that he could not take the Chairman
ship, as he could not get released from
his business obligations. Mr.. Manley'!
name was proposed.
Not on your life,' exclaimed the
lifelong friend and confiGant of Mr.
Blaine. Mr.. Manley's declinatior
was so emphatic that his associate:
did not urge him further. Mr.. Maa
ley explained later that he had de
clined the position on account of the
press OF his private business and also
because he did not wish to neglect the
campaign in the Pine Tree State
The State election in Maine takes
place early in September, and Mr.
Manley said he should devote HIM
self to the contest there up to Septem
Der. After that he will come to New
York and DO all he can to elect Mr..
Harrison.
Mr.. Hobart's name was suggested
by MIR. Payne as an excellent man for
Chairman, and had he been upon the
ground there is no doubt that the
honor would have been thrust upon
him. But az he is in Europe and will
not return for several weeks i. was
considered best to drop him. 1t
would not be safe, the committee
argued, to elect any one Chairman un-
til they had positive assurance that he
would accept, as subsequent declina-
ton would place them in a worse fix
than ever.
1t was decided to take recess un.
III 5 o'clock in order to hunt up a
Chairman. Before this was done.
however, Whitelaw Reid, who was in
waiting at convenient point, was in.
vlted 10 come before the committee
and address them. No report of Mr..
Reds speech was made by the Act
ing Secretary, but he confined him.
sell to campaign platitudes, except
that ne dwelt for a moment on the
Importance OF the committees elect.
Ing a Chairman and perfecting all
organization at once.