The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-31
SHERMAN WAS TO BLAME.
w. III. Miller Says the Senator Was an
ImpOssibility in 1880.

Benjamin ButterwOrth Says sherman Or-
ganized His Own Defeat-Senator Quay
Tells About His New York Trip-Con-
vention Date.
Hon. W. III. H. Miller, attorney general
in President Harrison's Cabinet, has add
ed another chapter to the story of the
Garfield nomination, says an Indianapolis
correspondent of the New York World
Mr.. Miller says:
sex President Harrison, Mr.. Garfield
and myself were sitting one evening on
the steps in the Grand Pacific Hotel after
the convent ton. had been in deadlock
for some time and the outcome was IN
doubt. Gen Harrison was at the head
of the Indiana delegation, and turning
to Mr. Garfield he remarked that as the
nomination was very much in doubt 1t
was difficult to tell where it would end,
that it was his opinion that there were
strong indications which pointed towards
him as the ultimate nominee. Mr. Har-
rison added that there were several
among the Indiana delegation who We're
very friendly towards Mr.. Garfield.
''As soon as Gen. Harrison said that, !"
continued Mr. Miller, /" Mr.. Garfield
shook his head in very emphatic man
her and said: No, it wouldn't do at ALL
| came here in the interest of Senator
Sherman and want to do all l can to
nominate him. And l want my friends
to do the same thing. appreciate the
friendly feeling towards myself. but it
would not do at ALL and / will not coun-
tonance such movement
81 knew then that Gen. Garfield was
loyal to Senator Sherman and L know 1T
now. It's a good deal like the case of
Miles StaDdish and John Alden, though
the fellow who goes to court to plead to
girl for another man and afterwards
ma1ries the girl himself will always be
accused of treachery though the girl my
positively say that she never under any
circumstances would have married the
other fellow That was the way with
Gen. Garfield. He did all he could for
Senator Sherman. He made probably
the most magnificent speech of the CEN
fury, and it is my firm opinion that there
was never moment IN the wnoie con-
vention when Senator Sherman could
have been nominated.
No; Sherman could never have been
nominated, and Garfield was true to his
trust lam surprised at the course Sena-
tor Sherman is now taking 1t inclines
one to the belief that he is in his do
tage."
Ex-President Harrison told the World
representative that he recalled the con-
versation, but declined to discuss any
thing relating to it, saying: You have
Mr.. Miller's statement. Is not that
enough?"
BUTTERWORTH BLAMES SHEER
MAN
Benjamin Butterworth of Ohio, for
many years leading member of Con-
gress and now a practising lawyer in
Washington, was one of the chief captains
of the Sherman forces in two Republican
national conventions. In regard to the
charge that Harrison was nominated and
Sherman defeated through deal with
Platt, he said 81 was a member of the
Ohio delegation in the convention of
1880, and also Of 1883, and did all l could
to secure the nomination of John Sher-
man. In my Judgment Sherman was, and
is today, the best equipped statesman in
the United States, and should have been
nominated and elected, and in my opiD-
ion would have been but for his peculiar
faculty for organizing his own defeat.
He never failed to place the key of the
political situation in charge of one who
could not or of one who would not COM
mand victory. In 1880 the trouble was
with Priscilla, and not with John AL
den." In 1888 the case may have been
widely different, and John Alden may
have played another part But in each
case Sherman knew the situation thor
oughly long before delegates were chosen.
vet none the less persisted in doing what
many of his friends who had both exper-
fence and politial sagacity believed
would inevitably imperil instead of
promote his chances. Time and again he
to see them slaughtered.
81 have always believed that if John
Sherman had not been so ambitious to be
President 'once' he would have been
President twice.
III have no personal knowledge of any
bargain between Stephen B. Elkins and
Mr. Platt looking to the delivery of the
New York delegation to Harrison, if
there was one. -
SENATOR QUAY TALKS.
Senator Quay was seen by the Phila-
delphia Press correspondent and asked
relating to the New York conference
"Some people are making great fuss
over the dinnsr said to have been given
us the other night None of the papers,
however, have printed the bill of fare yet.
I was in New York and met several gen.
tlemen connected with the Republican
national committee. My principal bust
ness with them was to urge the claims of
Pittsburg as convention city. l kno W
of no combinations for presidential NOM
nations. I have been quoted as favoring
Mr.. Reed, and think mr.. Reed is a
good man."