The National tribune., 1892-07-21
UNCLE DICK OBJECTED.
The President Wanted Young Griffin to Make
the Nomination.

the Nomination.
Indianapolis Sun
There is one true story vet untold of the Min.
neapolis Convention. It is the sad tale Of how
| a young Indianian missed his first, and, per.
haps, his last opportunity to lanch his name
into national fame. Charles F. Griffin, of Ham
mond. ex-Secretary of State, is well-known
throughout Indiana and through the Sons Oi
Veterans, Of which organization he was once
Commander-in-Ch Chief, his gorgeous identity was
to some extent established from shore to shore
of this country. He is now an attorney ia
Hammond, is young, ambitious. and has been
mentioned rs the young mems candidate for
Governor. Three weeks before the Republican
National Convention he received a telegram
from friends Of the East
In response to it he went Mt oncs to Washing
ton, where he Was told that the President
wanted to see him. The Hammond lawyer is
speaker of recognized merit. After he rang
the door bell and was ushered into the presence
of the king bee of the White House. he was
personally requested to present the Presidents
name to the Convention. He was chosen in
preference to the other Indianians under the
belief that he was the best speaker of the dele
cation. At tho same time it was arranged that
Chauncey M. Depew should second the nomjna-
tion.
The ex-Secretary returned home and labored
long and faithfully on what was to be the effort
VI uio iitc, tuS Ouo uSdHS duOYc OtuoIo ny
which he could easily spread his fame and
cause his name to go laundering down the halls
Of political history. The oratorical effort was
finished, and, with it stored away in his head
and the manuscripts in his inside pocket he
went to Minneapolis. At the Flour City, how
ever, an incident took place which not only de-
prived the young lawyer of this golden oppor-
tunity. but raised howl OF Indignation among
his friends.
When Uncle" Dick Thompson arrived
from Terre Haute he was not slow in making
the announcement that he intended TO place
the Presidents name before the Convention.
The Indiana delegation promptly informed
him that other arrangements had been made.
But it is MY right to make the speech"
insisted the man from Terry Hut and I'm
going to do it. / have been Republican since
back in Wing days. / saw the Republican
party born and have never missed any of its
National Conventions. / am 80 years old, aud
may never attend another one of these events"
Uncle Dick, )" began Hoosier, 1T has been
arranged for another Indiana man to make the
speech, and Ghauncey Depew is to second it.
YOU
80. we'll, I'll arrange that" said the man
from the wicked city of Wabash. "Pll go
right now and see Chauncey."
He took his hat and disappeared. In short
time he returned and said:
It's all right with Depew. I'm to make a
three or four minutes talk, and he is to follow
with the long speech"
The Indianians had committee wait upon
Uncle Dick, but the old man wouldn't bulge
an inch.
See here, Uncle Dick" said one of the CON-
mittee to him. "you are known all over the
country, and this speech would add very little
to your fame. The young man who is to make
the speech has it all prepared, at the request of
Harrison. You must let him make tho pres
entation. While it would contribute but little
to your popularity, it means much to him."
But it is my right, and I'll make the speech
myself" replied Uncle Dick.
And he did.