The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-19


Payne. A quarter of q century after
tho feud's inception it wrecked the
greatest political ambition an Ameri-
can citizen can entertain. In 1857
Henry B. Payne was candidate for
Democratic nomination for Governor.
The convention met IN Columbus and
Allen G. Thurman, then fresh from
the supreme bench Of Ohio, where he
had served four years with great dis
tiDction, had friend in whose can
didacy for treasurer he was much in
terested. There was some sharp COM
petition for the honors. Some of Mr..
Payno's lieutenants without his knowl
edge promised Judge Thurman the
support of tho Payne forces for his
friends in return for tho votes he con-
trOlled in the convention. At least
that was the understanding OF the
Thurman contingent. Mr.. Payne was
successful and captured tho nomina-
tion' by handsome margin, but the
Thurman candidate for treasurer
failed at tho last moment to receive
the promised support of the Payne
following and was defeated.
1t Is said that Mr.. Payne was not
aware OF the the trick that had been
played upon Mr.. Thurman. However
that may be, "the Old Roman" was
not inclined to minco words about it.
After the convention Mr.. Payne won't
to tho Neil House for dinner, accom-
panied by some friends, and in jovial
mood opened wine in celebration of the
success OF tho man from the Reserve.
Presently MIR. Thurman and q few
friends came in and took the adjoining
table. MIR. Payne called the waiter
81 I,>ff <>f ,,,i,
to Judge Thurman. Iu u moment the
wine came back with the gruif mes
sage that Mr. Thurman did not care
for any Of Mr.. Payno's wine. In those
days the ex-senator was in his prime,
and fcw smoother politicians lived in
Ohio than Henry B. Payne. In owl
don't surprise at the refusal of Judge
Thurman, Mr.. Payne rose from his
Table and crossed over to the group Of
which the judge was the central fig
ure, carrying q bottle of wine with
him.
" trust you and your friends will
dl lnk u bottle OF wine with me, Judge"
he said, nurbanely. "Drink 20 my sue
cess and the victory Of the Democratic
party"
~ do not want any of your wine,
sir" exclaimed the Judge. Il told
that blanked waiter to say as much to
you, sir, moment ago." and the irate
supporter OF tho defeated candidate
turned his back abruptly on the dapper
little attorney from Cleveland.
PAYNE GOT HIS REVENGE.
Mr.. Payne was greatly offended by
the public insult, and is said never
to have forgotten it. Judge Thurman,
on the other hand, hated double deal
ing with all of his intense nature, and
having, as he believed been grossly
deceived once, was not quick to yield
his confidence again. The quarrel
thus begun always kept these two emi-
nent ONO Demacrats apart.
In 1880 Allen G. Thurman was a
candidate for the presidential nomina-
tlon before the Cincinnati1 convention.
Had he received the unillnching sup
port OF the Ohio delegation he would
very likely have been the nominee.
On the first ballot the delegation was
solid for him. Then it broke, and the
chances OF Thurman's nomination were
ruined. The leading in
iluoncc behind that break was Henry
Is. Payne. 1t was Northern Ohio
whore tho Payne influence was su-
prcmc, that led the break and was
strongest in the claim which stamped
ed the convention away from Thur
man. AS Ohio vas an October state at
that time and practically certain to
so for Garfield, the result would be
disastrous to the Democratic cause,
That argument defeated Thurman and
nominated Hancock, and the words
spoken in season by certain Ohioans
made the claim effective. The day
Hancock was nominated the revenge
OF MIR. Payne was complete. a fcud
of moro than twenty years standing
had prevented Ohio from having q
candidate on the Demo
cratic ticket in that generation. Three
years )ater the astute politician from
Cleveland had another triumph, and
Henry b. Payne succeeded George Fl.
Pendleton in the United States Senate.
CLEVELAND AND THURMAN.
Cleveland and Thurman had never
met up to the election of 1884, although
Thurman was.a delegate to the conven-
tion which made Cleveland the nomi-
nee. They met after the inauguration,
and at once developed IL great friend
snip. The wonder was that Thurman
did not go into the cabinet. Regard
ing this he said:
After the election the press and
'.'J - ANh>to oSSIiiS'l w iSEc UIldU L
should become Secretary of State, and
the matter was brought before Mr..
Cleveland. For my part, although |
said nothing, had determined to de-
cline. | felt too old for active service.
But | didn't have to decline. Some of
my other coed friends in Ohio preju-
diced the president against me, and
my closest personal friend in the Sen.
ate, Tom Bayard, was chosen"
Thcrc was sarcasm in the Old Ro-
mans voice as he referred to the
" friends" who had abused him to
Cleveland, had insisted that Thurman
was in his dotage, had even charged
that he was addicted to drink, and
circulated all manner Of evil report
about him.
But time went on," said Judge
Thurman, land | met the President
when | was counsel for the govern.
ment in tho telephone cases. Perhaps,
| too, had been prejudiced against
Cleveland by the reports of him which
had been brought to my ears by his
enemies. Suffice it to say that we be.
came the best OF friends, and learned
to admire him more than any public
man l have over mot. His friends and
other eminent men in the nation in
sisted in 1888 that [ should be the