The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-21
BOSS QUAY'S PLAN.
GENERAL PALMER AND BUCkNER
WILL PROBABLY WITHDRAW.

Men Getting Desperate.
New York, Oct. 13.--1t is current
ly reported here, and on high authori-
ty, that the Palmer and Buckner move
ment is on its last legs. Chairman
Bynum, who has been in the city with
in a few days confided to friend re.
Gently that in his opinion no power
on earth could now defeat Bryan
sudden change in the situation,
which would be little short of mira
Gle, the Indiana man said, the Demo
Gratis would carry Illinois and Indiana,
and very probably Wisconsin. and
Michigan and Ohio he considered
doubtful. OF course, Mr.. Bynum said,
the election would turn on the vote in
these States. and if Bryan carried
Illinois and Indiana his election would
be assured.
A hitch has occurred in the negotia-
tions between the Indianapolis people
and the Mckinley managers, and
there is reason to believe that Mr.. BY
mum and his associates on the Nation
al Committee are engaged in a strug-
gle for supremacy. One faction is
sincere; the other faction is after Re-
publican spoils. Senator Quay is the
medium of communication with the
Hanna treasury, and he is said to have
corraled the majority, or Spoils, fac
ton of the Palmer and Buckner move
ment.
The withdrawal of the "Blue and
Gray" ticket is confidently looked for
at such time as Quay may deem this
retrograde movement necessary.
1t is gradually leaking out now that
the Indianapolis Convention was i'll.
conceived by men who hoped to profit
by the third ticket. Ostensibly, Pal
mer and Buckner were nominated IN
order that supersensitive Democrats
might be able to vote without losing
any sleep, but the real reasons for the
bolt has since come to light, and is the
basis of the deal that is now in con-
temptation. The indianapolis boilers
seek the defeat of Mr.. Bryan by hook
or crook, as a matter of self.preserva,
ton in politics, and for the spoils of
the office that would accrue to
them in the event of McKinley's
election. Several important confer
ences between the Republican man
ayers and the representatives OF Pal.
mer and Buckner have been held OF
late. At these conferences no attempt
was made to disguise the situation. 1t
was pointed out and practically &C
knowledged by all hands that Mr..
Bryan was making such rapid head
way East and West that the Palmer
and Buckner ticket was not likely to
cut any figure whatsoever.
Senator Quay is credited with max
ing the suggestion that during the last
week of the campaign General Palmer
and General Buckner should withdraw
from the canvass and in open letter
advise their friends to vote directly
for Mckinley. This is now said to be
the. programme.
Quay is shrewd politician and evi.
dently is driving a close bargain with
the orphans. Those in the secret say
that he told the Palmer and Buckner
leaders that they were in a sorry
plight, and that they would be politi.
cally exterminated if Bryan should
carry the election.
They would, he added, have to look
to the Republican party for salvation,
and accept such terms as the party
managers could offer. These terms
might not be pleasant nor satisfactory
but it would be impossible to be more
liberal, etc., etc. 1t is understood that
Quay agreed, on behalf of the nation
al Committee, to pay all the expenses
incurred by the nomination of Palmer
and Buckner and now to remember
the patriots in the event of McKinley's
election.
1t is proposed, so it is said, to make
the withdrawal OF Palmer and Buck
ner as dramatic as possible, in the
hope that it may demoralize the Bryan
forces. The attempt will be made to
create the impression that Palmer and
lBuckner withdraw for the reason that
McKinley's election is assured and thai
there no longer exists any necessity
for their remaining in the field. AS
matter of fact, the reverse would be
the truth. The withdrawal of Palmer
and Buckner at any stage of the game
will be interpreted by fair minded
people as an evidence of weakness on
the part of the McKinleyites, and as g
last desperate attempt to consolidate
the anti-Bryan forces.
| 1t will then be seen how the Demo
Gratis who have been drawn into the
Palmer and Buckner movement from
honest motives will accept the situa
ton, and whether or not, having been
led into the Indianapolis camp under
false pretenses, they will stick.