Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-11
SENATOR TELLS INSIDE STORY
OF HOW HARRISON WAS,
NOMINATED.
PLAT. SWUNG INTO LINE
UNDER MISREPRESENTATION
Late Senator From New York De-
ceiyed Himself Regarding Alleged
Promise Of a Place in Harrison's
cabinet-lnside History Revealed for
First Time-other News Of the Day.

side story of how the New York dele
cation was swung into line for Ben
jamin Harrison, thus assuring the
nomination Of the Indianian in the re-
publican national convention of 1883,
was told recently by Senator Stephen
B. Elkins of West Virginia.
The statement was brought out by
published story to the effect that Ell
kins had offered Thomas C. Platt the
secretaryship of the treasury in re-
turn for the support of the New York
delegation for Harrison in the con-
vention. Mr.. Plat was quoted as au-
thority. This was denied by the West
Wirginian.
Senator Elkins explained that his
action in behalf of Harrison came
about because the Indianian was an old
friend of his father in-law, Henry Gas
saway Davis, who had served with him
in the senate.
mo Promises in Letter to Plat.
ION my way to the convention of
1888 stopped to see Mr.. Harrison at
indianapolis and told him it was nee
essary to have the support of the Blaine
men in the convention and also the aid
Platt was the head" said Mr. Elkins.
Before 1 left him he gave me three
letters-one addressed to Whitelaw
Reid, the second to Plat, and the third
to man I have forgotten for the mo-
ment. The Plat letter was worded
carefully and contained no promises.
upon arrival in Chicago sought
out Platt and we took a drive together
along the lake front. Platt was a man
of few words and not much was said,
but told him j wished him to be for
Harrison. He replied that he didn't
know Harrison we'll, which was the
| case with the majority Of the leaders.
Harrison always had a faculty of keep
| ing to himself when in congress and
| had not made many intimate friends
| Il read to Plat the letter had
brought from Harrison, but never gave
| it to him. There wasn't a word said
| between us about the secretaryship of
| the treasury, but I did tell Platt that
he would be consulted about New York
state patronage and, all things being
equal, he would get all the patronage
to which he was entitled.
Blaine Sends Telegram.
Harrison was nominated as a result
of this situation. Before Blaine had
lgone to Europe that year had put him
in a frame of mind in which he was
4inclined to look, upon Harrison as the
probable nominee, and had arranged a
code thru Andrew Carnegie by which
Blaine was to cable his followers in the
convention, including those from Penn
sylvania, asking them to support Har-
rison.
"At the critical moment the cable
gram from Blaine, Come from Scot
land reached us, and, translated,
meant the swinging of the Blaine
strength to Harrison.
AT the same time we shad about
fifteen delegates on the New York del
egation with US, including my old
friend, Lou Payne, and without Plat
we could have made a showing there.
after the convention went to see
Harrison again, and told him he had
been nominated without the promise of
a cabinet place and that the only
promise made was that certain state
| leaders were TO be consulted about pa
| tronage. He was pleased over this ar
rangement.
Plat Shows Disappointment.
1.-TWO or three months later Plat
came to my office in New York and
with some show of feeling said he ex-
| pec!eQ To De appointed secretary or the
treasury and wanted to know about it.
reminded him that there was Moth
ing in the letter had brought him
from Harrison and nothing in my con-
versation with him on that subject at
all.
ct thought that was inferred by
what you said to me about New York
patronage Platt replied.
| What have you done with that
letter you brought me?' inquired Plat.
II told him ] had it and read it to
him again. He admitted there was
nothing compromising in. it and l. told
him further that had informed Har-
rison that no cabinet pledges had been
made for him. Plat then asked me to
suggest his name to the president in
this connection and told him that per-
sonally would be glad to do it.
Harrison Summons Elkins.
Shortly after that Harrison sent for
me to come to Washington to consult
him about his cabinet. We had pre-
viously exchanged correspondence on
the subject
''The question of Platts claiming the
secretaryship of the treasury came up
! and I told the president again that he
4 had no cabinet promises to keep be-
cause Of anything had done in his be-