The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-23
GEORGES BIG SACRIFICE.
He Was One Of the Earliest Sup
porters OF Cleveland.
WAS GIVEN THE sNUB DIRECT.

ulOh newspaper cIdCO Wy ~ wa hcV"
Just now the libel suit OF State Senator
John Raines against one Of the morning
papers, which has beer dragging its slow
length through the supreme court for the
last ten days, would have surely been re-
ported to tho extent of n pagc or more ev-
cry day, and Its Developments would have
been fair topics for journalistic comment
the country over. The cause OF the suit
was an article written by Congressman
Lemuel Il. Quigg, then editor OF the paper,
some two or three years ago, and Mr..
Quigg's testimony was N OF the most
important features OF the trial. Another
interesting feature was the employment
by tho senator of his brother, George
Raipes of Rochester, as counsel, and this
brings up a most remarkable family.
There were originally five of the Raines
boys'-Thomas, George John, William
and Eugene. Eugene died somewhere
down south when little more than a youth.
The others entered politics, breaking oven
as to party, Thomas and John joining the
Republicans and George and William the
Democrats. The public career Of Thomas
was not a very long one, though 1t included
the holding of q high state office. John
went to congress from C~anandaigua and
served some years before no entered the
state senate, where he was to father the
measure for controlling the sale of liquor
In this state, which has become famous
from ocean to ocean and has caused the
coming of a new phrase, "Raines law ho-
tel" George, who located In Rochester,
was one of the earliest supporters Of Gro
YER C~leveland's presidential aspirations,
and, while his support undoubtedly had
much to do with Mr.. Cleveland's first
nomination, 1t was also the caus of
Georges retirement from political activity.
An Extraordinary Convention. -
Prior to the national Democratic con-
vention Of 1884 there were big fights all
over the state for the selection Of delegates.
The men who favored Cleveland 3 nomina-
ton understood full well that 1t could not
be brought about unless his WI state ia
vored him, and those who were against IL
worked tooth and nail to defeat 1t. No.
where was there q bitterer fight than in
Rochester, George Raines heading tho
Cleveland men and William Purcell, To-
cally prominent as a journalist, those on
the other side.
Both factions were present in force at
the county convention for the selection OF
delegates, and both factions were bound
to win. Raines had the facts OF the situ-
alton well in hand and stood for the chair
manship, feeling sure that he could win
with the help Of tho gavel. But there was
great opposition to this, n tho upshot
was that Purcell's candidate for chairman
held a convention In one end of the big
hall, while Raines held another one ct the
other end.
The uproar during the continuance OF
the simultaneous conventions was simply
terrific. No one could hear o word said
by the participants In either, but as each
chairman had his work well mapped out
both transacted the business in hand In q
very short time. and the w conventions
adjourned at the same moment, W sets
of delegates of diametrioally opposite opin-
ions concerning Mr.. Cleveland's available
ity being chosen. Raines went to the state
convention in high glee. AT Albany 1t
was found that the Cleveland element was
In the majority without the Raines dele
gates, and they were promptly turned
down. the hope being that In this way the
support Of Purcell and his friends could
be secured after the nomination.
OF course this embittered Raines, and
for awhile IL looked as II his turning down
had been for naught, since Purcell, who
controlled thousands Of votes, long refused
to be placatcd. Had he stuck there Is
good reason to believe that Blaine and
not Cleveland would have been elected
president In 1884. But two or three weeks
before election day Purcell came under the
influence of the late Thomas Kinsella Of
the Brooklyn Eagle and was persuaded to
abandon his anti Cleveland fight. And
while that did not carry all tho Purcell
strength to Cleveland Ii undoubtedly
...l. :. ro~oc,xtbl~ ltfovouoo In hio favor
The snub Direct?
Raines fully expected handsome rewards
after election for his willingness to sacri-
0ce himself for the Cleveland cause, but
his expectations did not materialize.
1t was said, indeed, that tho first OF the
post beQum Democratic presidents gave
his Rochester supporter the snub direct In
refusing point blank to make certain APP
pointments desired by Raines, but l never
knew whether that story was true or not.
AT all events, no soon began to devote vir-
tually his whole time to his law practice
and has never been prominent In state or
national politics since. Liko his brother
Thomas before him, George announced TO
all his friends In 1885 that the law was
good enough for him In the future. Will
Raincs stuck TO politics, however, and by
dint Of hard driving managed to get a
doorkccpcr's berth at Washington. Later
ho became q claim agent at Washington
and still later he located In this city, hold
ing a minor municipal office for some time.
All tho Raines boys are big men phys
ically and oil arc good looking, George
being by all odds the handsomcst.
toddart In Vaudeville.
And now James Henry Stoddart, rightly
termed tho dean OF tho American stage,
has taken to vaudeville, thus following I'm
the footsteps Of Clara Morris and many
othors OF equal cminenco In former Gays.
Possibly l am mistaken, but IL Is my
impression hat Stoddart Il the only his
trion now living who has appeared ON the
boards with Iaurn Keenc. IL was In
1865, ~ years X that no hrst played
with her In the Olympic theater. favored
by tho g~rnndfathers Of the present genera
tion OF Now Workers. Three years later,
In 1859, he was one " the company select