Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-11
REPUBLICAN TIMBER
Drift Of Sentiment Concerning the
Candidates.
OF Com MMITTEEMTN
Reed Said to Be Gaining Strength
in the South.
MORTON AND HARR ON

The men who are interested in the diff
ferent presidential candidates have taken
much pains to ascertain what the drift of
sentiment in the national republican COM
mittee and of the public men who have
been attracted here by the meeting, is as
to their respective favorites. Tie talk
for the public of the Reed men and the
Mckinley men, the Morton men, the Har-
rison men and the Allison men Is IDENTICAL
Like all declarations for galleries the
declarations of advocates of the five re-
publican presidential aspirants are nope
full The one thing which has been made
clear by this gathering, if it was not clear
before is that there are five republican
presidential candidates. The aspirations
of Reed, Mckinley and Allison have long
been openly avowed. There is no longer
any concealment as to the candidacy of
Benjamin Harrison of Indiana and of Gov
ernor Morton of New York.
Mckinley Managers Satisfied.
The Mckinley managers, who have come
Eere for the avowed purpose of taking an
accurate survey OF the situation, say that
they are salts fled, and that they are conf
dent that their candidate has quite as much
original strength as they had supposed that
he had They claim to have discovered that
Senator Quay had grown somewhat luke
warm in his advocacy of Pttsburg as the
place for holding the convention because
he suspected that the strongly protect
i've sentiment of Pittsbrrg is very favorable
to Mr.. Mckinley. and that he might not
himself Re able to control the convention if
held in Pittsburg for another candidate, as
it has been assumed that he might do. 1t is
noticed that the Mckinley men also are very
confident that they will have scattering
ctr ntyth IN, Ey,tr1 1np AVID hot hat
hope to break into Mr.. Reeds ranks in
Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont.
Gov. Morton's Candidacy.
1t is to be said as to the candidacy of Gov.
Morton of New York that the fact has been
demonstrated that that gentleman has now
serious aspirations for the nomination. and
that he will pursue his efforts so far as to
endeavor at least to obtain the vote of the
New York delegation in the convention on
the first ballot. One of the prominent New
York politicians here said of Gov. Mortons
candidacy today: He, of course, cannot
nationally expect to secure the nomina ton.
but he can make the water turbd, to
give the New York delegation a great deal
of embarra ssment and he can contribute
much to nullfy its influence"
The name of Governor Morton is not much
mentioned as a possible presidential cam
didate outside of the New York delegat ton.
The most experienced observers express tie
greatest surprise as to the strength eXhib-
tied by Mr.. Reed of Maine, particularly in
the mos. unexpected quarters of the remote
south. A gentleman who has been active
at every republican national convention
since that at which Abraham Line Din
was nominated, and who is an active ag-
gressive canvasser for Mr.. Reed, makes this
report of the result of his operations:
Mr.. Reeds Growing Strength.
"NIr Reeds strength exceeds the eXpecta-
ton of his most enthusiastic friends. The
story about any defections from Mr.. Reed
in New England which will have any prac-
teal effect upon the convention are idle
Mr. Reed will have practically the united
and the hearty support of New England
delegates, not only for the first, but Tor the
second and all other ballots. Mr. Reed is
also unquestionably the original choice, of
the leading republicans of New York, who
control the choice of delegates to the ra-
tional convention, and their cnoce Wilt be
conclusive so soon as the candidacy of Gov
ernor Morton, which the leading republic
cans in New York, consider impracticable,
shall have been disposed Of
Il happen to know that Thomas c. Platt
favors Mr.. Reed. In Pennsylvania the in
dications are that Mr.. Reed will have a large
majority of the candidates on the first
choice, and Pennsylvania has way of vot-
ing in the end as a unit. The most unex-
pected strength of Mr.. Reed comes from
the southern states. This support is un-
solicited, enthusiastic, and voluntary. Take
Sressively for Harrison. The Alabama men
say now that the delegates of that state to
the national convention will favor Mr..
Reed.
delegation will be unanimous for Mr. Reed
The delegation from that state to the na-
tional convention has always been con-
trolled hy ex-senator William Pitt kellogg
and by ex-senator Pinchback Both of
these gentlemen are now here. They are
both active, enthusiastic and aggressive
for the nomination of Mr.. Reed Moreover.
A movement has already been inaur,lra ted
in that state, which is likely to be success
full, which will set in motion the activities
for Mr. Reed at an early day. 1t is the
purpose of the republican leaders to choose
the delegates to the national convention
from Louisiana in January next, and to
have them Instructed for Mr. Reed | am
informed that this plan is certain to sue
ceed, and that the choice of these dele
gates may be regarded as the signal gun IN
Mr.. Reeds campaign.
Powell CInytOn's OppOsitfOn.
The only managing politician from the
south who is actively opposed to Mr.. Reed
IS Powell Clayton of Arkansas. He is out
spoken in favor of Mckinley, and predicts
t when Mr.. Reed shall appoint his COM
tees there will be an army of the dis
ointed with knives up their sleeves l
fiji -, on the contrary, that, with the excep-
tion of very few contestants, there is a
very general lack OF interest in the COM
mittee appointments, and that the men
who will have knives up their sleeves in
consequence of dsappointments as to COM
mittee places will he very few in number
and of small caliber.''
This is a statement of one of Mr.. Reeds
most enthusiastic admirers. But it is en-
titled to consideration, as it comes from a
most experienced and careful political OBJ
server.
THE PRESIDENTS RETURN.