The herald., 1896-06-17
THE SECOND PLACE
Morton's Position Still q Matter Of Great
Doubt

ST. LOUIS, June 16.-Platt's unwill-
ingness to talk about the vice-presiden-
tial issue was due not only to his 10y
atty to Mr.. Morton, but to a fear that
if it was known that Mr.. Morton was
absolutely candidate his support for
the presidency might be injured. Chaun-
cey M. Depew became factor in the
fight tonight. Asked If he had been
informed of Mr.. Morton's candidacy, he
said:
Il have Mr.. Morton's telegram OF Sat-
urday declining to run for that office.
If Mr.. Morton should notify me that he
Is candidate for vice-president, l
would not present his name to the con-
vention for president"
A little later in the night, when War
ner Miller and George E. Matthews
called and asked him to sign the docu-
ments protesting against the Morton
vice presidential boom, he said:
Il am in sympathy with the movement
but I cannot consistently sign for you
in view Of the fact that am here as
Mr.. Morton's representative to place his
name before the convention"
1t was learned at Hanna's rooms to-
night that he told the Miller adherents,
when he asked his support in their fight
against Morton, that he would give them
an answer in the morning, as he would
have time to consider the matter. The
most energetic assistance the anti-Mor-
ton element got tonight was from the
New Jersey delegation, who had hoped
to nominate their man, Garrett A. Ho-
bart, for vice president.
In the meantime the Miller men had
visited the headquarters of the Maine
delegation and tried to induce them to
place Mr.. Reed in the fight for vice pres
ident. While an absolute refusal was
not given, it was understood that even
If nominated Mr.. Reed would decline the
nomination. The leaders of tn delega-
tion promised, however, to put them
selves in instant communication with
Mr.. Reed and get decisive answer If
Mr.. Reed was to accept it would mean
a serious detection of eastern states
from the Morton column.
At Mr.. Platt'S rooms tonight 1t was ad-
mitted that Mr.. Morton's chances would
be slim if Mr.. Reed entered the race, but
that seemed to be the only fear.
So dissatisfied was Mr.. Depew with
the situation, and so disturbed over the
rumors. that at 8 o'clock he sent this
message to Governor Morton:
Hon. Levi p. Morton, Ellerslie: Sto-
ries circulated tonight say you have de-
cided to accept the vice presidential
nomination instead Of the presidency.
Do understand that you have rescinded
your former telegram to me?
(SigneO
''CHAUNCEY NJ. DEPEw."
Shortly after II o'clock this answer
came to Mr.. Depew;
"Chauncey NJ. Depew: Telegram re-
ceived. Stories circulated are unfound-
ed. 1 have rescinded nothing.
(Signed) LEVI r. NORTON"
Mr.. Depew showed this to the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent and said: ''I
have no alternative but to present Mr.
Morton's name to the convention for
president
When these kilograms were shown
to Mr.. Platt in his room tonight, he said:
Il don't see that the situation is
changed. Mr. Morton is our candidate
for president. If he is defeated then we
can consider his fitness for the other
office. l never expected that Mr. Nor
ton would withdraw from the presiden-
tial race
Fifteen prominent adherents of the
Miller faction met at Mr. Bliss rooms
tonight and signed the appeal against
the, candidacy of Morton for vice pres
ident. 1t was decided that in the morn
ing every endeavor would be made to
obtain the assistance of the delegations
from other states.
MORTON WON'T TALK.
RHINEBECK, N. Y, June 16.-Gov-
ernor Morton, when seen today by a cor
respondent of the Associated Press, re-
fused to confirm or deny the report that
he had received request from the New
York Republican leaders at st. Louis
to accept the nomination for vice-presi-
dent. The governor said his friends at
st. Louis had been apprised of his po-