The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-06-16

Harrison badges, Harrison flags. Harrison pict
ures, Harrison handkerchiefs, and numerous
other such devices were freely displayed, and
the Presidents friends were active among the
delegates; but all at cnce there appeared Blaine
badges, and Blaine plumes, Blaine parades took
place and reaction set in. The crowd now hur
rahed for Blaine. This was but the prelimi
nary skirmishing, and indicated but little, ex'
cept that the coming man would be either
Blaine, Harrison, or dark horse.
Blaine's resignation, and Ayers with
drawal in favor of the Plumed Knight, caused
the greatest sensations, which did not subside
until the solid work of the Convention began.
During the few days before the Convention
met it was thought thst there would be a fight
over the Temporary Chairmauship but when
the time came the Hsrrisonites offered no
candidate and the selection Of ]. Sloat Fassett,
of New York, was made.
There were changes in the situation every
moment, after the Convention got under way,
but nc change that was substantial. At the
beginning of the third days session there was
no tangible evidence of weakness on the part
OF either of the great contending factions The
whole temper of the meeting seemed TO indi-
cate that the Blaine people were assaulting the
ranks Of delegates in certain quarters with so
much energy that there was a perceptible
weakening, although no serious break could
have been pointed out. They worked more
quietly, however, than the Harrison people,
and they appeared to be endeavoring to post
pone test Of strength as long as was possible
On the other hand. the Harrisonites seemed
TO realize that showing was good thing, as
they were on the defensive and trying to hold
the votes already sure of. They made a sue
cessful effort for this when they managed to
get the test vote on the question Of whether
the minority report of the Credentials Com
mittee should be substituted for the majority.
Nevertheless at all times during the Con-
vention both sides at every opportunity de-
clared positively that they had majority Of
the votes of the delegates.
To the close observer there was none of these
reports that could have been accepted as de-
cisive. From the points picked up at the diff
ferent State headquarters, it was evident that
there were some 15o delegates who were doubt
full. Rusk, Mckinley, Reed, and Sherman were
mentioned for dark horses, but no decided
movement seems to have been made in the d.
rection Of any one Of them. 1t is understood
that the Harrison men were not really conf
dent of nomination on the first ballot. Gen. New
and his confidential workers estimated Har-
rison votes on the first ballot would be about
325, and they began to put their heads together
TO effect nomination on the second. They were
u 4ibt8e alIdlu Oh hChluEcys anu lney tUtrelOle
wished to put some OF the scattering votes on
Reed for the first ballot instead of the Ohio
Governor. The determination was to beat
Blaine at ALI hazards.
Two meetings outside Of the Convention
were held On Thursday night. The one was a
caucus OF the Harrison men, presided over by
Chauncey Depew. This did not really amount
to much, but there was no attempt made to ex-
clude outsiders, and the meeting was an exhi-
bition OF the eEultatioa of the Harrisonites,
which had the effect Of bringing over good
many doubtfuls At the close of it Mr.. Depew
declared that 46l delegates favored the Presi-
Cent.
The Blaine managers, Clarkson, Quay, and
Others, called into their aid the Chairmen and
members of the various delegations who were
known TO be for Blaine and also delegates who
were suspected Of having a leaning to the Blaine
side. These were duly impressed with their
importance in being called into consultation by
the big men Of the party, and many delegates
came out Of the Conference determined to vote
for Blaine.
The only real fight in the Convention was over
the majority report Of the Committee on Gre
oentials on the grounds that were given in last
weeks paper. The anti-Harrison people
proved powerless. however, aud from the time
the result Of the test vote wss announced the
Blaine men lost heart.