Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-04
What is Said of 1t by Senators and
Representatives.
IT WAS GENERALLY ANTICIPATED
Its Probable Effect on the Situa-
ton Discussed.
TALKS WITH HIS FRIENDS

| caused general surprise. His not being a
| candidate was anticipated among politi-
| clans, and the letter was to that extent dis
| counted. Some two weeks or more ago when
| ex-Marshal Ransden was in Washington.
and held a conference with some other of
| Harrison's friends, 1t was stated by Mr.
| Ransdell that General Harrison's name
would not be presented to the convention.
few days later General Harrison's closest
| representative in the House made a similar
| statement. But long before that General
| Harrison's attitude was known to the friends
| Of some of the other candidates. The friends
| OF Mr.. Allison were probably the first to be
| Informed definitely that the ex-President
would not again enter the field. 1t is said
| that they We're informed sometime before
| Congress met, about the time General Har-
| rison made his first visit to New York early
| last fall
| Mr.. Allison is understood to he General
| Harrison's personal choice, but il Is in
| sisted that Harrison will not attempt 10
| turn the Indiana delegation over TO the
| Iowa candidate.
Effect on the Situation.
The opinion generally concurred In at
| the Capitol is that, as far as the retirement
of Harrison has any effect upon the sit
| uation 1t will be favorable to Mckinley and
Allison, and that it IS not, and is not In
4
| as the Indiana delegation in the House re-
fleet the sentiment of that state, IL is
! strongly favorable 10 the Ohio candidate.
| The chief maaipulators in the Senate, on
| the other hand, understood to favor
| Allison, and there is a prospect of lively
| contest between the friends of these two
| candidates. The Indiana members of the
| House unite in the statement that the del
| esation will 20 10 the convention unin-
structed, and will, at first, If not all the
| MI, 1., az, IL
statement is coupled with the declaration
| that there is no antagonism in the state
| toward any of the candidates.
| Opinions i'm the House.
| Representative Dinsley, who stands
| closest to Speaker Reed, said this morning
| that the withdrawal of Gen Harrison had
been generally discounted for some time.
and he did not think it materially affected
| the situation. He said he did not think
that it added anything to the chances of
any of the other candidates.
| Representative Grosvenor who is Nc
Kinleys champion i'm the House. said that
| Harrison's withdrawal would benefit Nc
| Kinley and Allison but chiefly Mckinley.
| Gen. Harrison he said, has lived up to
| ms character wise, high-minded man.
He could not have got the nomination with
out making the sort of a scramble for it
| which he could not afford and is not dis
| posed to make. He places himself where
he belongs among the great men of this
| country. No one who knows him can be
| surprised at his action. He has avoided
the great mistake that marred the public
career of Grant.
| 1t may be seen that Mckinley will be
| chiefly benefited by General Harrison's re-
| tlrement, for two reasons. In the first
| place, Mckinley is extremely strong I'm
| Indiana and is second choice of most of
The republicans of the state. His name has
| been greeted with enthusiasm at conven-
| tons In the state that have indorsed Har-
| rfson, and in spite of efforts of HIcKinley's
| friends TO prevent IL, Mckinley clubs have
| been formed in the state. In the second
place. this action of General Harrison lib
crates many votes outside Indiana, which
| will go to Mckinley, and some that Will
| go to Allison. The Harrison forces and
the Reed forces were opposed to each
| other, SO that little benefit can come to
| Reed from Harrison's retirement. On the
other hand, many favorable 10 Mckinley
| were bound first of all to Harrison. These
| are all liberated and will go to Mckinley"
| Thinks Allison May He Bencfted.
Gen. Henderson, who is Allison's lieuten-
ant in the House, said that he was not
| surprised at Gen. Harrison's retirement.
| He said he thought Allison would he bene-
fitted by Harrisons being out OF the race
| I'm 49, he said, 'the Iowa delegation
| came to Harrison's support and gave him
! the nomination. Again in a2 the Iowa men
| stood by Harrison. 1t is hardly likely that
| Indiana will forget this at the next con-
| vention."
| Indiana ConGrcssmcn's Views
| Congressman Hanley of Indiana safd:
| Il think Gen. Harrison is out CT the race.
| He is always candid and truthful and his
| letter ought to be accepted as sincere /
| regret that he has decided not to be a can
| didate. There can be doubt that the
Indiana people were loyal to him. With
| Harrison out OF the race two-thirds of the
| Indiana republicans will be for Mckinley
| But the delegates will probably go unin-
| structed and unhampered free to do what
they consider for the best interests of the
party. / think that is the proper course to-
| be pursued"
| Congressman Royse of Indiana said:
| ''The delegates ought to go uninstructed.
| But think it is not an unfair estimate to
/ say that large majority of the Indiana
| republicans for Mckinley, now that
| Harrison Is out of the race
| Representative Hardy of Indiana said:
| benjamin Harrison is the first choice of
| Indiana republicans. IL time should ar
| rive in the convention when the interests
| of party harmony and party success de-
| manded Harrison's nomination his Indiana
| friends will have no second choice. Their
| loyalty to him is unreserved"
Representative overstreet of Indiana said:
| 1.-The first choice of the Indiana republicans
! is Harrison. But his name will not be
voted for in the convention by the Indiana
\ delegates until there is a manifest demand
| from all over the country that he be a cam
didate. There Is no doubt about his letter
| being final and conclusive on the subject
| Of his own candidacy. He is not a candi-
date, and his name will not be presented to
the convention.
Representative Faris of Indiana said: IT
| am not surprised at Gen. Harrison's decla-
| ration. When he was in Washington re-
| Gently had a chat with him, and referred
| to the fact that the eighth district republi-
| cans were ready to instruct their delegation
| for him. He said then that it was impossi-
| ble that he was not candidate, and would
not permit his name to be used. Allison
F.! has a great many friends in our district,
| but the preponderance of sentiment is for
| Mckinley"
Representative Leighty of Indiana said:
Il have never believed that Gen. Harrison
| would permit his friends to present his
| r anne to the convention and begin an ac-
| tive organized movement to secure for him
| the nomination. I DO not See why he should
want to be President again. The natural
inference, it seems to me. would oe that he
would prefer to rest on the splendid record
he has already made rather than enter
) upon another administration with its at