The Sentinel=record., 1911-02-14
HOW LINCOLN
 WAS NOMINATED
ONLY SURVIVOR OF "SPLlT RAIL" CONVENTION TELLS SOME
 POLITICAL HISTORY.
Gives Credit for Nomination to Gas, sius M. Clay, of Kentucky, Who Was Abraham Lincoln's
 Champion.

Chicago, Feb 1S.-What are be- lieved to be unpublished incidents concerning the politics which gave Abraham Lincoln the republican nomination for president the first time, were told here today in an ad- dress before the Hamilton Club by Addison C. Proctor, Of St. Joseph, Mich, who believes himself the only surviving member of the famous split rail" convention.
 Mir. Proctor gave to one man, Cas- sius M. Clay, of Kentucky, the credit for forcing the nomination of Lin- coin out of chaotic, disorganized opposition to the regular candidate for the nomination, William H. Se- ward, of New York.
 This is how Clay's influence was ex. erted, as related by MT. Proctor:
 When the convention opened, Mir. Stewards interests were in the hands of Thurlow Weed and were well or ganized The opposition, of which Horace Greeley was the dominant ig- ure, was absolutely without organiza- ton or community of desire To show how much without aim we were work ing, l recall that MT Greeley said to us within thirty hours of the time for balloting answering a question as to whom We should unite upon to oppose Seward.
 q think well of Edward Bates. of Missouri; he is strong man and believe one of the best we could nomi- nate
 How about Lincoln?'" we asked and Greeley replled:
 "'While MT. Lincoln is an adroit politician. he lacks experience in pub lie affairs and while we are drifting toward crisis, I don't believe the country will trust man so lacking in experience in National affairs
 We were discussing matters in the old Briggs house in Chicago with Mr. Clay and his mountain men from Western Virginia, Tennessee and Ken lucky
 Clay was a man of most interesting personality and he had an interesting group.
 We are on the eve of great civil war began Mir. Clay, but we of Kansas were used to strong words and smiled The mountaineer looked at Us sternly and continued:
 We know what your platform plans are and am here to say that if a candidate is nominated on that platform the south will make an at- tempt to dissolve the Union. Your southern border extends from Mary land to Missouri, and on this side stands a determined body of men, resolute that the Union shall not be destroyed except after a most des- perate struggle.
 "It makes great difference to you whom you nominate. thundere1 on the tall Kentuckian. and it makes a much more vital difference to us. Our homes and all we nossess are in peril We demand of you candi- date who will inspire cur courage and confidence.
 "'We call upon you to nominate Abraham Lincoln, who knows us and understands our aspiration Give us Linccln and We will push back your battle line from the Ohio river to tne Tennessee. where it belongs. Give us Lincoln and we will unite the strength of our Union sentiment with the Union army and bring success to your legions. Do this for us, pleaded the speaker, and we'll go home and prepare fer the conflict
 We saw things from a new angle. It was no longer question of fight ing slavery, but of saving the Union. Lincoln was nominated"
 REVoLuTloNlsTs ACTIVE.