The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-13
MR.. TYNER IN POLITICS.


Part Taken by the Indianian I'm the
Making of Presidents.
'Savoyard." in Washington Post.
When the Fortieth Congress expired.
March 4, 1859, it's speaker, Hon. Schuyler
Colfax of the State OF Indiana, was be-
come Vice President Of the United States.
When Mr.. Colfsx was nominated on the
ticket with General Grant men began to
discuss the succession to the chair Of the
House of Representatives. Henry L. Dawes
was at that time a member Of that body
and veteran in the public service. He was
! In Congress when the Lecompton contro-
versy disrupted the Democratic party, and
had long been eminent for his ability and
| industry as legislator. He was acquaint-
ed with the business of legislation as well
as with the principles of government. His
character was HIGH and he had the con-
fidence Of the majority and the respect of
the minority.
Mr.. Dawes became a candidate for speak
er, and the conservative element gathered
to his support. 1t was not supposed that
he would have serious opposition.
James G. Blaine was younger man than
Mr.. Dawes, and his public service covered
a much shorter period but Mr. Blaine was
already distinguished man, who had given
evidence of those brilliant qualities that
made him so magnificent character in
quent. ready Interesting His personal en-
counter with Conklng three years earlier
made him a marked man, and he was now
one of the foremost debaters in the House.
Mr. Blaine became a candidate for speak
| er and made his canvass on modern the
ories-like Dave Hill went after the presi-
dency in 1892. Mr.. Blaine created an organ
ization. Heretofore the office of speaker
was not the great political place it is be-
come. 1t had required presiding officer
more than politician. Colfax was chosen
| for his skill as a parliamentarian, not for
| the mosaic he would make Of the commit
tees And in 1861 Galusha A. Grow was
! thrashed a Southern fire-eater in fisticuff
| on the floor while the House was sitting
Mr.. Grow was not even the nominee of a
caucus.
Mr.. Blaine's organization soon made itself
| felt, and before the Forty-first Congress
convened Mr.. Dawes's friends saw the jig
was up, and Mr.. Dawes was withdrawn
1t was like the Crisp Mills race that came
| on many years later.
Mr. James \. Tyner was member of the
official of the Postoff1ce Department, and
was thoroughly acquainted with the work.
| ings OF that establishment. and had made
utes. OF Congress relating to the postal
| service. Mr.. Tyner was, no doubt. the
best-equipped man in Congress to deal with
| legislation concerning that department.
| Mr.. Tyner expected to be chairman Of the
| committee on postoffices and post roads
He believed that he had been promised
that position, and believed that Speaker
| Blaine himself had made the promise, or
confirmed it. History is full of just such
misunderstandings AT that very time. or
| sure that Mr.. Sumner had given his prom
| Use not to oppose the annexation of Santo
| Domingo, but Mr.. Sumner asserted that he
| had made no such promise, and that Gen.
| Grant had jumped at conclusion that was
| the child of his desire.
| When Mr.. Blaine announced the COM
mttees Mr.. John Farnsworth, of Illinois.
| was chairman of postoffices and post roads,
| and Mr.. Tyner was sixth of the committee.
the SECRETARY of the ao 20
1 you mortgaged me to the lips at Chicago.
and l have paid the debt twice over"
organization that got the speakership for
him. In 1880 it was charged by George r.
Davis. one of the 906, and later director
| general of the Columbian Exposition, that
| Blaine's organization had made a complete
blue book In furtherance Of his candidature
| for President.
Be that as it may, Mr.. Tyner was no
| friend of Blaine after the announcement Of
| the committees of the Forty-sixth Con-
gress. Even at that early day Mr.. Blaine
had his eyes on the White House, and was
| frequently suggested for the nomination
as soon as General Grant had had two
terms.
Blaine never fought for the presidential
| nomination as he did la 1876; not even in
| 1880. when he was more intent on destroy
1
ticket 1t was for this that he defeated
| the force bill Of Benjamin F. Butler, and il
| was for this that he waved the bloody
was the he most popular American p1bIic y man n
since Henry Clay, but he had many and
powerful enemies.
friend neither was Conkling, neither was
| Morton, neither was Edmunds, neither was
Bristow. The "Mulligan letters" were
printed, and the next Sunday Mr.. Blaine
| had a sunstroke and the following Wednes-
| day the Republican national convention
| convened at Cincinnati. Blaine, Conkling,
| Morton and BriStow were the leading cam
| didates. Governor Hayes was more of
dark horse.
If the vote had been taken when Bob
| Ingersoll sat down after that splendid burst
| of eloquence Blaine would have been NOM
mated. Had the light not been turned out
| Blaine would have been nominated. Had
| the race narrowed to Blaine and Bristow.
| Blaine would have been nominated. Had
James N Tyner been for Blaine. Blaine
| would have been nominated
The Indiana delegation-thir strong
| stood by Morton, even after his case was
hopeless Once the venerable and eloquent
Richward w. Thompson rose to withdraw
the name of the greatest of the war
Governors" and the greatest man the Re-
publican party has produced save Lincoln
the State at large. dissuaded him. At one
time it was practically agreed for Indiana
to withdraw Morton and vote for Bristow;
but that would have caused break in
Ohio. sixteen of whose delegates were for
| Blaine and were only held in the Hayes
column by the lash of State pride.
| But the deadlock could not continue al
| ways, and finally it was determined to
| withdraw Morton and vote for Hayes. but
even then Bristow got five of Indiana's
| votes.
1t was Tyner who really nominated
| Hayes. 1t was Tyner who prevented the
| contest narrowing to Blaine and Bristow.
| 1t was Tyner who remembered that Farms
| worth was chairman Of postofhces and post
| roads of the Forty-first Congress.
| In 1880 Blaine was not strong enough to
| secure the nomination, but he decided the
! contest for Garfield. In 1884 Blaine took il
| to keep Arthur from getting 1t. In 1883 he
| might have had 1.-THE was like Balzac's
/ hero, God had given him nuts when he
| had no teeth" He was like the Southern
| Confederacy-destroyed by hundred ifs.
Growing Opinion.
| PHILADELPHIA Record Dem,)