The record-union., 1896-02-05
HARRIsoN's DBoLINAqIoN.
Speculation as to Which Candidate 1t
VIII Help.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Leading
Republicans of the House who were
spoken to to-day do not as rule feel
that General Harrison's withdrawal
from the Presidential race will mate
rally affect the prospects of the other
candidates. The Ohio Representatives
of course, believe that Mckinley will Sc
cure the support of the Indiana delega-
ton. This opinion is shared by Repre-
sentatives from other States. Other
gentlemen believe that the Indiana del
egation will divide it's strength among
the various candidates. The Indiana
Republicans-if the members of Con-
gress from that State fairly reflect the
sentiments of their constituents-while
believing General Harrison to be sin.
cere, indulge the hope that an exigency
may arise which may require the con-
vention to nominate him.
Many Senators declined to-day to dis
cuss the effect of the withdrawal Of ex-
President Harrison from the list of
Presidential candidates, but the cham
pions of other candidates on the floor of
the Senate were evidently pleased at
the action of Mr.. Harrison. Among
those who did talk were the following:
Cullom Rep) of Illinois-The letter
was expected, for I have believed for
some time that Mr.. Harrison would not
be a candidate. He means what he
says.
Burrows Rep) of Michigan-Mr.
Harrison's declination is based, doubt
less, on his own individual wishes.
Those close to him are not surprised.
Quay (Rep.) of Pennsylvania-Mr.
Harrison's action, as I look at the stu
alton, helps Mckinley, for the reason
that many Of the men who have been
claiming to be Harrison men were at
heart Mckinley men, and they have not
been sincere in their advocacy of Mr..
Harrison.
Hale (Rep) of Maine-I believe Mr..
Harrison is sincere in what he has said
and done.
Davis (Rep.) of Minnesota-Mr. Har-
rison means just what he says for no
man can charge him with insincerity.
Gear (Rep.) of Iowa-Mr. Harrison
has never been a candidate, and his
friends have known this. The vote that
would naturally go TO him will be di-
vided among others, and Mr. Allison.
Mr.. Reed and Mr.. Mckinley will each
get Inelf snare.
Jones Pop.) of Nevada have never
believed that Mr. Harrison was can
didate. He did not have a very great
following.
WHY HE WITHDREW.
INDIANAPOLIS 0nd.), Feb. 1.-The
retirement of ex-President Harrison
from the contest for the Republican
nomination has been the fruitful source
Of comment among Republicans to-day,
and nothing else has been discussed.
While some of his friends do not yet be-
lieve he would decline a nomination if
it came to him with unanimity, they
concede that such an event is not prob
able under present conditions.
In the discussions to-day it developed
that the letter of the ex-President was
hastened by, if it was not the direct re,
suit of, the bitterness that was engen-
dered by the Gowdy- -Nebecker fight,
into which he was drawn by the persist
enl efforts of the Nebecker men to
make capital out of his alleged opposi-
tion to Gowdy. When he returned from
New York and found what conditions
had obtained he is said to have ex-
pressed much disappointment. The
resolution of the committee declaring
that he had taken no hand in the fight,
and that Indiana was for him as a unit
was intended to overcome the effect Of
the bitterness, but it had an opposite
effect, the ex-President constituting it to
mean that the party was demoralized,
and he was to be used to unity it.