The Portland daily press., 1895-08-07
NEW YORK'S POSITION.
A Story About Reed and Morton-S. Il. Ell
kins is said to Desire to Manage the Next
Republican Campaign.


Corr. of Chicago Inter OCEAN,
New York, Aug. 2-Politics again
absorbs public attention in this city, and
an earnest endeavor is being made to
create full-fedged Presidential boom for
Governor Morton. Perhaps the most
significant fact connected with the Nor
ton movement is the enthusiastic support
given the governor by the avowed friends
of Thomas B. Reed. In this connection
it may be we'll to recall some predictions
and statements made early in the cam
paign of last fall:
Governor Morton had already accepted
the nomination, and while there never
was any doubt concerning the ultimate
result of the election, the Republican
leaders desired to make the victory so en-
phatic that effects would last well into
'96. A vigorous campaign was arranged,
and, among others, Reed was asked to
make a number of speeches. The Maine
man wanted to know what Morton in
tended to do when it came to nominating
candidate for the Presidency. Well, to
make long story short, conference
was held at fishing camp way up in the
woods in the northern part of this State.
speak in Morton's behalf, and little later
it was nnounced-apparently upon good
authority-that the New York delegation
would support Morton in the Republican
national convention on the first ballot.
Having given him this empty honor,
this delegation would throw its weight to
some other candidate, presumably Reed.
Morton was not to be considered seriously
as candidate
All this may have been a mere fabrica-
tion, nd there is no proof that it is any
thing else, yet the wonderful enthusiasm
exhibited by all the Reed men in this
city when Morton's name is mentioned
is significant. The last time Reed was
in this State he spent two days with Gov
ernor Morton at the executive mansion
in Albany.
A man who has succeeded in surround
ing himself with mystery is Senator
Stephen B. Elkins, of West Virginia.
Senator Elkins has spent large portion
OF his time here for several months, and
as he is not given to idleness, the infer
ence is that he is burying about the city
some wires that will come into use next
year. He has generally been classed as a
supporter of x-PresidentHa but of
late he has authorized several interviews
which are calculated to give the gentle
men from Indiana a political chill If
Elkins is steadfast in his support of Har-
rison he is planning some deep scheme,
which he hopes will stampede the coun-
try.
At one time Elkins was accused of hay
ing aspirations himself, and it was said
that he thouht he could just about fill the
Vice Presidential chair However, that
story was speedily suppressed. For once
in his life, Elkins was willing to make
statement of most positive character. In
few short sentences he made it plain
that he is not candidate for the Vice
Presidency, and that he would refuse the
nomination, even though it were offered
to him by unanimous convention. AT
the same time he limited that he would
like to have the management of the next
campaign. He went so far as to say that
he felt capable of bringing at least three
Southern States into the Republican col
umn.