Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-09
Try AssnrIATEn PRESS.

tinguished Americans who have been SO
sssiduously urged bv their friends during the
past week for the Presidential nomination,
neither one tonight seems to have assur.
ance of sufficient votes to effect nomina-
tion. The seeker after accurate informa-
tion as to the relative standing of these two
candidates is compelled to discard as ex-
travaga mt and quite misleading the figures
issued from the headquarters of each, and
careful analysis of the expressed prefer
ence of all the delegations, together with a
classification of the uncommitted delegates,
shows that the two leading candidates are
each from % to 50 votes short Of the nomi-
nation.
The balance of power if ballot had been
taken to-day, would have been found to
rest with General Russell A. Alger, of
Michigan, who would certainly have re-
ceived from 10 to 60 votes, and then pre-
vented either of the two leading candidates
from receiving the requisite number for
nominating.
All Enthusiasm Has Cooled Down
This is the tenth National Convention in
the history of the Republican party, and is
the end of the fourth decade of the party
which has PLAYED such an important part
in the history of the American Republic,
but it can safely be asserted that the past
quarter of a century never witnessed a con-
vention where there was such a rapid SUBJ
sidence of enthusiasm as is noticeable here
on the eve of the critical day which should
d~ide the contest. All the ardor and en-
thusiasm and irresistible conviction OF sue
cess which the rank and file of both forces
have constantly displayed to-day are sig
niticantly absent tonight.
In the first place, the average Republican
has been deeply disappointed at the very
leisurely manner in which leading spirits of
the convention have postponed the essential
business for which the delegates are called
together, and the feeling that if the pro-
gramme Of delay succeeds ballot may not
be taken even tomorrow. 1t has caused
every faction to suddenly realize that the
citadel of the opposition is not to be carried
by assault, after all, and all now await the
result OF the ballot.
Lay1nen Find Themselves Fools
All this has had the effect to dampen the
enthusiasm which pervaded the soul OF
every loval Republican a day or two ago,
and now the people, who but a hours since
were hilariously parading the streets, are
walking dejectedly TO and fro and wonder
ing how the thing is going to end, after ALL
There is evidence of a consciousness on
the part Of the average layman that he is
something of a puppet in this battle for
political mastery, and that it is the leaders
in the conference in the upstairs rooms
who have been directing his enthusiasm and
who are likely to profit by the results. OF
course, these reflections are not very graft
tving to the sovereign American elector,
md ba Sc 10
by another man of the control of his political
nonentity; so that tonight it is not uncom-
mon to see, walking around arm in arm
through the streets or quietly conversing on
the curb-stones, couple of privates who
but day or TWO ago were arraved in oppo-
sition factions and fercely combating the
tactional affiliations and Presidential prefer
ences of each other.
1t Is Quiet Game of Watch and Wait.
As they get together tonight and COM
pare notes. each one finds out that the other
does not know much about the mysterious
motives and untathomable purposes of the
gentlemen who are the ruling spirits of his
particular crowd and so the loyal toot of
the horn, and the triumphant blast of the
buge and the inspiring music Of the bands
that buoyed the enthusiasm of all, has al
most departed from this contest
1t is quiet game of watch and wait, and
which is TO gain the greatest benefit from
the waiting and watching, or whether an
unknown candidate whose star has not vet
risen above the political horizon, is soon to
burst forth in an effulgent blaze of glory, no
one can possibly tell
The diplomatic triumph of the Blaine
element in securing the control of the or
gsnization of the convention and of the
committees which are to play such an i'm
portant part in its labors, is the sensation
of the day. No one-not even the leaders
of the Harrison forces-appears to know
exactly when the conspiracy had its birth
or how 1t was carried to execution, but it
has forced itself upon every man, as a sur
prise, that there is a deep motive in this,
and that the plans OF the Blaine leaders
have been cautiously laid
First Victory of the Blaine Men.
In the failure of the Harrison managers
to carry their fight against Fassett from the
National Committee to the floor of the con-
vention, the Blaine leaders, by the very de-
fault OF their enemies, were enabled to
secure the first decisive victory. The most
is made of this advantage by the constantly
reiterated declaration of the Blaine man
ayers, that as they have control of the con-
vention they will be able to control the
nomination.
The Committee on Credentials, which is
q Blaine committee, is. proceeding slowly
and is evidently intending not to make any
report until an opportunity is afforded to
Judge of the Importance which their recon-
mendations may have in determining the
report of the convention. Of the contests
SO far disposed of by this committee the
Blaine delegates have been seated in every
instance, although in several of these con-
tests there was no difference as to the Presi-
dental preferences of the contesting dele
gates 1t is possibility that the Commit
tee on Credentials NAV not be ready to re-
port by tomorrow, and if this should be
the case there would be pretty sure to be
row in the convention when its Chairman
submits the request for further delay.
Irritation Over the Delay Policy
The Harrison leaders are very much irri-
taied over the Blaine policy of delay, and
appear determined to force ballot as soon
as possible. 1t is stated tonight that when
the Committee on Credentials at IL o'clock
tomorrow makes its partial report, as it
probably will, and requests further time,
the Harrison people will move to adjourn
ior an hour or two with instructions to the
committee to wind up its business and re-
port to the convention at that time. This,
of course, will be contested by the Blaine
delegates, and may afford the opportunity