The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-06

ter, but finally he gave the story as an IN
teresting piece of unwritten history. Said
he:
For some time before the convention It was
evident that Blaine would be the strongest can
didate to come before it. He had an enthusiast
tic following, and when the convention met at
Cincinnati we at once that it was Blaine
against the field The relations between sena-
tor Morton and Senator Blaine were by no means
friendly. Morton thought Blaine had injured
him, and next to his hope OF receiving the NOM
ination himself was his hope that IL he could
not be nominated that the nominee should not
be Blaine. For . number OF reasons | did not
deem it wise or Safe that Blaine should be our
nominee, and thought that some other candi-
date would be more acceptable to the people.
There were 75e votes in the convention and SIe
were necessary to choice. On the first
ballot Blaine had pol votes, and Morton
came next to him with lbs. Then followed
Brstow of Kentucky, who was still in Grants
cabinet as secretary of the treasury, but who
was not at all in harmony with the president
He had 1l3 votes, and next TO him stood Conk-
ling, whom Grant was anxious to see noln-
mated. aud after Conkling came Hayes OF Ohio,
and Hartranft of Pennsylvania. Tho Blaine
forces were solid. They were well organized,
and they were in the fight TO stay. We cast five
ballots, the candidates not varying much from
their original strength. But at the end OF tho
sixth ballot IL was evident to me that break
was bound 20 como very soon, and that straw
way the other would result in the nonii-
nation of the candidate towards whom it went.
Now Ihad had long conversation with Mr.
Morton before | left Washington City in which
told him we would nominate him if we could,
but that thought il would be a miracle II We
succeeded in doing so. cit is your physical
condition." said |, "that will in all probability
defeat your nomination. There Will be great
opposition 10 the nomination of a candidate,
however great, who is in the physical condition
that you are. II you could stand upon your feet
as you once did nothing could defeat your nomi-
nation. Stll there Is chance, and we will
stick to you as long as there is the least possi-
bility of our success but If, at the last moment,
we see that that possibility has gone by, L
want you TO give me the right 10 vote
for the person think can be nominated Will
telegraph you at that time, and | would like to
have the authority for Withdrawing your name"
Senator Morton said he was perfectly willing
to take my judgment in that matter. After
comforting with his other friends in the conven-
ton, and at the close of this ballot, when saw
that the next ballot would either see a change
would result In the nomination OF Blaine or
Bristow, telegraphed Senator Morton at his
hotel, the Ebbitt house. at Washington City,
telling him that his nomination could not be
made, and asking him the authority to with
draw his name. Mr.. Morton had private wire
90 his room in the Eboitt house, and the answer
came quickly back. Ii was;
"D0n't you think there is a chance for me
YETI
To this replied, "No," aud within a short
time got another telegram, which read as fol-
a leave the matter with you and my friends,
but see that our vote counts
That telegram brought about the nomination
OF Hayes, At the beginning of the seventh bal
lot rose and asked that the Indiana delegation
% allowed TO so out OF the convention anu con-
meant. 1t meant that the Morton strength
would in all probability be thrown 10 some
other candidate, and It was seen that this would
decide the fate OF the nomination.
In the meantime the Blsine strength had
fought hard against the Geld. and it was all we
could do 20 keep the forces OF the other eandi-
oates in their ranks. Al one time when the
Conkllng strength was wavering, u number OF
the other candidates loaned him votes 10 keep
his strength up and to keep them from
going 10 Blaine and during tho first days ses-
tion we forced an adjournment. for we saw that
smother ballot would result IN B'Aiue's nominal
ton. We accomplished this I'd iluruIneut hY q
trick. We knew that the Blaine men could out
vote us on the question o! adjournment, but the
man who had charge OF the convention hall was
. friend Of Hayes, Rad II began 20 grow dark
Just about the time that this ballot was to to
taken He came to the convention hall aud
sold the leaders that the gas fixtures OF the hall
We're AL oui OF order, anu ii they attempted TO
light them there would certainly be an ex-
plOsiou. Tho result wss that the convention
had 20 oe adjourned till next day, al3 that story
about the g6s brought about Blaino's defeat
lt enabled his opponents II make combine
lions against him. and many of the delegates
sst up al night, myself among the number.
Eayes At this tine had not much moro than the
vote OF Ohio. ! called upon Governor Noyes,
and he wanted me 70 throw the Morton
strength to Hayes I told him thought Nor
ton could be nominated, and we finally Jeff
With the understanding that IL the time came in
the convention when II was seen that either
Morton or Hayes could be nominated BY the
aid OF the other that the best man would have
thc votes OF the other at that time This was
private arrangement between myself and Gov
STEor Noyes. There was 10 other candidate in
sluded in IL.
To return 20 the convention. As ! said, every
ore saw lnat the decisive moment had arrived
when asked that the Indiana DELEGATION be al
lowed To retire snd consult and most thought
&c was 20 withdraw Morton IS 4 candidate. As
coon A. the delegation WAS alone, told them
teat thought that the time for the withdraw
!pG Aorton's name had come. and gave them
the substance % the telegram I had received,
and ~ other teiecrSms which had been re-
csived by Others. told them of my converse
ton with senator Morton before left Washing.
tou Ctty. and when The vote WIS put TO the
withdrawal OF his name it was agreed to- Be-
foTo Tao vote was declared, one OF the
delegates asked all the BrsIow men in
the delegation 10 come over and stand
es him. and twenty-eight OF them thereupon
declared themselves for BriEtow. I objected,
and they finally proposed that hslt the de!egs-
zion should vete FOR Some other candidate with