Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-18
How Gar6eld's Nomination Wa
Brought About.
WHARTON BARKER TELLS TIE STORY
Deliberately Planned in the Fall
of 1879.
sHERMAN'S WITHDRAW AL

Wharton Barker, the presidential candi-
date of the middle-of-the-road populists.
said to a representative of The Star that
the true story of the nomination of Presi-
dent Garfield by the Chicago convention of
1850 has never been told. Mr.. Barker
claims to have in his possession letters
from many men of prominence revealing
the facts in THIS great chapter of the po-
litical history Of the United States.
Mr.. Barker has several times intended to
write the story for magazine use in this
country. but has each time concluded that
the publication of the names of many
men identified with the scheme of Garfield's
nomination would be injudicious at this
time. Mr.. Barker for years on the
most intimate relations with Presidents
Hayes and Garfield, Senator Cameron, Sec
rotary Sherman any many other men who
have been the centers of momentous events
in this country. Mr.. Barker was for years
one of the most prominent bankers in
Philadelphia and in that way had
quatntance with men of standing that
greatly aided him in carrying out his cher
ished object of making Garfield President of
the United States.
Began Work In 1870.
II began work in the fall of 1879 on my
plan to have General Garfield nominated
by the republicans at Chicago in $780," he
be a terrible and fruitless one between the
forces of General Grant and the late James
G.. Blaine, and that the convention would
be overrun with favorite sons from differ
ent states. Thus anticipating deadlock
I believed that a dark horse could win, and
1 communicated my belief to General Gar
field. He thanked me for my interest. and
readily agreed to whatever plan 1 could put
into operation for his benefit. I commune
GATED will throughout the
try and found considerable sympathy with
my project. In the spring of 1880 the fight
between the forces Of Grant and Blaine had
grown still more bitter, and everything had
worked smoothly toward the selection of
General Garfield. Among those quietly in
favor of General Garfield at that time was
President Hayes himself. l have two let
ters from him showing this. I soon ascer-
tanned that there would be a break in the
Pennsylvania delegation; that it would not
regard as binding the unit rule instruc-
tons secured from the Pennsylvania state
convention by Senator Cameron. and at the
proper time there would also be a break in
the New York delegation. One thing that
bothered me a great deal was as to how
to get the name Of General Garfield before
the convention. Among the delegates to
the convention, however, We're a banker
named Greer. one OF my correspondents in
Pennsylvania, and Caleb Taylor, at that
time a representative from Pennsylvania.
Greer agreed to quietly vote for Garfield on
every ballot from the first one he cast and
Taylor to systematically vote for Garfield
This gives the history of the one vote, and
at times two votes, received by General
Garfield.
John Sherman's Action.
about the time that everything was sat
isfactoriy arranged John Sherman, who
was then Secretary of the Treasury, went
to Philadelphia to make a speech before
the stock exchange. He became the guest
of my father and inquired of my father If
there was anything Interesting in politics
My father, without thinking OF the trouble
that might be made, stated that every
thing had been arranged for springing the
name of Garfield on the Chicago convention
and securing the nomination. l happened
to be in Washington that day. Early the
next morning l received an imperative note
from Gen. Garfield to call at once at his
home. / went there Immediately and was
met at the door by Gen. Garfield himself.
The fats in the fire, was the first thlng
he said to me when the door was opened.
and l knew at once that something I'M
usual had happened. Sherman has heard
of the whole thing said Garfield, and
came to my house at o'clock this morning
to ask me about it. He requested me to
make the speech nominating him at the
Chicago convention and l promised that
would do So
Il saw at once that there had been a
blunder and told Gen. Garfield to go ahead
and loyally support Secretary Sherman.
also Informed him that l did not expect to
speak to him again about the matter or to
see him in any way. but that would go
ahead in my own fashion and carry out the
program l had outlined. From that Gay
until the convention did not speak to Gen.
Garfield and he not at all cog:liZant OF 1
the work that was done in his behalf
At the Convention.
when the convention rolled around 1t
was apparent to all those present that
neither Grant nor Blaine could be nomi-
mated and that break would come sooner
or later. I began work with the wisconsin
delegation, member Of which was Henry
C. Payne, now the national committeeman
from that state. They agreed that when
they saw that there was no chance for
Blaine they would break the end of
ballot and support Garfield I next saw A.
D. Straight of Indiana. He conferred with
Benjamin Harrison. and they agreed that
at the proper time they would also break
for Garfield. l was to let them know when
the time had arrived. When this had all
been arranged the question was to get Gar
field before the convention to make a speech
Of some kind I saw Garfield and told him
that when a suitable opportunity arose for
a speech by him l would arise and give him
a certain signal that 1 desired him to re-
spond to by making the best speech in his
power. This opportunity came after Conk-
lings famous speech in the convention.
Conkling had to be responded to by some
was the man who. could do it. I gave him
the signal. He was recognized by Senator
Hoar. who was presiding, and made the
speech which brought him still more popu-
larity than he had before. His speech lit
orally wiped CQnkling off his feet.
1.-The balloting continued from Wednesday
until Saturday without change The time
had arrived to spring the final effort for
Garfield I got on the train and came to
Washington al once, reaching here Sunday
afternoon. / went Immediately to Presi-
dent Hayes and told him that Secretary
Sherman must withdraw his name from the
convention. President Hayes said he did
not know whether could get Sherman to
do so. but he would send for Carl Schurz,
who could probably accomplish the work.
Schurz went to see Secretary Sherman and
before midnight Sherman had promised to
withdraw his name.
Sherman Withdrew.
HE did so by telegraph that night. then
telegraphed to all of Garfield's friends, and
sent word to the Ohio delegation that on
the third or fourth ballot on Monday morn
ing they should vote for Garfield right after
Indiana had voted for him. The remainder
is history. Wisconsin followed the plan l
had made; so did Indiana. When Ohio cast
it's vote for Garfield the convention went to
him with a rush.