Evening journal., 1910-01-27
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Secret Message That Man.
ming Carried to PreSi-
dent Arthur
BY Holland"
By "HoIIand."

One AFTERNOON ID late June OF 1884,
at the time Of dag in summer when all
Washington is drowsy, I went into
Jackson square, which faces the White
House, to get a little relief In the
shade from the heat of the day. A
week earlier / had returned from the
Republican national convention at Chi
cago, which nominated Blaine for the
presidency, with President Arthur as
his leading opponent. The Democratic
convention was to meet in the same
city the first week in July, and II was
the general impression that Grover
Cleveland would be the Democratic
nominee
As l strolled through the park, some
one called me by name, and when I
looked up to return the greeting, there
stood president Arthur himself lie
greeted me cordially, told me that he
was on his way to Secretary Of State
Freylinghuysen's house, and added
that he would be delighted II I would
walk over with him and tell him some
Of the interesting features Of the Re-
publican convention. You see" he
added, by way of explanation. 81
haven't heard much about them. Very
few Of my friends who we're there
have yet returned to Washington"
Naturally, among other matters, ]
told the president that az one time he
probably could have been nominated,
had he had a good general on the
ground. And" / added, 'the general
impression is, Mr.. President, that had
you been nominated, you would have
been reasonably sure of election"
Yes, think / would have been
elected" replied the president, "for
have reason to believe that New York
state would have supported me, and
am afraid there is considerable doubt
OF the ability Of Mr.. Blaine to carry
the state"
We walked along in silence for a
few moments.
i am not basing my judgment that
/ would have carried New York state
upon any false confidence or vanity"
continued the president Some Of
my Democratic friends believe that
would have received a plurality of at
least 10000 votes in the state One
Of these friends is Daniel Manning Of
Albany.
Il have known Mr.. Manning for
many years. and our personal rela-
tions have been very cordial. Two OF
three weeks before the Republican
convention met, Mr.. Manning came to
Washington to see me. Previously, he
had sent word that he was anxious to
see me and asked me not to let the
fact that he was going to visit me be.
come known. OF course, you, at this
time, will not print what I am now
telling you.
"Mr. Manning was with me the
greater part of a Sunday afternoon.
We talked very freely about political
conditions. He asked me if believed
the chances we're in favor of my nomf-
nation at Chicago, and I replied that
my friends thought that my chances
we're fair.
Well he said. it will either he
you or Blaine. and one Of the reasons
that have come to Washington is to
tell you confidentially that IL you are
the candidate then. in all probability
no effort will be made to bring about
the nomination of Grover Cleveland
for president at the Democratic con-
vention. But If Blaine is nominated
then the nomination of Cleveland Is
certain. l will tell you the reason. We
are convinced that IL you are nomi-
mated you will carry the state. Cleve-
land himself is confident Of that, and
he does not want the nomination un-
less there is very good chance OF
his election. II Blaine is nominated
Cleveland can and will beat him in
New York state-and so secure the
election-because Blaine will be badly
cut wherever Roscoe Conkling has a
strong following. But IL you are nomi-
mated, ! am inclined to think that the
Democratic nomination will 20 to Ran.
dali, possibly to Bayard.'
"of course" added the president. "I
did not tell Manning that I felt very
grave doubts about the ability OF
Blaine to carry New York state. I
hope. he can carry it. But can say
to you now that the Democratic ma
tional convention will nominate
Grover Cleveland. And shall be
very apprehensive of the result until
the votes are counted"
To make perfectly clear that Mr.
Manning knew what he was talking
about, it is only necessary to add that
he contributed greatly TO Cleveland's
election as governor OF New York. TO
his nomination and election as presi.
dent, and became President CIeve-
lands first secretary of the TREASURY
Copyright, 1908, by Z. J. Edwardah
Tomorrow, Mr.. Edwards will tel
Of "The First Attempts at Bookkeep