The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-07
ISL" SHEERIN STILL in PLACE
j. c. sHANKLIN. HOWEVER, WILL
PROBABLY BE HIS SUCCESSOR.
Selection of Indiana's National Com
mitteeman Postponed Again-Siices
of Pie Secured by Hoosiers.
;pecial to The Indianapolis Journal.

CHICAGO, July cit is not often that
statesman has the opportunity of posing as
Caesar refusing the crown, but Senator
Turpie has had it and has played his part
as the loyal friend of Matthews right mob
ly. This opportunity came on Sunday
night in the peaceful silence of the Sena-
tors room at the Palmer House. On Friday
morning it was announced that there was
a strong inclination among the Southern
Democrats to nominate Turpie and that
had Indiana come here with her junior
Senator, instead of her Governor, as her
choice for President he would have much
greater chance of carrying off the prize.
When the tempter came to Turpie Sunday
midnight, this the situation: Bland
was claiming about 43O votes and his man
ayers could look only to the Confederate
States for any further strength Boes was
claiming the Northwest and must make his
gains. if any, from these same Confederate
States Thus 1.-The heart of the Confeder-
acy' was the key to the situation and its
leaders and delegates on the ground knew
it perfectly WELL The Matthews managers
had been counting on the bulk of these
votes for their favorite. But they had
instructions nor, in fact, anything but "as-
surances." The States of North and South
Carolina Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Virginia
and West Virginia, with their 100 votes,
hold the balance of power in the silver
forces, by which the nomination must be
made for the gold delegates will not aid
in ma king the nomination OF a silver can
didate
Senator Turpie was fully aware of all this
when there was a rap on his door and the
card of Governor McLaurin, of Mississippi.
was brought in to him. He must have had
some idea of what all this meant, for del
egate after delegate from the South had
been to him within the past two three
days to assure him that he could be nom-
mated by Southern votes if he would only
say the world. To all these he had vigor-
ously shaken his head and replied simply:
IT am not a candidate under any circum-
stances" He could not have been much
surprised then when Governor McLaurin
stated the object of his call. He reviewed
the situation as detailed above and ex-
pressed the belief that the South voting
solidly, could name the candidate, particu-
larly If he were man acceptable to the
senatorial crowd as Senator Turpie being
one OF the originators of the junto, was
| sure to be. He assured Senator Turpie
that this junto could control 81 votes from
California, Colorado Idaho. North ana
| South Dakota, Montana Utah. Washing
ton, Wyoming, New Mexico and Arizona.
These. with the. 100 controlled by the South
and the 80 from Indiana, would start him
| OF with 30i votes. and it was a sure thing
| that any man not from a Southern State
| who succeeded in getting 800 votes would
| be the nominee of the convention
Understanding the situation thus the
leaders of the South had had secret eau
Gus Sunday night, at the Sherman House.
and Governor McLaurin was fresh from
| this caucus. They had canvassed the Sit
uation thoroughly and had decided TO offer
to Senator Turpie the solid vote of the $50
delegates represented in the caucus They
had agreed on him, partly on account of
his availability. already pointed out and
partly because. while conservative, he had
| been the consistent friend of silver and
| of the South the floor OF the Senate and
on his public acts and utterances else
where notably in helping to bring about
| and in presiding over the Memphis conyen-
ton, and in organizing the National Demo-
cratic Bimetallic League. Furthermore
they felt that he would be as available at
the polls as in the convention. He came
| from doubtful State in the middle West .
| his record as a lifelong Democrat was un-
| assailable, while he had always treated the
| South fairly, the fling could not be made
| that he was a ''son OF the solid South, and
he had a general record of clean private life
and honest public service that would stand
the party in good stead during the cam
paign.
Senator Turpie listened to all this eulogy
of himself in silence, but with
| much vigorous shaking of the head
that was not altogether due to
the nervous affection that annoys
him. He was thinking as well as listening.
and by the time Governor McLaurin had
| finished, his answer was ready. My
health" said he. is such that could not
accept the nomination If II were rendered
| to me and knew 1 could be elected And
there are other cogent reasons. am here
for Governor Matthews. and much as /
appreciate the friendly spirit Of the States
you represent. l cannot consent to be put
! in the position of a Garfield am for Gov
ernor Matthews first and last and can
vouch for him being good friend of sill
yer az lam myself. The conservative ele-
ment OF this convention feels that It Il