The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-06-17
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him. Yet there was no telegraph wire over
which 1t could have reached the lobby soon
er than he brought it from that special
wire In the room up stairs. And the buzz
ing that went on In the lobby and the
huzzaing on the street, and the general up
roar all over the city which followed the
announcement,-thatw was something worth
remembering. 1t was the spirit of the cam
paign of 1884 revived, and the chant of
Blaine, Blaine, James G.. Blaine was
heard echoing all through Minneapolis
But this, as l have said was before the
convention. 1t was not a convention scene
In the strictest sense, and yet it was a
scene incident TO the convention and one
that might have had very important
bearing on its results If the campaigning
of Mr.. Harrison had not been done with
such consummate skill.
But the scene that will live in history as
memorable in the proceedings OF the Re-
publican national convention of 1892 was
the one that accompanied the casting of
the vote of the state of Ohio when the bal
lot was being taken. That scene had diff
ferent significance for different people. To
some il was 1.-THE pronunciation Of the pres
idency" by that favorite son of Ohio, Major
William Mckinley, Jr. To Others il was
betrayal by Major Mckinley of the faith
he had pledged not to be candidate be-
fore the convention. There is exaggeration
in both these views, for whatever Major
Mckinley had done there is not the least
likelihood he could have had the nomina-
ton, and whether he did all that could be
done 60 prevent the vote of Ohio being cast
for him it is certain he did great deal
But for the time there seemed To hinge on
him the result of the ballot.
Major Mckinley Took Part.
Major Mckinley had come TO Minneap-
oils an announced supporter of President
Harrison. He arrived at night and re-
manned in his private car till morning
Then he went 70 the hotel, where he estab-
lished himself in his headquarters and gave
emphatic denial 10 the reports that he was
TO be candidate. Mr.. Blaine's friends
saw already the futility of pressing their
candidate in the hope of beating Harrison,
and they were looking around for some
compromise man who would demand the
Blaine strength and at the same time draw
from Harrison some of the votes pledged
to him. They had hit on Major Mckinley
as the most likely candidate. The Harri-
son men, who organized the convention,
put Major Mckinley in the chair of the
permanent presiding officer probably with
"A view to clinching his allegiance
On the 18th of June the ballot for the
nomination for president was taken. A
test vote had been taken on the admission
of the delegates from Alabama where
there was u contest, and the Harrison men
cast 46l votes against 423 cast by their OPP
ponents. But when the balloting began
votes were cast by Alabama, the first state
on the roll, for William Mckinley, Jr.
Then followed Arkansas with l vote for
Mckinley, California with /, Connecticut
with &, Iowa with /, Kansas with 8, and
SO il went until New York was reached,
and her delegation cast only 10 votes for
Mckinley. There was sigh Of relief from
the Harrison men, but still the casting of
Ohio's vote was awaited with intense in
terest. When the clerk called the state of
Ohio, the convention sat silent in deep ex-
pectancy while William Hahn, the chair
man of the delegation, took the floor Mr.
Hahn said hesitatingly, I'm the clouded
state of mind in which 1 am at present /
can only state that Ohio gives A votes for
William Mckinley, Jr., and for Har-
rison. "
Then there was cheering all over the
hall and through the galleries Banners
waved, and men sprang on their chairs
and waved their hats above their heads.
But the chairman stood there, his mouth
tightly drawn, his white face n little
chalkier than usual Gentlemen of the
convention, T" he said, when the gavel had
brought something like order out of the
chaos of sound, Il challenge the correct
ness of that announcement.
In moment Foraker of Ohio was on
his feet No friend of Mckinley he, but
an earnest foe of the administration. Il
understood you had left the delegation for
q higher place and had substituted an al
ternate, T" he cried.
lam member Of the Ohio delegation, "
said Major Mckinley firmly.
You have retired from it, and your al
ternate has taken your place, " Foraker per-
sisted. I'VE do not know you in the dele
CATION"
At this there were laughter and some
cheering through the hall. But the gavel
brought order again, and the chairman
said, THE chair overrules the point of or
der and asks the secretary TO call the roll. "
And then, in the hushed silence of lis
tening thousands the names of the Ohio
delegates were called. Mckinley" was
the answer of each and every one of them,
with the exception of Major Mckinley
himself and man named Cooper. They
answered Harrison, and when McKin-
ley's vote was cast the convention hall
shook with the cheers of the Harrison men.
1.-Two votes for Harrison and Al for viii
liam Mckinley, Jr., ;" was the announce
ment of the secretary. Then Cooper
changed his vote for Mckinley, making the
number 40. And then the calling of the
roll of states proceeded.
And after this very interesting bit of by
play the roll call showed 525 Is votes for
Harrison, 1S2 90 for Blaine and 1872 for
Mckinley
Mckinley was never in the race; that
was plain. Harrison was nominated before
the roll call began.
But 1t looked for minute, when the vote
OF Ohio was announced, as though there
might be n stampede to the Ohio candidate.
Did McKinley's protest stop the stampede?
1t is not likely, but It is possible
GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm. =