The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1892-05-05
IL Harrison to be Dumped?

IL Harrison to be Dumped?
Only a few weeks ago it Was gtner.
ally accepted by both friends and foes
of President Harrison, that he would
be nominated for reelection at the
Minneapolis Convention practically
without q contest; but so swift are the
mutations of modern politics that TO-
day there are indications on every side
that the Republican leaders mean to
dump the President, to use the com
mon parlance of the modern political
leader. Not only the action of several
important States during the last two
weeks indicates a disposition to throw
Harrison overheard, but it is now free
ly whispered ii political circles in
Washington and in the political ceL-
tres of the States which are likely to
control the action OF the National Con
vention, that Harrison is unavailable
and that a new man must be selected
to save the party from defeat.
The most significant indication Of
the purpose of the leaders to thrust
Harrison aside is given in the proceed
ings Of the recent Republican State
Conventions in Pennsylvania, New
York, Ohio ard Massachusetts,. The
convention OF each ui these States
complimentcd Harrison in n perfume
tory sort OF way, but there is not a line
in the platform or the proceedings of
these bodies that indicates a purpose
to commit the party to Harrison's re,
nomination. 1t has always been com
mon in past national contests for a par
ty having a President who was to lie
renominated, to declare boldly in favor
of him as their leader in the respective
State Conventions of the party.
The Democrats did it for Cleveland in
1888, and the Repu' licans did it for
Grant and for Lincoln, and in every
instance in the past the denomination
of the President, when intended by
the party, has been Enthusiastically lore
Swallowed by the action OF the different
States. This omission to recommend
Harrison for denomination cannot be
accepted as accidental, and it certainly
means one of two things? either that
Harrison is now unavailable or that he
may be regarded as unavailable when
!, the convention shall meet, and the
leaders have prudential reasons iol
, refusing TO commit the party - HI:
candidacy.
Another fac is well worthy Of con
sideration in seeking t. ascertain the
attitude of the Republican leaders il
: regard to Harrison's denomination
} The men who are likely to be mos
potent in controlling the action of the
, delegations from New York, Ohio
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, are
. not personally friendly to Harrison
Quay, who is the master spirit o
Pennsylvania, is known to be sulking
: in his tent so far as the battle for Har
rison is concerned, and it will afford
, him no ordinary 'egree OF pleasure tC
: find a tidal wave at Minneapolis thai
can sweep some other man INTO the
nomination. Ex-SeDators Pratt anC
Miller, of New York, are equally un
friendly to Harrison, while Depew il
not likely to autagonize the mor &C.
] tive and practical leaders of his party
In Ohio Foraker is aggressively hos
T tile, and the action OF the convention
s of that State proves that he is moi
without power in shaping the actor
: Of the delegation. Massachusetts il
Y perhaps less aggressively hostile thar
| either OF the three States, but there i,
{ no evidence OF e%arnestness or enthusi-
asm amoug The leaders for Harrison
In short, it seems not only possible
: but more than probable, that New
4 York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts
and Ohio may present II practically
solid front at Minneapolis in advising
, against the expediency OF Harrison'i
. denomination, while a formidable ele
ment Of Indiana and Illinois will bt
: there to predict inevitable defeat il
those State for Harrison if he be made
t the candidate.
! We do not regard it as at all conclu
t sive that Harrison will be nominated
II it were at all possible to force Blaine
: to accept the candidacy, he would be-
nominated at Minneapolis in a perfec'
s tempest of enthusiasm but nomina
9 ting Blaine for the Presidency would
be simply booming him to death before
the campaign ended. He is, therefore
| entirely out of the question but it i
. evident from the developments of thu
= last few days that the party leader
!, are looking Westward for a candidat,