New-York tribune., 1896-05-04
HOW 1T STANDS.

Hardly ever has 1t happened that. in a race
between several popular and worthy candidates,
one has secured a clear majority in every sec
ton of the country. Ordinarily such contests
develop a measure of sectional preference.
But to-day Major McKinlcy's enviable position
is that he has a majority of all delegates elected
from each section OF the Northern States
above the Potomac and the Ohio, even to the
western border Of Kansas and Nebraska. In
Guiding Missouri. he has in his favor 242 dele
gates already elected. against 231 for all oppo-
nents. and IL doubtful. From the States south
of the Potomac and Ohio line, Mckinley has al
ready 15S delegates. against 20 for all other
candidates and 10 doubtful. From the States
west of the Texas, Nebraska and Kansas bor-
der including all Territories. Mckinley already
has % of the delegates elected, against 10 for
all other candidates and doubtful. In these
statements five delegates are included who are
known to be for Mckinley. but were not so
classed in the statement from Washington yes
terday There are to be elected from the North
from New-York. from Delaware. from
Ohio. from Indiana. 2 from Illinois, lO from
Michigan, from Kansas. and 16 from Missouri,
and il is no secret that most Of these delegates
are likely to be for the Ohio candidate. His ma
jority over all, in the States which Will have
10 elect the next President. therefore seems
likely to be decisive. But his friends also ex-
pcct him to secure most Of the twenty-slx dele
gates to be chosen from California and Wash
ington, giving him a majority In the West also,
although all the silver States yet to elect, with
their thirty eight delegates, may go against him.
Many of the delegates for him from the South
are contested, but of the unc0ntested delegates
he also has majority over all other candidates
In that section
The statement Of contested delegates given
yesterday includes II classed as for Mckinley.
and 63 classed against him. The omission
of all from the rolls would reduce by Gl the
number required for a majority Any attempt
to exclude the contested delegates on one side
and to admit those on the other would throw
more than seventy uncontcsted votes straight
to the side unfairly treated. beginning with
many from the Eastern States II delegates
yet to be chosen from Ohio, Michigan. Missouri,
Kansas, California and Washington turn out as
men Of both sides now expect, they Will give
Mckinley not merely clear majority OF the
Convention and Of the uncontested delegates
| also but majority Of the State delegations,
| and hence Of the committees.
1t is in this state of facts that the allied
| Bosses are turning their minds to ex-Presdent
| Harrison as the only candidate upon whom
| they imagine they can unite strength enough 70
| succeed 1t would be almost the funniest thing
! in political history II Messrs. Platt, Quay &
| Co. should be forced to do the fighting for the
nomination Of ex-President Harrison, after hav
| ing started in the campaign with more cordial
| detestation Of him than OF any other possible
| candidate. That circumstance also renders IT
! more uncertain whether President Harrison
| would consent to be thus used by men known to
| be in no respect friendly TO him. Some OF these
| same political bosses were so far hnmiliated
in 1892 that they shouted in vain for the nomi-
| nation OF Blaine whom they hated, in order
| to defeat Harrison. whom they hated more; and
| perhaps history will repeat itself.
| The outcome Of any such effort would depend
, upon the temper Of many delegates as to their
second choice. NewHampshire. for instance,
| Is for Reed or Mckinley. and Pennsylvania for
| Quay or Mckinley, and Kentucky for Bradley
or Mckinley and it is by many suspected that
Iowa would rush to Mckinley II Allison's nomi-
| nation should become impossible, while a con
| siderable share of the delegates from New York
would go to him al anv moment If 1t were neces-
sary to defeat any scheme Of Mr.. Platt Ex-
President Harrison Is not a chicken In politics,
| but has been remarkable for his skill and sue
cess in judging public opinion. 1t Is safe to say
| that he will not consent to be used by his foes
| merely as last resort, II there Is not reason
| able prospect of success. No obligation of
honor would prevent him from becoming can
| dhlate in any emergency for the sake and at the
desire of his party. But 1t Is extremely prob
able that he may not consider that the neces
sity or the wish Of Mr.. Plat is the necessity OF
the desire Of the Republican party.