The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-26
SAT NEAR GARFIELD
TWO DELEGATES SPE4K ABOUT THE
GkEAr C0NVeNTION.

Solitary Vote Did-Interesting Inter
view with Delegates.
Cleveland, O., Oct 25.-Two men who
were close 10 General James A Gar
field before, during, and after the fam
Gus Chicago convention which numi-
mated him for president, were Mr.. s. T.
Everett and General James Barnett of
This city. They were delegates from
Cleveland, or more properly speaking,
the Cuyahoga county district, TO that
notable meeting. Both gentlemen con-
scented last evening to interviews on
the circumstances surrounding the Sc
lection of General Garfield as the Re-
publican standard bearer in 1880 They
said some intensely interesting things
viewed in the light Of Senator Sher-
mans references to the same subject
in his new'book, "John Sherman's RecOl-
lections Of Forty Years in the House,
Senate, and Cabinet"
In his books as reviewed by the Asso-
ciated Press, Senator Sherman is quot
ed as saying that although he had be-
come reconciled to Garfeld's nominal
ton he had heard Of instances and de-
tails OF the Chicago convention which
tended to show that the nominal ton OF
Garfield had been agreed upon before
THE CONVENTION MET.
and indicated the want of sincerity on
the part of some of the delegates. The
book is said 20 differ in this connection
that Garfield was nominated at a con-
vention to which he had gone as the
trusted leader Of the Sherman forces,
Senator Sherman saying that when he
suggested to Garfield to be delegate-at-
Ia he fhtqd SHY 81
in good faith to support Sharnan's
nomination The whole inference has
been construed to be one Of alleged
disioyalty on the part CT General Gar
field
Mr. Everett occupied adjoining
apartments to those of General Gar
field at the Grand Pacific hotel in Chi
cago during the convention, and the
two were almost constant companions,
going back and forth to the convention
hall frequently together. For portion
ID the time Mr.. Everett sat side by side
with General Garfield the balloting
was in progress. After the convention
Mr.. Everett made arrangements for
the special return train to Cleveland,
and entertained General Garfield for a
time at his home Consequently he had
peculiar facilities for knowing General
Garfield's feelings.
In response to a question as TO how
the Republicans of this county seemed
TO stand before the great convention
and what seemed TO be the sentiment
with reference to the nomination. Mr..
Everett said: From the fact that this
district sent two Sherman delegates to
the national convention in 1880, it IS
quite clear that the district was favor
able to the nomination of Senator Sher-
man, who was one of the prominent
candidates. The delegates SO delivered
their votes up to the time when the
break came for General Garfield
DO you know personally what Cen
eral Garffeld's own views were on the
nomination of General Sherman"
In my judgment, l never had any
doubt as to General Garfields loyalty
and f1elity to Senator Sherman. This
WAS plainly manifest from the very
able and earnest manner in which
Sherman's name was presented by Gar
field in the convention. and in every act
Of his that came to my notice during
the entire time of the convention. / do
mot thing that any man in the Ohio del
egation did more toward holding the
Sherman forces together than he. I
had every opportunity from my almost
constant contact in and out of the con-
vsntion hall with General Garfield, of
knowing mis- true sentiments and feel
fngs ON the subject. l never for one
moment questioned his earneStnesS nor
his sincerity. 1t is a fact that before
the convention, although Garfield was
not a pronounced candidate, he never
theless was discussed "a a very prob
able nominee in case of deadlock be-
tween the leading candidates, Sher-
man, Blaine and Grant When we went
to Chicago this seemed TO be the Senti-
ment we ran against at almost every
turn. 1t was in the air. Consequently,
when the name of Garfield was men
toned, it went like wildfire After 50
long a contest between the prominent
leaders and the widening breach be-
tween them, the delegates fiocked to
Garfield There was no chance of har-
moniZing the Blaine men with the Sher-
man men, nor was there any possibility
that the Grant men would harmonic
with either Of the other two The dark
horse was inevitable, and the mantle
finally fell upon the shoulders of Car
field. No delegates stood by their can
didates more persistenly than the
Cleveland delegates stood by Sherman,
for whom personally ] have always had
great admiration. This was so after
the most acrimonious and bitter fight
in this district that occurred in any dis
Grict in the United States prior TO the
convention.
During the deadlock were you called
man delegates, or did you know Of any
movement on the part Of the Sherman
men, especially from Ohio, TO throw
their strength to Garfield"
There was no such conference to my
knowledge. If therc had been l would
certainly have known it because l was
IN every meeting the Ohio delegates
Geld."
Then came a graphic description from
Mr.. Everett as TO how the nomination
came to Garfield. In view Of the lapse
OF time that has intervened the details
We're the mark of a good memory. Il
sat alongside of Garfield said he, lat
the time the votes began 10 come in.
My impression is that a. Mr.. Griar OF
Pennsylvania, was the man who first
voted for him. He continued 10 cast
his solitary vote for Garfield, ballot al
ter ballot. Grier said that he made up
his mind from the beginning that a dark
horse would win. and that he though
he might as we'll have Ehe honor OF
naming him. When the break came
General Garfield arose in his seat and
tried TO turn back the tide. but ii was
useless. He seemed 10 be troubled. but
the orSak had come and il Was irreSiSI-
ible.''
Mr.. Everett was inclined to close his
narrative at this point saying that he
did not wish 10 elaborate What he had
10 say. He reiterated his sta tensnts
about the loyalty OF the Cleveland del
.eradion 10 Sherman until the last ray
of hope had fed.
General James Barnett was with Gar
field in tie war. Both Were members
OF Rosecrsns' staff. Garfield being the
.hjef-of-staff and Barnett the chief of
the artillery. General Barnett mas
known Senator sherman as a public
man and personally for many years.