The Portland daily press., 1893-01-28

situation the Blaine men decided that a
steering committee to manage the Blaine
forces was necessary. One was formed.
composed of Creed Raymond, of Califor-
MIA, Charles Emory Smith of Philadelphia,
Gen. George Morley, DR.. F. l.. Burden
Gen. A. l.. Conger of Ohio, Powell Clay
ton of Arkansas, and Samuel Fessenden,
of Connecticut. Elkins, Kerens, Bou-
telle and Manley were in constant com
munication with this committee. The
members of the committee were enlisted
in the ranks of other candidates except
Raymond, who was ourspoken for Blaine.
Burden was for Alger, as was Clay
ton. Fessenden was for Allison, and
Conger represented the Ohio element. a
portion of which was only mildly for
Sherman.
Meanwhile Mr.. boutelle had received
another cablegram from Mr.. Blaine,
which made it evident that he would not
under any circumstances allow his name
to be used. The two cablegrams Mr.
Boutelle read when the convention came
to order. The disappointment of the
Blaine men was great. Some of the Cali
fornia delegates reproached Mr.. Bou-
telle for not suppressing the dispatches,
and announced their intention of casting
their votes for Blaine in spite of every
thing.
This they did, but the majority Of the
Blaine organization acquiesced, and
turned their energies to the work Of Sc
curing the nomination of man satisfac-
tory to themselves. At this jnncture
they turned to General Harrison. In
deed, it has been asserted that weeks be
fore Ellzins and others, knowing that
Mr.. Blaine would not stand, had Sc
lected General Harrison as the man most
desirable to the Blaine element in the
party. If they did do SO, they carried
their programme through with remark
able success. But it is certain that they
maneuvred on the floor of the conven-
tion to attain this end.
On the first ballot California led off for
Blaine and in all 35 ballots were cast fer
him. Sherman had 229 Alger S4, Gresh-
am ia and Harrison 70. The remainder
of the votes were scattered among favor
ite sons. There was danger that in the
attrition of the great convention the
lines might become drawn between Sher-
man and Alger In order to avert this
the steering committee had California
after few ballots throw their votes for
Harrison. This started the break for
Harrison, and his strength steadily grew
while Sherman barely held his own. On
| IHC ClSAltA OdllOU pLCl llIA COiSASs oA
! slumped from 231 to 11S, and Harrisons s
rose to 544, giving him the nomination.
The Blaine men had done it. Mr.. Blaine
felt unable to take the place him
self, but he could dictate the nomination
He could not take the throne, but ne
could be the power behind it.
The circumstances of the last national
convention are too fresh in the public
mind to call for anything but the briefest
mention. Again Mr.. Blaine's name and
influence was the feature which of all
others attracted mems attention. His
relations with Mr.. Harrison, who had
been nominated by the Blaine strength
four years before, had become strained.
There, was also an extensive opposition
to Mr. Harrison ON the part of Republi-
can leaders in some of the largest states
of the Union. Pennsylvania, New York.
and Ohio were generally against him and
for Mr.. Blaine. There was but one bal
lot. The opposition to Mr.. Harrison
centered around Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Nc
and decisive ballot 1872 1-6 votes and the
latter 1872 votes, while Mr.. Harrison re-
ceived 5343 and was nominated.
The Campaign of 1884.
The nomination of MI. Blaine in 1884
was received by the Republican masses
with great enthusiasm. But there was a
as remnant in the party that did not take
it kindly, and INDUCED in demonstra-
tions Of hostility. A few Republican Or
gans bolted the ticket outright. The great
mass of the party was, however, loyal
and enthusiastic. The campaign was one
of intense interest," and the partisanship
engendered of the most bitter kind. 1t
was early foreseen that New York was
the pivotal State, and that the result was
likely to depend upon its electoral vote,
The West was overwhelmingly Republi
can, and Blaine was especially strong in
that section. There was no encourage
mention the Democrats to spend any effort
then outside of the State of Indiana. On
the other hand the South was firmly in
the grip of the Democracy. There were
really but three or four debatable States,
and most conspicuous among them were
New York and Indiana. In them
the contest ragged with greatest fury.
Mr.. Blaine personally took part in the
campaign and electrified the Western
and the Middle States by series of
speeches of great eloquenoe and power.
The early elections in Vermont and
Maine were favorable to the Republicans.
But it was seen that New York was the
real battle ground, and the eyes OF the
country were fixed on that State. Blaine
lost it, and with it the election, by a lit
tie over thousand votes. A week be-
fore the election he undoubtedl had the
State; but series of accidents, chief
among which was the famous allitera-
tion of DIR. Burchard, turned the scale.
In the electoral college Blaine had 1872
and Cleveland 219 votes. Blaine carried
all the Northern States except New York,
Indiana, New Jersey and Connecticut.
1t was just preceding and after this
campaign that he wrote his Twenty
Years Of Congress- one of the most
widely read books ever published in this
country. He has also published volumes
of his speeches and frequent magazine
articles.
Old Friends Remember Him.
Hon. Josiah HI. Drummond was, be-
fore coming to Portland, very prominent
and influential in the politics of Kenne-
bee county in those early days of the
Republican party when Mr.. Blaine was
coming to the front 1t was in 1858 when
Mr.. Blaine was reporting the Maine leg
isiature, that Mr.. Drummond was elected