Evening journal., 1910-02-09
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Man Who Really Blocked
Grant Third Term Movement
BY "HolI.u nd"

Scan the political histories as you
will, you will find no statement there
In to the effect that the defeat Of the
famous third.term-for-Grant movement
was caused by William H. Robertson,
then a member Of the New York legis-
lature from Westchester county. Yet
/ am convinced that Judge Robertson,
as he was Familiarity known, was pri-
marily at the bottom of the collapse
OF the Grant third-term movement,
and that what / am about to relate
is hitherto unwritten chapter of one
of the most dramatic presidential NOM
mating campaigns that this country
has ever known.
When the New York state politi-
clans fiocked to Albany in January OF
1880. for the opening of the regular
session Of the Legislature, they were
practically a unit in declaring that
Senator Roscoe Conkling, working ''up
state" and Gen. Chester A. Arthur,
working in New York city, would be
powerful enough to secure a unani-
nous state delegation for Grant to the
national Republican convention to be
held in Chicago In the late spring. II
was the general impression through
out the country that If New York
unanimously committed itself to Gen.
Grant. his nomination could not be
prevented.
All the while that the Grand adher-
ents were in high feather over the
prospects, Judge Robertson, who was
a member of Che senate, every even
ing quietly sat in his little old fash
ioned room in a hotel that was not
greatly frequented by the active poll
ticlans. To that hotel he had gone
when he FIRST went 10 Albany as a
member Of the legislature, because he
cared little for the outward excite
ment of political life; and during all
of the public third-term commotion he
stayed at his hotel when not at the
capitol, to all intents and purposes not
even a silent onlooker Of the momen-
tous political game being played all
about him.
One evening word came TO me that
Judge Robertson would like to see me,
If convenient, and went TO his hotel.
Almost Immediately he took up the
subject he had on his mind.
Il may as we'll tell YOU" he began,
that It is now certain that perhaps a
third of the New York delegation to
the Chicago convention will not be
bound by any unit rule, It will not
support unanimously the proposed
nomination OF Gen. Grant In my own
home district the majority Of my party
favor the nomination Of Mr.. Blaine.
The Republicans of the rest of the
state cannot command me to take any
action which is opposed to the wishes
Of my own constituents.
But. of course, in politics Of the
larger kind II is essential that one al
ways be sure OF his ground, at least
sure enough not to make himself RI
diculous. So have thought It
worth while to hold some correspond
ence with men Of my party in other
states who feel as ! against third
term for any president.
Il have within day or two received
Information from Pennsylvania which,
think, iustifies me in saying that a
considerable portion OF the Pennsyl-
vania delegation will also refuse TO be
bound by any unit rule. Those dele
gates will act with the delegates from
New York who will not be bound by
any instructions committing the state
delesation-to the unit rule"
For a minute, perhaps, he was 81
lent Then he continued with delib-
crate slowness:
Il think It is now safe for you to
say. II you care to make any report
to your paper, that at least one-fourth
Of the delegates from New York, and
as many as that from Pennsylvania,
will oppose to the end the nomination
of Gen. Grant. My own personal
view is that with this opposition in
these two states It will be impossible
to nominate Gen. Grant"
Ny report-"on reliable political au-
thority'-of the anti-Grant combina-
ton of New York and Pennsylvania
Republicans was published next day.
The effect was precisely what Judge
Robertson had clearly anticipated
Quickly the opposition TO Grants nom
lnation became vigorous, effective,
and-well, Garfield was nominated,
and even before he was inaugurated
had decided to name Judge Robertson
for the one Office the latter was am
bilious to hold, that of collector OF
the port OF New York. And because
Garfield persisted in this determine,
tion, there resulted that intense fac
tional strife that split the Republican
party in New York state for several
years and caused the resignation OF
Roscoe Conkling and Thomas c. Plat
as senators.
Copyright 1909. by p. ]. Edwards.)
Tomorrow, MIR. Edwards will tell o
"The Only Time That Jay Could Go