The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-06-11
HOW HE TOOK THE NEWS.
President Harrison Quickly Learned
His Victory.
SPEECH TO THE NEWSPAPER MEN.
He is Grateful to His Friends-showered
with Congr Tidings
Cheer Mrs. Harrison Like an Elixir,
and She is Better Than for Several Days.


dent Harrison learned that the Republic
can convention had endorsed his admin
istration by nominating him for second
term. He was sitting In his Office at tho
time chatting in the most composed
manner with several members of his cab
met in regard to the work OF the conven-
tion and was probably the least excited
man in the group.
Tor the reception OF news from the con-
lion were admirable, special wire with
supreme right OF way establishing free
and uninterrupted communication be-
tween the convention hall and the White
House.
Mr.. Halford and Postmaster General
Wanamaker were each supplied with
candidates together with number OF
votes each state is entitled to, and the test
vote taken Thursday 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.
After the vote OF South Dakota ha d
been received and while everyone was
waiting to hear the vote OF Tennessee,
the sounder went "click," "click, !"
''click" and without attempting to write
out the message. the operator repeated
excitedly Harrison is nominated"
Great excitement followed the an
Mr.. Wanamaker, and Mr.. Halford darted
out of the room to prevent the message
reaching the President in advance OF its
official confirmation. He said he wanted
to avoid ga fash in the pan."
He was, however, too late; as Mr.. Tib-
bott, the Presidents stenographer, who
had bean standing outside the door, had
heard the words and carried the news to
the President before 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 a clear
majority in the convention and settled
all dispute as to the nomination.
Every body crowded into the cabinet
room and showered congratulations on
the President. He received them most
cordially and shook hands with each. He
was cool and composed, but took no
pains to conceal his intense qualification.
The President hesitated few minutes
and then made . short address to the
newspaper men. He stood behind his
desk and the cabinet officers, ladies and
newspaper men formed semi circle in
front of him. While his manner was
calm he showed deep feeling In his re-
marks.
He said: "Well, gentlemen, have had
per men. 1t has been mostly at arms
length, except on a few occasions of this
kind; and yet some OF you know that,
while am very averse to interviews, my
door has always been open to friendly
call from any Of you, and any informa-
tion about public business has been at
your disposal.
81 can only say with reference to this
event that has brought you here that
the first thought that fills my mind is
one of gratitude and thanks to the great
multitude of frie1Tds who have in this
way and divers other ways, expressed ap-
proval OF every conscientious, though
possibly now and then mistaken, at
tempt to serve the country upon Repub-
lican lines.
81 claim no other credit than that of
having attempted without sparing my
self as to labor, to discharge these public
duties conscientiously. I cannot expect
my Democratic friends to think have
been on right lines always; and yet 1t
has been very gratifying to me to know
that many things have secured the ap-
proval OF my political opponents. I have
been filed with the thought that this
country is coming to an epoch when the
flag and those things that It symbolizes
will be upon q still higher place than
now and when our influence among the
powers of the earth will be enlarged
wisely and yet energetically.
~ have sincere love for all our people
exclude no section. i take into my af-
fection and respect all the states and all
our people. In entering upon the CAM
paign l shall do SO without malice
toward anyone. / think / have some-
times been suspected of being very little
of politician from the fact that have
never drawn, inside my party, personal
lines. have tried to treat everyone
with that respect to which his station
entitled him, and i have never on any
case suggested, much less demanded, per-
sonal loyalty from anybody. l have
asked Of all public officers faithful per-
Torrance OF their duty.
"T have felt great regret that am un-
able to find suitable place for every de-
serving friend; but i have insisted that
/ did not disparage those i could not ap-
point TO place--As ! have had Light and
strength i have tried to discharge nay
duties for the public good.
II thank you all for many evidences OF
your kindness. wish also to express my
thanks with heart that overfiows with
gratitude to the faithful body of friends
who have been so solicitous In my be-
half, and more than that, TO that great
body OF we'll disposed, order loving, pa
triotic Americans who have always and
everywhere received me kindly" Gap
plause.)
Secretary Foster came in while the
President was delivering this speech and
was hardly able to restrain his enthus-
iasm until IL was concluded. When the
President had finished speaking, the SER
wants OF the mansion pressed forward
with their congratulations and to one of
them, a colored man, from Virginia, he
said jocularly: "Now Jerry you must be
sure to find possum for me as soon as
the frost falls"
The President then excused himself
and the visitors left the house.
Mrs. Harrison, who has been an inval-
Id for weeks past, was purposely kept in
ignorance OF the exciting events OF the
past week. Now that there was no long
er any doubt OF the Presidents nomi-
nation, il was concluded that tho good
news would do her no harm. The Presi-
dent himself impaired the information
and the result justified his Judgment.
IL acted on her like tonic and che was
brighter ana more cheerful than she has
been for several days. The President af-
terwards went out for n drive with Mrs.
Mckee and Mrs. Dimmick to the SOL
diers' home, where his grandchildren had
spent the day, and he brought them
homo with him.