The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-25
MATTHEws's DECISION.
Has Probably Made Mistake I'm Re-
fusing Second Place.
Philadelphia Press.

From an Indianapolis dispatch in one Of
our always esteemed Democratic contem-
poraries in this city we learn the interest
ing fact that Chairman Harrity has been
making visit TO the Indiana capital This
fact alone would be of the utmost national
interest. and the mere publication OF II
could not fail TO stir the enthusiasm OF
Democrats everywhere.
But Mr.. Harrity did more than visit In
dianapols. He had several. hours confer
ence with Governor Matthews. This. of
course, was highly interesting, but more
was to follow. The reliable correspondent
who telegraphed all this to our Democratic
contemporary learned that Mr.. Harrity
asked Governor Matthews to accept the sec
ond place on the Democratic national tick
ct, the idea being TO make the ticket Patti-
son and Matthews We are further Informed
in the same authentic dispatch-and IL has
all the marks of the usual typewriter mat
ter-that Governor Matthew's was assured
by the esteemed chairman of the national
committee that If he would accept second
place x would be accorded him without
contest in the convention.
No man ever went from home on n more
important mission than this IL is not easy
10 recall any period in the politics OF these
United States when one man, sngle-handed,
without even the assistance OF e net TO
break an accidental fall. could go about the
country disposing. of a party nomination
for the vice presidency and giving assur-
ance that the arrangement could be carried
out without a contest in the convention. No
such individual power has ever been exer-
cised in this country before. and no one less
influential in national affairs than is Mr..
Harrity could have safely undertaken 1t.
IL Is one OF those master strokes which de-
termine the course of nations and fix the
peace of parties
But il is sad TO learn from the same tel
cgraphic dispatch that conveys all this
riomentcus intelligence taat after Mr.. Har-
rity had offered Governor Matthews the
second place on the Democratic ticket with
out a contest. tia; Governor Matthews was
not ready TO accept such comfortable
thing. Tae same faithful reporter OF the
national chairman's generous offer. says
that Governor Matthews has declared that
he is not a candidate for the second place.
ard that his mind is rrevocably made up
on that subject. He leaves IL TO be clearly
understood that If the ticket is to be Patti
son and Matthews. ne most decidedly pre-
fers that it shall read Matthews and Pat
It's IN.
This Is natural enough. But the Indiana
Democrats are not nearly as troubles )me as
they sometimes seem TO think they are.
Nobciy can remember when they have rot
had a candidate for the presidential romi-
nation, but they have generally been salts
fled with second place, aad have sometimes
been dropped with nothing on earth bu, a
few hollow promises. Three times In sue
ceSsion they secured the nomination for
Vice President. although having a candidate
In each instance who started In for nothing
but the first place. Then the party got tired
wasting even the second place on Indiana
and no one will forget the grotesqne display
watch Indiana made on the night before
the nominations In the last Democratic ma