New-York tribune., 1911-02-19

Office to read the late reviews ana Id"
journals That Is the way our acquaintance
began. At his request l accepted the ap-
uointment OF Land Commissioner In De-
cember, 1911, learned Of a combination OF
Northwestern Senator'S. led by Pettigre"'
of South Dakota, to defeat MS nonlihalion
for President. / carried the news TO Har-
rison, and he asked me to take charge OF
the situation. We let Pettigrew PICK the
South Dakota delegates to the national con-
vontion. and then we had them instructed
and nledeed TO vote for Harrison, first, last
and all the time Pettigrew threatened
Congressional investigation, but changed
his mind
"Mv work | thought, was done. stephen
r. Elkins, who recently died, was oecre
tary OF War in Harrison's CABINET anu
manager OF his campaign. Ten days pelore
rhe convention met. Eildns called me 10 ms
house. He was in a painful predicameht'
Klaine. Secretary OF State. was his intimate
nersonal friend and business partner, ana
u,s getting ready TO be a candidate HIM
self Elkins told me he had worked so hard
,hot be was half sick Moreover, 1t would
he unbecoming, he said. for Cabinet OF
ficer to attend the convention lie asheu
me 10 go. l started that day. neither
shaved nor took off my clothes for the week
following. Minneapolis was fun OF biaihe
boomers. The streets were fun OF Blame
hr,es ba nds and marchers When the con-
vention met the galleries were lui oi
p,afoe shouters We had the votes, but
nero afraid the delegates would get stam-
noded before the balloting began. Whiie
we had assured all OF our friends that we
should control the convention, verpai as
sertiOns are not always convincing.
eve had a committee, composed or one
man from each state and territory. the
committee met daily at o'clock IN the
| morning. At one OF the meetings we de-
c,ded ON a plan TO cllnch what we had and
N make our claims vsibly good. on the
first day Of the convention we secretly gave
each OF our delegates slip OF paper on
! which was written: Meet at Market Han
| Immediately after adjournment. Very Inn
portant Our purpose. you understand
| was TO get the delegates together, and by
an actual count in their presence to prove
| that Harrisons nomination was absolutely
| certain.
1.-TWO telers on the stairs counted the
| delegates as they went up 10 the hall.
| chauncey NJ Depew was inside, ready "a
make a famhoyant speech II less than
| majority of the delegates attended the
meeting. Other men were TO swear the
troops In If a majority appeared. More
than enough delegates to .ominate were
present. They heard the roll called and
they saw one another. The convention
was as good as over. The news was
brought to me at the West Hotel by
lons-legged messenger. Then I called or
Thomas c. Piatt, chief OF Blaine's five OF
six generals-he had invited me to call sew
eral days before. Some men have toe
many doctors; Blaine had too many man
ayers
II found Platt on sofa. lie was worr
ont: so was l. Besides, looked like &
tramp. We talked generalities for a while
nv and by there was knock on the door
platt stuck his head out for moment
When he drew II back | heard him mutte'
under his breath. I don't believe d.
word Of It,
| 81 told Platt | was authorized 70 sal