Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-13

In the drama were General Logan, George
r. Hoar. J. Donald Cameron. Preston K
Plumb. William Pitt Kellogg and Blanche
X. Bruce, all members OF the senate.
Among the delegates about TO enter that
august body we're Benjamin II. Harrison
o. Indiana, Eugene Hale and William =.
Frye OF Maine, william J. sewall OF New
Jersey, Omar d. Conger Of Michigan,
Dwight NJ. Sabih Of Minnesota and Phile-
tus Sawyer Of Wisconsin. General Car
field already held his commission az sen
ator-elect. His colleagues on the Ohio
delegation we're Governor Foster and
former Governor Dinnison. Five OF Cen
eral Grants cabinet were delegates to the
convention-Boutwei Of Massachusetts,
Creswell Of Maryland, George II. Williams
OF oregon. Edward Pierrepont Of New
York and Senator Cameron. other names
which have not been forgotten, though
nearly three decades have passed, are
Chester A. Arthur Of New York, Colonel
Quay OF Pennsylvania. william e. Chand-
Ter Of New Hampshire, Emory e. Storrs
Of Illinois, Governor Yarmouth OF Louisi-
ana and Henry Cabot Lodge Of Maschus-
etts. Blaine in his "Tweny Years OF Con-
gress' says that probably no convention
since the one which nominated Henry Clay
had contained so many eminent men.
When the convention assembled Senator
Hoar was selected to serve as both tenn
porary and permanent chairman. The
rights Of congressional districts to select
their delegates had been indirectly affirmed
In the republican national convention OF
1875, when the unit rule was overridden
and the right OF each individual delegate
to cast his own vote was established.
Yet, in 1880, It was part Of the Conkling
plan to have the states vote Is units.
General Garfield was chairman Of the COM
mittee on rules and was one Of the
strongest professionals against the attempt
to enforce the unit rule. 1t was largely
through his efforts that the attempt failed.
In several states, among them Illinois,
there were contests between delegates
elected on the district plan and those Sc
lected at a state convention, regardless
Of the district. In each Of these contested
cases the convention accepted the majority
report Of the credentials committed recon-
mending that delegates chosen under the
district plan be seated. The report OF the
committee on rules, as submitted by Gar
field, contained an amedment designed to
protect the vote Of the Individual dele
cato which was a final blow at the unit
rule.
ConkIinE's Attitude.
Conkling's attitude toward those not sup
porting Grant was arrogant and insulting
At the opening of the third day he offered
a resolution that in the sense Of the
convention every member is bound in honor
to support it's nominee, whoever the nomi-
pee may be, and hat no man should
hold a seat who is not ready to so agree
In this, he i~nsinuated hat unless so
pledged the Blaine men would bolt II
Grant were nominated. The resolution was
adopted with three dissenting votes from
West Virginia, whereupon Senator Conk-
ling offered snother resolution practically
declaring tina by their action in not in
dorsing the resolution, these three delegates
had forfeited their votes In the convention.
The discussion between one OF these three,
Campbell, editor of the Wheeling Intelli-
it, caught a flag and, wrapping It about
her, stirred the crowd to a new frenzy of
enthusiasm for the man from Maine.
Blaine was first placed in nomination by
Mr.. JOY Of Michigan, seconded by Mr..
Pixley of California and Frye Of Maine.
C%onkling's nominating speech for Grant
was delivered with great dramatic effect.
Even today its opening sentence is subject
Of controversy. Whether he sale,
when asked whence comes our candidate,
Our sole response shall be,
He halls from A~ppomattox
And its famous apple tree"
or used the simpler, stronger sentence,
when asked whence comes our candidate,
we say from Appomattox," is still a moot
question. Finer hat this in matter and
form was his phrase. His (Grant's) fame
was born not alone OF things written and
said. but of the arduous greatness of
things done
General Garfield made the nominating
speech for John Sherman. a calm appeal
from the swelling tumult Of the moment
to the calm level Of public opinion. Senator
George F. Edmonds was nominated by
Frederick Billings of Vermont; Elihu B.
Washburne of Illinois. by CAssoday OF wis
consln; and William Window Of Minnesota,
by Drake of the same state.
Contest of the Ballots.
The balioting began Monday. The first