The Indianapolis journal., 1895-10-22
Review of Instructions Received by
the Ohio Delegates and Their Con-
duct at the Chicago Convention.
THE SENATOR'S suspicious
WHY HE CRITICISED THE ACTION OF
GOV. FOSTER AND OTHERS.
Letter Written to Garfield During the
Campaign-A Reporters Alleged
Evidence OF Treachery.

memoirs, to the Republican national con-
vention of 1880. which nominated James A.
Garfield for the presidency-the reference
which has been the subject of some news
paper discussion within the past few days:
During the month Of April delegates
were selected from the different congress
sional districts OF the State of Ohio to at
tend the State convention, to meet on the
18th OF that month. Prior TO the conven-
tion the question of the nomination was
the subject of discussion in every district.
The sentiment in my favor was clearly
expressed in nearly every county or dis
trict of the State On the Sth of April 1
wrote the following letter to a friend:
Mckinley is still in Ohio, and l pre-
sumo will be there for some days. / have
to-day written to him at Canton, covering
the points you name. You had better write
TO him yourself, giving the list Of appoint
that Garfield, in order TO save his district,
should go TO the Chicago convention as a
delegate He is placed in a very awkward
attitude now. If this district should be
against my nomination it would be attrib-
uted to either want of influence on his
part or, what is worse. a want of sincerity
in my support. In view of the past this
would be a very unfortunate thing for him.
This is delicate matter for me to take
any part in, and leave 1t entirely TO
your good Judgment and kind friendship
Columbus with lGovernor Foster. ex-Gov-
ernor Dennison and number of other per-
sonal friends. all of whom expressed great
confidence that by the time the State con-
vention met the friendly feeling in favor
of Blaine, in some of the districts of Ohio,
would be waived in Difference to the APP
parent wishes of the great majority. In
that event, in case my nomination should
INN Of no w
could be very easily changed to Mr.. Blaine.
AS to General Grant, though he had many
warm personal friends in Ohio. yet, on ac-
count of objections to a third term, very
few desired his nomination.
GARFIELD PROMISED AID.
"Prior TO the State convention I had an
interview with General Garfield, which he
sought at my Office in the department.
and he there expressed his earnest desire
to secure my nomination and his wish to be
a delegate at large, so that he might aid
me effectively. He had been chosen, with
little or no opposition, United States Sena-
tor TO fill the place of Thurman. whose
term expired March 4, 1881. I had not a
doubt Of the support Of Governor Foster,
with whom had been in close correspond
ence, and who expressed a strong desire
for my nomination. / was permitted prac-
tically to name the four delegates at large,
and had implicit confidence that these dele
gates would take the lead in my behalf
1.-The State convention. which met on the
18th of April, was exceptionally large. and
was composed of the leading Republicans
OF Ohio, who proceeded at once to the
business before them. The persons named
by the convention as delegates at large To
the national convention. TO assemble in
Chicago on June 2, were William Denni-
son, James A. Garfield. Charles Foster and
Warner NJ. Bateman, who were instructed
for me. The following resolution of the
convention expressed the preference of the
Republicans of Ohio in favor of my nomi-
nation, and recommended that the vote of
the State be cast for NE:
" Resolved. That the great ability, i'm
valuable services, long experiences, full and
exalted character and unwavering fidelity
TO Republican principles of our dfstin-
guished fellow-citizen, John sherman. en-
title him to the honors and confidence or
the Republican party in Ohio and OF tho
country. His matchless skill and courage
as a financier have mainly contributed 10
accomplish the invaluable and difficult work
of resumption of specie payments and re-
funding the public debt and made him the
trusted representative in public life of the
business interests of all classes of the
American people. He has been trained from
the beginning of his public life in advocacy
of the rights or man, ana no man mas Deen
more unfaltering in his demand that the
whole power OF the government should be
used to protect the colored people of the
South from unlawful violence and unfriend-
ly local legislation. And, in view of his
services TO his country and his eminent
ability statesman, we, the Republic
publican party of the country as fit cam
didate for PRESIDENT, and respectfully urge
upon the Republican convention at Chica go
his nomination, and the district delegates
n
nomination
ssThe trend of public sentiment, as shown
by the newspapers. indicated that Grant
and Blaine would each have a very strong
following in the national convention, bur
that the contest between them might lead
to my nomination. After the State con-
vention 1t was generally assumed that
would receive the united vote of the dele
cation, in conformity with the expression
OF opinion by the convention. During this
period few leading men, whose names
do not care TO mentiOIf made a combina-
ton of those unfriendly to me and agreed
to disregard the preference declared by
the State convention. During the month
of May the feeling in my favor increased.
and many OF the leading papers In New
York and in the Eastern States advocated
my nomination as compromise candidate
AT this time L was in constant commune
cation with General Garfield by letters and
also by interviews, We were both in
Washington. On the 10th OF May he wrote
me. II think Ii will be mistake for us
TO assume a division in the Ohio delegation
We should meet and act as though we
were of one mind, until those delegates
who are hostile to you refuse TO act with
us. and IL We fail to win them over the
separation will be their act-not ours
THE CONVENTION.
1.-THE national convention met June 9. 1850
1t was called TO order in the Exposition
Hail. Chicago, by Senator J. Donald Cam
eron and temporary organization. with
Senator George Il. Hoar as president. was
soon perfected. An effort was made by the
friends of General Grant to ADOPT the unit
rule. which would allow majority of each
State 10 determine the vote OF the entire
delegation. This was rejected. Four DAYS
were occupied in perfecting the permanent
organization and the nomination of candi-
dates for President. During this tine
minority of nine of the delegation of Ohio
announced their determination to vote for
Blaine This was fatal move
for Blaine and undoubtedly Isd
TO his defeat. Nearly four-fiffhs
OF the delegation were in favor of
my nomination, I'm pursuance of the ex-
press wishes of the Ohio convention, but
they wese all friendly TO Blaine and when
ever II should have become appaIent ths'
my nomination was impractical the whole
delegation could easily have been carried
for him without division. and thus have
secured his nomination. The action Of these