The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-08
STORY OF M'CULLAGH.
How He Prevented the Renomina-
tlon OF Schuyler Colfax.
Had Not Treated Newspaper Men In
Wsshington Properly.


lagh of tho St louis Globe Democrat has
revived many stories of incidents In his
career In tho circle at Washington where
he was best known. Among them 10 bis
own account Of how ho prevented tho re-
nomination OF Schuyler Colfax for vice
president In 1879.
As he described the event, Colfax had
treated the newspaper representatives who
had legitimate business with him nt the
capital very shabbily and thus prepared
the way for a hostile demonstration on
their part. Nir. MoCullagh took up the
cause of his fellow writers, and at the
Philadelphia convention was chosen 70
lend their movement against Colfax. The
first step was TO select a rival candidate on
whom TO concentrate their favorable work.
At council Of war held shortly before the
convention opened Henry Wilson was cho-
son. McCullagh then went TO John W.
Forney, the editor of the Philadelphia
Press, and said, "We want you to help us
beat Colfnx."
But" protested Mr.. Forney, Il have
promised Mr. Colfax l would bring The
Press out in his favor. am not particu-
larly Colfax man, but must keep my
word.
"Well," said McCullagh, "will you let
mo run the political matter in your news
columnsy You boom Colfax etlitorially,
and ! viii quietly attend to our man
through the rest Of tho paper"
Forney consented TO this, and McCul-
lagh applied himself to work on the local
and telegraph pages Of The Press. Every
morning tho paper appeared with an edi.
torial leader in favor Of Colfax, while else
whero wero published special kilograms
from all over the country describing en-.
thusiastio feeling In favor of Henry Wilson
for the vice presidency. Tho local columns
made the most of every Wilson preference
expressed by arriving Delegates at tho ho-
tells and elsewhere, and there were reports
of railway trains having been polled and
indioatingan overwhelming desire for Will
sons nomination. All this had vastly
greater influence upon the public mind
than Forney's editorial panegyrics.
just at the right juncturo MoCullagh
raked up an old letter Colfax had written
to tho New York Tribune In 1869 an
pouncing that at the completion of his
pending official term he would not be a
candidate for denomination, it being his
determination To retire permanently from
political life. This letter was written at
tho time when the war upon Grant was at
lied that it would be accepted by the dele
gates TO Philadelphia as Colfaxs public
Reputation Of Grant and his administra-
tion. In less than two hours the letter
was in typo and was circulated by means
of handbills all over Philadelphia. In this
way the impression was created that in the
very midst OF General Grants sorest trou-
blcs his lieutenant had voluntarily assist
ed in the conspiracy to Kill him. Ir had its
effect, so when the convention met Coifax's
hold was thoroughly unsettled.
Grant was renominated by acclamatiop.
The first ballet for vico president resulted
in stand off between Colfax and Wilson,
some southern states having thrown idle
complimentary yc.Ns. McCullagh stood on
the platform near the presiding officers
desk. Ho know there was likely to be n
stampede, and that II the states were rec
ognlzed in alphabetical order Wilson
might yet DO slaughtered Stampeders in
variably so as they are led, and Alabama
was liable to change TO Colfax.
Alabama was already on her feet clam
oring for recognition. "Rscognize Vir-
ginia," whispered McCullagh TO Judge
Settle, president Of the convention, and
Judge Settle did SO. Virginia changed her
vote from Colfax to Wilson, as had been
arranged in advance. That started hur-
rail- and tho stampede was turned the way
McCullagh wanted.
Colfax's private secretary stood just be-
bind McCullagh at TINT moment When
Virginia announced her change, McCul-
lagh turned and said, "You may GO and
tell Colfex he Is beaten, and that the news
paper mon did it. W
This performance McCullagh always re-
garded as one of the clevorcst political
strokes he had ever made.--New York
Evening Post