The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-17
Active and Effective Part Taken by
Candidacy of Harrison.
THE EFFORT TO SECURE MONEY
LUKEwARMNEss OF MIR. BLAINE AND
OSTON REPUBLICANS.
How John Wannmaker Came to the
Rescue and Raised S3f4, O0O-Rev.
NJ. l.. LANES rs "a Politician.

NEW YORK, March 16.-Church interests
played a large part in the election of the
late Gen. Benjamin Harrison TO the presi-
dency of the United States. Just how they
did has not until now been told. 1t is a
story of small things proving the turning
weights in great matters. To understand it
requires some references to past political
conditions in order TO show how church
in a national campaign.
1t will be remembered by those whose
political recollections run back that far
that the late James G. Blaine returned
from his tour of foreign countries soon
after the adjournment of the convention
which nominated Mr.. Harrison the first
time. 1t was in the summer Of 1883. Mr..
Quay was the national Republican commit
tee chairman. Protection was the great
issue, and it was to the protected interests
that campaign managers looked in those
DAYS for funds. For reasons not necessary
to go into at this time the protected inter-
ests refused to contribute. Upon his arri-
val at the New York pier Mr.. Blaine was
met by a messenger and asked by Chair
man Quay TO use his influence with the
Pittsburg manufacturers Mr.. Blaine was
affable, but replied that he had no influ-
ence in Pittsburg, and bade the messenger
tell Mr.. Quay he was out of politics. Some
weeks later another messenger, sent by the
same chairman, went to Bar Harbor upon
the same errand. Here the former courtesy
was lacking and the Quay messenger was
ordered off the Blaine cottage porch. 1t
was the end of August and no money in
sight. Chicago protected interests said they
would try to take care of Indiana, a close
State and near by. Philadelphia had given
nothing and Boston less, for Boston was
hostile and kept its purse strings uncut al
most to the end of the campaign. The OPEN
ing days of September arrived and found
a national campaign in as desperate straits
as it is possible for national campaigns to
get into.
Bethany Presbyterian Church, Philadel-
phia, had for its Sunday school superin-
tendent one A. f. ceyle. since deceased. A
devout man, i'm business for himself, he
had been secured by John Wanamaker in
the latter's great Sunday s~chool-great then
and even greater now. Mr.. Coyle had form
erly been a member of the First Presby-
terrain Church of indianapolis, of which
Mr.. Harrison was an elder 10 the day of
his death. 1t is not the largest Presby-
terrain Church in Indianapolis, foi the Sec
ond Church of that city, the Rev. DR.. ]. a.
Milburn pastor, enjoys the distinction of
being the second largest Presbyterian
Church in America in point of financial
offerings, the Brick, of this city, being the
first.
WANAMAKER'S PART.
Mr.. Coyle was not a man to make nation
al plans. but he did suggest to Mr.. Harri-
son the name of Mr.. Wanamaker as a man
who might be able to raise the funds to
pull Mr.. Harrison's campaign out of the
hole of summer dependency. He wrote to
the Rev. DIR. Matthias l.. Haines, the pas
tor Of Mr.. Harrison's indianapolis church,
and in turn DR.. Haines wrote to the Rev.
DR.. ]. r. Miller, then and now editor of
many of the publications Of the Presby-
terrain Board of Publication, Philadelphia,
and then and now very close TO John
Wanamak Mr.. Coyle even went so far
as to open the matter TO Mr.. Wanamaker,
only to be met with the reply hat such a
step was out of the question.
During the first five days of September.
tremendous pressure was brought to bear
upon Mr.. Wanamaker Mr.. Harrison
headed it. and was seconded by the Rev.
DR.. Haines and the Rev. DR.. Miller, both
of whom, throughout the two months that
followed, gave themselves up to politics.
or at any rate to Mr.. Harrison's interests.
Robert C. Ogden. now much interested in
educational matters in the South, but then
wrapped up in the welfare of a local Phil
adelphia Presbyterian church, said he
could care for the business affairs Of Mr..
TLo ioa,o,,oc uvbiob 6,aIIxv
told were church ones, and on Sept. 6, at
a meeting held in Levi p. Morton's house,
New York, Mr.. Wanamaker was elected.
The name chosen for his committee was
the National Advisory, and it was such. to
the great annoyance of Mr.. Quay. It's real
purpose was, however, the raising of mon
ey. Mr.. Quay, although his campaign up
to that date had been a pretty desperate
one, was not in favor of the selection of the
Philadelphia, for Mr.. Wanamaker laid it
down as a condition of his attempting to
raise any money that he have absolute and
unquestioned direction of the manner in
which every penny that he secured should
be spent.
1t was no fault of Mr.. Quay that the
agreement was kept 20 the letter. Church
interests came Immediately TO the front.
Mr.. Harrison, Mr.. Wanamaker and the
two Presbyterian ministers named had the
large voice. Mr.. Quay employed the Ian
guage he always does when things do not
please him. and right here were sown the
seeds of the enmity which has character
lied the subsequent political careers of the
two men in their State affairs. The mes
sengers who went between New York,
Philadelphia and Indianapolis were young
men out Of the Bethany Church. The
young man who went to Bar Harbor and
was treated as already stated was a Bible
class leader.
Indeed. II may here be said that Mr..
Blaine remained TO the end of the campaign
untractable 10 Presbyterian influences, al
though himself a Presbyterian. and Mr..
Wanamaker raised the money needed to
elect Mr.. Harrison without any direct aid
from the Maine statesman.
HEADS OF THE CAMPAIGN.
During the two months which Mr.. Wan
amaker was identified with the campaign
he was emphatically the head of IL. The
second man In ii was Mr.. Harrison. The
third man. and he was a bad third In so far
as influence went. was Mr.. Quay. Several