The Portland daily press., 1896-03-20
THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST.
Fight Will Ultimately Be Between
Reed and Mckinley.

McKinley's Funny Methods of Getting
Delegates in the West-A Possible
Letter From Mr.. Reed.
A Washington special to the Boston Ad-
vertiser says:
The all-absorbing theme in Washington
Is the presidency.
The debates in eth House and. Senate
provoke only transient interest. More
members are in the cloak rooms tall
ing politics than can be found on the
| floor of either branch.
| The sentiment here is almost wholly
| for Reed or Allison, except among the
| mem ers of Congress from the States
where Mckinley is strong. The Morton
movement is hardly considered and from
| now on will be treated simply as so many
delegates who can at the proper time be
counted upon for Mr.. ReeS.
A good many Of the latter's friends
have been rather doubtful of the sinoeri-
ty OF Platt in regard to the New York
delegation. That feeling Is removed.
Mr.. Platt has this week given them such
definite and positive assurances that in
cass Gov. Morton cannot te nominated,
all the New York delegation, with pos
s1bly i've exceptions, will go TO the
Maine candidate, that his sincerity can
no longer be doubted.
The SUCCESS of the Platt men in sweep
ing the New York CITY districts shows
how firm a hold he has on the party
organization. Mr.. Manley, who has been
over to New York this week, in confec-
enoe with him, has not the slightest
doubt that he will turn all but perhaps
five of ew York's rs men to Reed when
that number of votes will nominate the
| latter.
In fact it is beginning to be clearly
understood that Heed is the only man
upon whom the anti Mckinley forces
eau join. Allison is not developing the
strength in the northwest that was ex-
and Quay are receiving no consideration
outside of their own communities.
| Senator Cullom is proba bly, the angriest
| mean in Washington. His wrath is es-
pecially directed to the Mckinley people,
who have carried his own congressional
district, and will probably have MAORI
ty of the Illinois delegates in spite of the
Senator's candidacy. 4 numbers of Sena-
tor Cullom's letters are beginning to be
privately shown everyone, and each, if
it gets into print. will make decided
sensation. This bitterness against Nc
Kinley is believed by his opponents to
be fatal to his nomination, at which his
advocates merely laugh and say that
Washington sentiment is no criterion
after all. The Mckinley people are really
making peculiar campaign in the west.
l have in mind as write, q sample of
how things are being done in the 18th
Minnesota district. where Mckinley
convention was held at Crookston,
March 1.-THE invitation looks like a
regular dance card. 1t explains that:
Convention opens at q p. m.
Evening session at 7.30 p. m.
Prominent speakers Will be present
A GRAND hall will fO11otU tha QvaninO
session Of the convention.
Attached thereto was card OF admis-
sion to the ball. complimentary" with
a picture of Mckinley engraved upon it,
and the announcement that
Dancing begins at 9 p. m.
A copy of the local paper issued at the
same time and addressed to the voters
announced that reduced railroad fares
had been secured and that the conven-
ton would be made the nucleus Of the
| organization for carrying the county
for Mckinley.
| AS result of this work, which is GER
tainly unique and shrewd, the belief is
now that Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Michigan will send practically solid dele
started that way and in Nebraska it
is 'said that while complimentary vote
may be given to Henderson, the dele
gates will be really for Mckinley.
1t certainly looks as If the great COM
mercial states, which are anxious for a
speedy settlement Of the currency ques-
tfon upon the gold standard basis, and
DESTROYS of seeing tariff bill passed by
the next Congress which will not be dis
tuTbed for years to come, must be active
| ly at work in the few weeks now remain
ing before all the delegates are chosen.
Certainly throughout the West and South
a most remarkable canvass is going on.
1t is the talk here that within a few
days letter will be published from Mr..
| Reed upon the financial issue. Arrange
| ments are already made by which lead
ing Republican will ask him for his
| views as to the proper platform for the
party to stand on, his answers will of
course be regarded as campaign deola-
ration On his part. 1t will be the more
| noticeable and effective from the fact
that the Ohio platform is everywhere
| interpreted as Gov. McKinley's and Mr..
Reed is expected to take issue with Its
| comparative vagueness.