Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-06-11
WHOQP
[con.in.lel tr0m 51,.rtA- Pa0e.l
BEFORE THE BATTLE


CONVENTION HALL, MINNEAPoLIs,
MINI, Sune lO.-There is every indiea-
ton this morning that the leaders OF
the Blaine forces are still undaunted,
and that a sharp and bitter contest be-
tween the rival forces is in prospect.
When the gray dawn broke over the
convention city this morning 1t found
the leaders OF the two great factions OF
the Republican party marshaling their
forces for that decisive contest which
was soon to come for political suprem-
acy.
The night had been sleepless to nearly
all OF those who assume to direct every
secret conference, every move on the
political chess board. The Harrison
people felt that If they could hold their
own, victory was assured; the Blaine
people were convinced that II the admin
istration candidate was to be defeated
every straggler must be rallied and
supreme effort made to break the forces
Of the administration in the States OF
favoritism.
The effect Of the test vote in last
nights convention was to Undue the
Harrison iNe-- rs with lofty confidence,
and TO convince q rank and file OF the
Blaine boomers thai he man from
Maine was not to be selecS~1 with the
popular acclaim which had been fervent-
ly expected.
In the vast audience Of $1,000 people
there was not single person who did
not understand that the vote upon the
Alabama question, shorn OF all its
technicaltes, was really vote on the
preferences Of delegates for Benjamin
Harrison and James G.. Blaine. When
the Harrison forces came of the victors
their enthusiasm for brief time re-
minded one of the familiar scenes OF the
great conventions of Grant and Conk-
ling and Logan, but this was for few
minutes only and gave place to the re-
Election that the majority was so hazard
ously low that every effort must be e1-
erted to Offset the inroads on the ad-
ministration forces during the confer
ences OF the night.
The enthusiasm OF last evening In the
convention hall, taken all in all, was
distinctly are prepOnderatingly for
James G.. Blaine. While the Harrison
people appeared to have majority of
the delegates three-fourths of the audi
ence in the galleries were apparently
devoted admirers of the Plumed knight
ana lost no opportunity to dem0nstrate
their admiration.
And so, the Harrison victory, in the
popular effect was received With but
very little enthusiasm, and wH lie the
Blaine leaders after the test bal ot APP
peared decidedly crestfallen the e was
no diminution OF Blaine enthusiasm
from the galleries.
The votes in some OF the great Hates
OF the Union, those which exert sulh an
immense influence on all poitica con-
ventions showed what the power or
ganization can do in the councils q the
Republican party. In the State OF | nm
Sylvania it was demonstrated tina kde-
spite all the occurrences OF the past lew
months, Senator Matt Quay is still SUI
preme in leadership in the Keystone
State. 10 New York the result Of di-
vided leadership was fully apparent.
While 45 voters swung into line under
Platt, Fassett and Miller for the cauIe
OF the man from Maine, q followed tie
courtlY Depew and the persistent Hit
cock in support Of the administration.
In Colorado, and indeed all the silver
States, the vote is solidly cast against
the administration. Illinois produced
surprise and demonstrated
the uncertainty of Chicago politics by
giving 10 voters for Blaine, while the
administration people had only been
cOnceding him - or Is.
One effect Of last nights fight was
visible on all sides on the opening to-day,
and that was that the bitterness Of feel
ing engendered in the contests on mau-
ifeStations OF the past week had grown
to increased proportions, which in a
measure excites apprehension OF the
more conservative. The Harrison peo-
pie, OF course, were inclined to be con-
siderate, while IL Is the rank and file OF
the Blaine forces who, mourning and
refusing to be comforted, concluded by
uttering defiance 10 the administration
candidate. Just how lasting this feel
ing will be, of course, no one can tell.
About the wrathiest people in Mime
apolis to-day were the Harrison MEM
bers OF the Kansas delegation. A re-
port was current that Kansas was lead
ing in a movement away from Harrison
TO a third man. The eXasperating part
OF the report was that it contained con-
siderable truth. The facts, though cir
culated in exaggerated form, were
alarming enough. Ten Of the Kansas
representatives, an exact half Of the
SunHower State delegation, were doing
stamped with Mckinley as the pro-
posed best candidate to unite
upon. Delegate Eugene Ware, OF
TT. Scott, who was leader Of the Har-
risou element, was particularly sore
over the situation. He declared that
the talk Of a dark horse, while having
been brought 10 a meeting Of the Kan
sas men had resulted in the action OF
half OF the delegates refusing to remain
present II the discussion were allowed
TO proceed. There would be no further
caucus OF the kind, he passion
ately asserted. Mr.. Ware would
not deny that ingalls, and Pc
kins were the engineers Of the
Kansas dark horse departure and that
both had made speeches urging an en-
tire new deal and abandonment OF Har-
rison and Blaine in favor OF some other
candidate less liable to factional resent
mept. Notwithstanding Mr.. Wares in
timations that the Harrison half OF the
delegation had stemmed the tide and
that the Ingalls-Perk!ns movement was
a failure, reports were current that In
gals had succeeded In binding the Kan
sans to vote as unit. With such an
Arrangement and a gain OF only one
convert, the delegation would be swung
away from Harrison.
The Massachusetts State delegation
held a conference this morning and the