The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-06-03

hotel. Every man present was leader
in his state How many votes have
you that may be depended on?" Every
one answered The total was a large
majority Of the convention. "Then we
nominate Blaine as soon as the conven-
ton meets today A committee of three
was appointed to manage affairs on the
floor of the convention hall, all agreeing
to follow their directions. As dawn be-
gan to streak gray rays through the
windows this remarkable conference ad-
journed. Every man left that parlor
with Joy in his heart, for he felt that the
nomination of Blaine was only a few
hours distant.
At 10 o'clock these men, weary but
confident. walked into the convention
hall 'Not this ballot, but the next, "
was the word whispered among them
How eagerly they waited for that next
ballot! But in few minutes new
factor, unexpected and unwelcome, en-
tered the hall 1t was cablegram from
Mr. Blaine to Congressman Boutelle 1t
had been received late the night before.
Boutelle had consulted one or two friends
as to what he should do with it, and
| then, like the Yankee that he is, had
concluded to sleep on it before doing
anything. The message read, 81 think
have the right to ask my friends to re-
spect my Wishes" Boutelle was in a
quandary. He did not know whether to
make the telegram public or bury it in
his pocket. Bother Blaine" said he,
she knows how to use the English Ian
guage as well as any man in the world
Why didn't he say what he meant in
good English" 1t was fearful re-
sponsibility. On the one side was good
faith with a long time friend, on the
other ambition, power, triumph Bou-
telle finally decided to make the letter
public.
He was led to this conclusion, this
fateful conclusion, by another strange
circumstance. That Sunday evening
Mr.. A. M. Low, then ON the Chicago
Tribune staff in Washington, received
this order over the special wire from his
managing editor, "Interview John Sher-
man" The trained newspaper man obeys
orders. "It's no use for me to go up to
John Shermans house and ask for an
interview at this time said Low to
himself; che won't say word. might
just as well sit down and wire back He
won't talk as to take the trouble to
walk up to his house this hot night" But
like the good newspaper man he is, Low
went to Sherman's house. The Senator
was sitting on the doorstep, surrounded
by the members of his family. All were
drinking lemonade, and the old senator,
with that warmth of hospitality which is
always his and which is in strange con-
trast to his manners at the Capitol, with
his own hands brought the scribe glass
and babe him be seated. This suspicious
beginning had Hateful ending. Mr.
Sherman submitted to an interview. He
gave his opinion of the progress of events
at Chicago. The substance of it all was
that he understood the game of politics
which the Blaine men were playing at
Chicago and condemned it most severe
ly. Reading between the lines one could
see that if Blaine were given the nomi-
nation in that manner Mr.. Sherman
would forever feel that he had not been
fairly treated, for Mr.. Sherman himself
expected to be nominated the following
day if Blaine were kept out of the con-
test.
When Mr.. Boutelle came down to
breakfast after sleeping on" Blaine's |
cablegram he had a copy of The Tribune
in his hand This interview was the |
first thing which attracted his attention. |
He read and re-read it. Light dawned |
on his troubled mind. "Mr. Blaine" he
said to himself, would never forgive |
me if suppressed his telegram and per-
mitted his friends to ride over John
Sherman. This settles it, and shall |
read the telegram to the convention"
In the convention hall the Blaine
schemers begged Boutelle to change his
Threatened him, stormed at him
but without avail. The telegram was
read, the Blame movement came TO an
end. Harrison was nominated on the
next ballot.
How was Harrison nominated BY
the shrewdness, the genius of one man.
No ADLER politician ever lived than
b Elkins. He was Blaine's
E. 49,, "a -.