The San Francisco call., 1896-01-03
Elkins of West Virginia Tells
How the Blaine Forces Were
MarShaled.
GOVERNOR FoRAKERs STAND
HarriSon's Nomination Was Not the
Result of Bargain of Any
Kind.

NEW YORK, n. Y, Jan. 2.-The dis
cussion evoked by the publication of Sena-
tor Sherman's recollections is bringing 10
light great deal of political history, some
OF which is of extraordinary interest ana
importance.
A complete history of the convention
which nominated Harrison has not
been written. A great many salient facts
about it have been related within the past
few days. Senator Elkins Of West Vlr-
gjnia IN an interview in Washington re-
Gently, said that he was Mr.. BlaIne's per-
sonal representative in the convention OF
1883, and was in frequear communication
with him by cable. He, and he alone,
possessed the cipher code OF which they
made use.
=. The Blaine forces in the convention of
. lSS8,," said Mr.. Elkins, .'were compact and
evidently organized. The nomination OF
General Harrison was not the result of
bargain of any kind, as Senator Sherman
has perhaps been led to believe. 1t grew
:. naturally ont OF the situation and was in
evitable. Many OF the Blaine men wanted
10 90 to. Governor Foraker. In the excite
ment incident to the continued refusal of
Mr.. Blaine to allow his name to be placed
. before the convention from the time of its
adjournment Saturday until Monday,
there was considerable discussion as to the
@candidates and who would be named A
=: great many Blaine men and others dis
c2ssed the name of Foraker, on the ground
tadt he could perhaps have the entire vote
OF Ohio in case it broke away from Sher-
man. This went so far that some of Mr..
B.aine's friends who were very friendly to
Foraker and admirers. of, his urged him to
become a candidate. Governor Foraker
not only said once, but often, that under
ne circumstances would he permit his
name to. be used in connection with the
Presidency so long as the name of Senator
Sherman was before the convention
To-day a representative of the United
Press had a talk with the Hon. Samuel
Fessenden about the convention of 1888.
Mr.. Fessenden is the Connecticut memb Der
Of the. Republican National Committee,
. and has been for a number of years. He
has been one OF the leading spirits in the
last three: Republican National copven-
tTons. He said:
- Il remember perfectly the incident to
which Senator EIkins refers. Mr.. Blaine
had finally declined. His determination
could not be shaken. We were at sea, and
casting about for some one else. We had
discussed mum Der of the leaders of the
PARTY, and several of US, who were very
active Blaine men, came to the conclusion
that we could unite most effectively upon
"a: newer and a younger man than any of
those who had been formally named as a
candidate. Foraker of Ohio had, by his
presence, his oratory, his earnestness
and his magnetism; made a powerful
impression upon the convention. 1t seemed
10 me and many OF my friends that he
was the man to go to. I discussed the
matter with Mr.. Elkins and others. About
2. o'clock on Monday morning we were
taken to the room of Governor Foraker by
hurtz, delegate from Ohio, whom we
asked to conduct u.s. We found that For
aker had gone to bed. After some delay
we were admitted rather reluctantly to his
bedside. We sat down on the bed beside
him and told him that we had come at an
important moment and upon important
business, and we: desired his earnest atten-
tion while We stated the case.
I'VE then went over the ground fully
and showed him that the Blaine following
controlled the convention, and assured
A4AAA4 tAAttA ~ AAO MbuIu COI5tuG 10 DeCOHC u
candidate we could secure more than 500
votes. We told him that Blaine was out
OF the race and that the majority of his
friends seemed more disposed to support
him than any one else. We made it very
clear to- him that if he would consent to
bacome candidate he could be nominated
without fail and without difficulty on the
first or second ballot Monday.
''We assured Governor Foraker that we
desired no pledges or promises from him
respecting policies or patronage. and that
we. only wanted him to agree not to get
up and decline the nomination after the
convention had. made him its candidate
Mr.. Foraker, without hesitation. said
firmly and emphaticalIy: i thank Won
gentlemen, with all my heart; but I could
not accept the nominatfon if it came to
me unless Mr.. Sherman first Withdrew and
asked me to. become a candidate. 1 feel
sure he will not do that. / came here to
try to nominate him, and cannot consider
the proposition to become candidate. |
will stand by him.
Il then tried" continued Mr.. Fessen-
den, "to convince him that the situation
was beyond his control. | called attention
TO the fact that Garfield had accented the
nomination after it was plain that Mr.
Sherman could mot be nominated. Gov
ernor Foraker answered, quick as fash.
i can prevent my nomination, and 1 will.
1t is not too late, and do not wish to be
pat into the position which Garfield was
put in
This closed the interview with Foraker.
and the lines were at once closed up for
Harrison, and he was nominated easily
and promptly, just as Foraker would have
been had he chosen to become a candidate
himself.".
his IS ahitherto'unrelated incident of
the inside history of the Republican Ma
tional Convention of 1888, and it ought to
set at rest forever the charge made
that Governor. Foraker was. disloyal to
Senator Sherman upon that occasion.