The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-26
MKlNLEY AT MINNEAPOLIS.


Incidents That Impeach the Accuracy
of the Washington Posts story.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
In yesterday mornings Journal was re-
printed an article from the Washington
Post in which it is stated:
Friends of Harrison do not regard with
complacency the efforts of the Mckinley
managers to take advantage of the ex-
PRESIDENTS withdrawal from the list of can
didates before the ST. Louis convention by
making inroadS upon the Indiana delegates.
III the men who managed Mr. Harrison's
successful campaign for denomination in
1872 have anything to say about the DISPOSE
ton of the Indiana vote this year, il may
safely be predicted that Mckinley will not
get much support from the Hooser State.
The action of the Ohio candidate at the
Minneapolis convention, to which he went
ostensibly as a supporter of Harrison, was
not OF kind to inspire feelings Of graft,
tude on the part of those who loyalty stood
by the Indiana candidate until the end"
The writer then goes on to piece together
the events Of the Minneapolis convention
in such way as to sustain this view, giving
some alleged facts by an unnamed inform
ant, not hitherto printer. He charges that
Mckinley colnived at the movement to
nominate himself ~.
The Mckinley boom at Minneapolis was
very simple affair. 1T was demonstrated
four or five days before the convention met
in actual session that Blaine could not win,
and the Quay-Platt-Clarkson cliqueo WHO
were on the ground for anybody or anything
to beat Harrison, were hunting hard for a
third man. They had no love for Mckinley
but needed his name. In the Ohio, delega-
ton were three four influential politi-,
clans who were there to put Mckinley on
the cross if opportunity should arise and
who had no love for Harrison. Add to this
McKinley's popularity in the party at large
and the number of overzealous Mckinley
people in Ohio who thought he should be
nominated even against his will, and you
nave the elements that composed the Nc
Knley boom. Major Mckinley was not one
or those elements. His action as chairman
OF the convention in challenging the vote
or the Ohio delegation when it was cast for
MIN, in casting mis- own vote for Harrison
and In moving to suspend the rules and
nominate Harrison by reclamation are mat
tiers of history. They have been misinter-
preted at times, of course, but few side
lights are sufficient to put aim in the proper
ngnt. Inere were no warmer Harrison men
than the staff the indianapolis Journal had
on the, ground: In a special to the Journal
printed June z. l find this:
The chief event of the morning was the
arrival Of the Ohio delegation, headed by
Governor Mckinley, about whom there has
been not a little talk in the Hobbies as a
possible dark horse. Governor Mckinley sat
BILE that, should any votes be cast for him,
he would repeat his action of four years
ago, by requesting his friends not to vote
for him.. There is feeling among the adj
mrers of Mckinley that he Is as sure of the
nomination four years hence as he is Of
eating dinner tomorrow, and this has much
influence in REFRESHING their tendency to
push him forward. On the subject of the
Blaine resignation he was emphatic.
" 1t has placed Mr.. Blaine in the field
as candidate, said he but think it has
rlcrfh mad Afv Iyorv .txIy Il, fa
resignation at this time was a mistake. /
think it has hurt him with the delegates
and with the people We could feel 1t as
We come through the country. 1t is difficult
to judge the effect here in an excited crowd.
but L think the quiet judgment Of the people
who have time to think, is that Mr.. Blaine
has made a mistake
Interviews of similar tenor were printed
in the Minneapolis newspapers. Now is it
likely that if Major Mckinley had been a
receptive candidate" he would have Of
Tended the large Blaine element in the con-
vention by talking thus freely? Had he
been a candidate he would have had to
depend upon the Blaine following for the
nucleus Of his strength and he would hard
ly have been so plain-spoken about their
idol. In the Journal Of June 10. L lind this
special from a staff correspondent:
1.-The fact that Governor Mckinley did
not attend the meeting at Market Hall has
been commented upon about the hotels, and
to place the construction upon his absence
that he wants to hold aloof from the Presi-
dents friends. There Is absolutely nothing
in this, and the great Ohioan is as loyal
friend OF President Harrison he was of
John sherman four years ago. He is the
presiding officer of the convention supposed
to be allied with no side, but impartial and
unprejudiced toward all. The Governor was
right in remaining away. for had he at
tended the meeting he might have been more
or less Justly criticised for having engaged
in an effort to nominate an individual while
acting as the presiding officer OF the con-
vention. Had certain gentlemen IN semi-om-
proprieties a few days ago. the convention
would have completed the work ere this
Then on June IL occurs the following In
an Associated Press dispatch:
.As Governor Mckinney left the conven-
ton hall he was greeted on all sides with
great applause. He took street car for the
V West TSey T rreefed Sm Mith Well
you'll be nominated by acc.amation IN 1890
anyway When he alighted from the car
the West House. The jam of people then
surrounded him and called for a speech:
AS he mounted the stairway he remarked
to friend that he had nad notning 70 eat
since early morning, but responded TO the
crowd: Gentlemen. what voice L have left
is for Harrison, and wherever he is my
heart follows. -
friends have besieged him in an effort to
get him to consent to be a candidate. but he
said his name cOulu not De uSeu. he per-
sjstently declined to enter the race. To
inuuiring delegates he made the same an
sver-that he was for Harrison. For two
days past his modest room on the fourth
floor of the West House has been besieged
by delegates. One of them said his State
would go solid for Mckinley If he would
he a candidate He said he could not
Now for one more incident that Is more
significant than any of these: do not be-
Iieve that Major Mckinley had any knowl-
edge whatever of the plan that had been
worked I'D TO have the Ohio delegation vote
for hint was in his room the evening OF
June g. when three members of the Ohio
delegation called. in the course of the con-
yersation one of them remarked: 1T is
POSSIBLE that Ohio may again have the Re-
publican standard-bearer before we go
home" Governor Mckinley looked up
quickly and replied with earnest emphasis:
..Gentlemen. that is entirely impossible for
two reasons. In the first place. am here
and most of the Ohio delegation is here
for Harrison. We honestly for him,
because he ought TO be nominated. In the
second place even IL no such consideration
existed this is not the year TO elect Will
lam Mckinley. You could not elect me il
I were nominated.
Now if the stories about Mckinley's al
legged disloyalty were to be believed in In
diana the very result would be accom-
nlished that was aimed at by the enemies
L. III.