New-York tribune., 1896-01-02
MR.. MORTON IN DEAD EARNEST
HIS PLAIN STATEMENTS TO REPUBLICAN
LEADERS.
MR. DEPEws PART IN PROMOTING THE GOV
ERNoR.s CANDIDACY-AN ACCOUNT OF THE
THREE EvENTFUL DINNERs-CALL-
fnY rELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNEl


rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBrSE.l
Albany Jan 1.-Governor Morton has put
himself into the hands of his friends" in regard
to the Presidency He thus accepts the support
promised to him by the Republican State Con-
vention In September. when the following res
olution was adopted.
"a public career Of unquestioned distinction.
his clear and nawIess record and his acknowl-
edged ability, warrant the highes. honor in
the Nation. and therefore present Levi =.
Morton as the candidate Of the Republicans Of
the Empire State for the Presidency Of the
United States. and pledge him the loyal
and unstnted support Of New-York in the COM
Ing Republican National Convention"
While this resolution was PASSED by the unani-
nous vote Of the convention. It presented in
a rather perfunctory fashion mt the close Of
wearisome debate on another portion Of the plat
form. and without debate it was approved No
speech whatever was made on 1t that could be
quoted by Mr. Morton's friends evidence %
an ardent feeling on the part II NewYork Re
publicans toward him as "A possible candidate
for PresidenI. Heartxs s2s-was the phrase9logy Of
the resolution Mr. Morton did not feel safe I'm
concluding that he would have the enthusiastic
/ support of the Republicans Of New-York State II
he should become a candidate.
As time passed on. and no effort made
by those having charge of the organization Of
the Republican party IN the state. t. gain sup
porters for Mr.. Morton IN other states. the Gov
ernor may naturally have surmised that the
resolution passed by those who were masters
II the Ncw-York Republican Convention. was
not altogether sincere and was intended merely
t. gain some - tate political patronage for them
selves
MR.. DEPEW TAKES HAND
II seems to have been left To the always
amable Chaunccy VI. Depew to bring Mr..
Morton to the front in his own State a
didate FOR the Presidency Mr.. Depew htched
his private car NO 100. to locomotive on the
Ncw-York Central Railroad one Sunday morn
ing over a month ago and two hours later he
was seated before i cosy wood fire at Eerslie
with Governor Morton. discussing various
affairs Of state Whatever Mr. Depew may
have said about the Presidency to Mr.. Morton,
three dinners followed in New-York city at
all Of which Mr. Morton was present and at all
Of which he discussed his relations 10 the
Presidency With his friends.
The men who attended these dinners In New
York AT which Mr.. Mort ms Presidential pros
poets were debated. were Chaurcey NJ Depew,
Frank Hscocll Warner Miller and Thomas G
Platt who In lsSS and 1892 were New-York's dele
gates-at-large 70 the Republican National Con-
vention. James A Roberts the state Controller;
BENJAMIN r. Tracy. 'x-Secretarv Of the Navy
Edward Lauterbach and Mr. Mortoh himself
Not all of them We're present at both the hrSt two
dinners but ali attended ;hc last dinner Mr.
Dcpew and Mr.. Miller fo. instance. were unable
~ attend dinne- NO >. but both of them sent let
tcrs expressing their regret at not being able to
he present and declaring that they favored Mr.
Morton's nomination for President.
ha
he wished to gain the views IF those present as
to his candidacy and whether not they be
ueved he would receive the earnest support of
the Republicans Of Ncw-York II he should be-
come a candidate for President. These ques-
tons were answered In the affirmative by the
other guests, although Mr. Platt limited that he
could name certain persons who. while pro-
Tossing friendship for Mr.. Morton. actually would
not give him genuine support If he should be
come a candidate. Mr. Platts declaration was
listened to with great deal of interest.
NOT AFTER A MERE COMPLIMENT
Mr. Morton, at the second dinner. said he did
not intend to become candidate for the pur-
pose of receiving complimentary vote. His
candidacy would be a serious one 1t gould
not be a cloak to some other mans aspirations
II the New-York delegates should do him the
honor of supporting him. it must be a strenu-
Gus support on their part. In making this argu-
ment Mr.. Morton gave evidence of having been
impressed by what ex-Congressman Henry G..
Burleigh said to him here In Albany two weeks
ago. Mr. Burleigh said:
"Mr. Morton. man who has been Vice-Presi
dent OF the United States and Governor Of the
great State of New York cannot afford to be n
candidate seeking merely complimentary vote
in the National Republican Convention. per-
nit the Of his name to collect votes for any
other man. That would be a humiliation which,
l am sure, you have no intention OF facing. III
you are a candidate for President as / hope you
will be. am sure you VIII be candidate in
dead earnest. What have said was only to ad-
wise you to impress II on your supporters. in
case of your becoming a candidate for Presi-
dent, that you are sincerely n candidate"
Soon after the second dinner which was given
at the house Of Benjamin +. Tracy, in NewYork,
on December 90 Warner Miller came 10 Albany
and once more expressed to Governor Morton his
hone that the Governor would become a candi-
date II Mr.. Morton should be candidate. Mr..
Miller pledged him his earnest support at the
National Republican Convention
MIR MORTON'S ANNOUNCEMENT.
The third dinner was held In NewYork on Mon
IA A. ayaninO los Ia said IN hav heen at Mr.