Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-15
HARRISON'S CHOICE
It Was First Thought to- Be Senator
Allison.
GOV. MORTON His REAL FAVORIHE
Suspicion of the Seriousness Of the
Morton Boom.
Feet ON MR.. PLAT T

All stories from Indiana respecting Gen.
Harrison's attitude toward the next repub-
lican nomir. alton for the presidency, or his
personal feelings toward the other leaders
whose names are mentioned in connection
with that honor, are examined with great
care by the politicians. So many have been
denied outright, and so many more have
been found to contain only half truths in
geniously stated that the whole subject
has fallen under the ban of a certain dis
trust on the part of the public. But the in
dustry keeps up, and there is something
about the latest of these productions that
is thought to bear a faint resemblance to
probability.
differences From the New Interview.
This story grows out of the John C. New
interview, which, it will be remembered,
was principally of interest because stating
that the candidacy of neither Gov. Mckin-
ley nor of Mr.. Reed met with favor with
Gen. Harrison. Mr.. New afterward admit
ted that he had no authority to speak for
Gen. Harrison, but had given merely his
own impressions of how the ex-President
felt in the premises. There followed then
some gossip about where the Harrison fol-
lowing would be likely to go with their ia
vorite out of the running, and popular
as combining the qualities that would at
tract them. 1t was pointed out that while
In the Senate together Gen. Harrison and
Mr.. Allison had been close friends and that
upon the elevation of the former to the
presidency the Iowa Senator had been
pressed to take the treasury portfolio. Mr..
Allison, it was decided, stood SO well with
the Harrison people that he was easily to
be put down as their second choice.
Harrison May BE for Morton.
1t is now asserted that this was a hasty
judgment The good feeling existing be-
tween Gen. Harrison dMr.Allison is not de-
MED, but the statement is made that If the
Harrison people fail of their purpose to
nominate the ex-President next year, they
will throw their strength to Gov. Morton.
Gen. Harrison is said to hold Gov Morton
in the highest esteem, to regard him as
safe leader, and as embodying all of the
qualities that go to insure success in exc
cutive office. Cordial relations have always
existed between the two men. No estrange
ment followed the action of the Minneapolis
convention. Gen Harrison, 1t is said, fully
expected his old yoke mate to travel with
him again. The Reid boom was as much
surprise to him as it was to the Morton
people The Harrison people could not in
terfere. With their favorite renominated,
the proprieties counseled that they remain
passive toward the vice presidency. That
was a matter for New York to attend to.
and New York, to the general surprise,
threw Mr.. Morton over and presented Mr..
Reid's name to the convention. Acquies-
cence on the part of the Harrison people
was, of course, imperative.
Condition of the Morton Boom.
In some quarters Gov. Morton's boom for
the presidency has been coldly received.
Some doubt has seemed to exist as to the
earnestness of those behind it. The ques-
ton has been put, why are Mr.. Platt, Mr..
Depew, Mr.. Miller and Mr.. Hiscock SO
G xous for Gov. Morton's promotion now?
What has come over the spirit of their
dream? At Minneapolis they were all pow
erful in the matter of the vice presidency.
Had they asked for the denomination of
Mr.. Morton it would have teen made with
out moments hesitation. The convention
awaited the expression of New York s
pleasure. New York said Reid, and Reid it
was. Why was it not Morton? Mr.. Morton
was bitterly disappointed. He was expect
ing the compliment, and-everybody thought
he had richly deserved it. What change in
him. or in the situation respecting him, has
brought the same men forward now as his
sponsors for the presidency who three
years ago denied him an Endorsement as
Vice President? This is the problem which,
with some people, has initiated against an
altogether serious acceptance of the Morton
presidential boom. They have been inclined
to regard it as a movement out of which
ated would get at most high personal
compliments fair share of votes on one or
two ballots and nothing more.
Possible Effect on Mr.. Platt.
If the Harrison people, forced to a Sec
ond choice, should take Gov. Morton up,
how formidable would that make him in
the convention? And in what attitude
would it place Mr.. Platt? Mr.. Platt is
thought to be anti-Harrison to the core.
An opinion prevails that he would be al
most as much disappointed at the naming
of the candidate by the Harrison influence
as at the nomination of Gen. Harrison
himself. If, therefore, as is alleged, Mr..
Platt Is not entirely serious in his advo-
cacy of Gov. Morton, he would thus be
forced into seriousness by this acquisition
of support for the Morton cause from the
Harrison side. Would he relish this?
Would he work in good earnest then tor
Gov. Morton's nomination, assuming, as
the Harrison people do, that he is not in
earnest now?