The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-12

The simple truth about the Morton
movement is that il would never have
been started had AIR. Plat been salts
fed with Mr.. Reeds chances Mr..
Plat, who is intensely anxious 10
land on his feet was too sagacious 10
put all his eggs in the Reed basket
Besides, with Mr.. Reed as his aYoWed
candidate, he was sure to lose control
of at least of a third Of the New YORK
delegation. Therefore Governor Nor
ton was brought out, and under cover
Of this favorite somn movement, Mr.
Platt hopes to secure as delegates from
his state men who Will be amenable 10
his viii, if it becomes necessary 10
make a change of base. Governor
Morton will be pressed earnestly
enough, but in case the country fails
to rally round him of course Mr. Platt
will seize an early opportunity 10 look
elsewhere for his winner.
Six months ago Messrs. Plat and
Quay agreed to stand together IN go
Their primary object was to make sure
of the defeat Of General Harrison, who
was then regared as a dangerous COM
petitor for the nomination. Their sec
ondary purpose was TO name the can
didate and to have close relations with
him, both before and after the election.
Now Mr.. Plat is for Governor Morton
and Senator Quay, so far as any one
knows, is still for Mr.. Reed. But Mr..
Quay is no more committed 10 Mr.. Reed
than Mr.. Plat is to Mr.. Morton. That
is to say, their allegiance is not of the
sort which requires them TO go beyond
a single ballot II is, therefore, pos
sfble that they Will renew their COM
binations at any time. If Mr.. Reed
Ennnl6 Gle of
Mr.. Plat would go 10 him. If Cow
ernor Morton were Unexpectedly to at
tract a formidable following through
out the country Senator Quay might
reinforce Mr.. Plat in his support. But
the most likely thing, in the opinion OF
we'll informed men, is the abandonment
of both Messrs. Reed and Morton after
ballot or two and a combination upon
Senator Allison. Indeed, it is said
upon good authority that an under
standing to this effect already exists.
One thing the state leaders are al
ways slow to learn is that it is better
to go with the tide. In these anti
convention meneuverS Messrs. Platt
and Quay we have another example
of the fatufty with which smart and
strong men play on their game of COM
bination and arrangement, while the
PCOplC are dulCl4g, DuL u ely NuNAAAAo
the ground out from under their feet.
Unless the signs of the times are mis-
read, both Messrs. Plat and Quay are
trying 10 figure out now how they can
nominate some one a majority of the
party does not want, while that major
ity, pressing simply forward, without
intrigue, is preparing to have its own
way.
1t IS as yet too early for one to size
up the country on the Republican nomi-
nation. Any figures made at this time
must necessarily largely be estimated.
But have seen in this city a table of
the probable standing of the states
ON the first ballot of the st. Louis con-
ntion. 1t was made up by a prom
inent man, who is not friendly TO Maj
or Mckinley, and whose preference is
for Speaker Reed. Considered al its
true value, it cannot be said TO deal
in the science of mathematics. But
it was, nevertheless, compiled from
much more knowledge of general con-
ditions and Information as to special
things than most Of us are possessed
of. In this estimate the first ballot
was divided as follows: