Evening journal., 1911-10-05
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
when LinCOIn'S Son Refus-
ed to Lead his Party
By Holland

A few hours after the nomination Of
James G. Blaine for President by the
Republican National Convention at
Chicago, in 1884, and the nomination
of General John A. Logan as Vice
President, the late General James II.
Hustled came to my room and, taking
seat by the desk at. which ! was
writing, said TO me: you needn't put
it in your dispatches that the ticket
which has just been nominated IL
doomed to defeat; but ! tell you that
It is and that the Republican party
has made a grave blunder in nominat-
ing Blaine
/ heard what General Hustled said
with interest because ] knew that nc
was one of the best judges Of political
conditions i'm New York state, at least
in the Republican party. He had been
many times speaker Of the lower house
Of the New York state legislature; nf
was the intimate friend Of all the lead
ing politicians Of each party and he
was always a great admirer OF James
G.. Blaine.
Are you sorry that Blaine has
been nominated2' ! asked
Yes, I am sorry for his sake anc
for his party's sake, because ! an
confident he is doomed to defeat was
the reply. "And ! am especially sorr,
because, but for one thing, We coulC
have named a candidate who woui'
have swept the country, whose nomi
nation and election would have wipe'
out all factional troubles in the Re
publican party"
''Who ie that? I asked.
Robert T. Lincoln" General Hustel
replied Il can tell you conhdentiall
now that a movement was begun in II
linois some months ago which had 70
it's object the nomination of Robert !
Lincoln for President by acclamatio
by this convention after the first com
plimentary ballot had been taken. Tn
movement had the support Of many {
the friends OF General Logan and
. am sure ii would have received tn
support of nearly all the leading pol
ticians of the Republican party ha
the opportunity come to them TO civ
that support.
Months ago all of the strong Re
publican leaders realized that If Blain
were nominated by this conventio
Senator Roscoe Conklings friends 1
New York would knife him at tn
polls. I myself am cretain that enoug
Of Conkling's friends will knife Blain
at the election IN November to cos
him the electoral vote Of New Yor
state. You know, the quarrel betwee
Conkling and Blaine was never healet
On the other hand, Il was very doubl
full whether President Arthur, If n
we're nominated, could carry New for
state. So II was suggested early in th
Spring of this year that we loo
around to see If we could not find som
candidate who would receive the SUI
port of all factions Of the party an
who would be certain to carry Ne
York state.
prom some OF General Logan
friends in Illinois the suggestion can
that we take up Robert 7. Lincol
II WAS a splendid suggestion; q
movement that spring from it mat
considerable headway, so that at la
It was thought best 70 put matters b
fore Lincoln himself. 7 think the be
ter way would have been 70 have sa
nothing. but at the right moment
have stampeded the convention 7
him But personal friends of Linco
we're asked 70 approach him and !
the matter before him. This they d
and after a brief interview with hi
they reported that the movement mt
stop then and there. They said III
Lincoln had told them that he was
only member Of Garfeld's cabir
whom President Arthur had retain
throughout his entire administratio
he knew that Arthur craved a nomir
ton. not so much that he might
B President again as that there mis-
be vindication Of his difficult admin
tration; under the circumstances
felt that II would be rank disloya
to President Arthur, his chief, II
we're to permit any movement OF t
. kind to be made; and, finally, II
went ahead without his consent,
should take adequate steps TO pu
stop 10 IL.
"That ended It. So, today, Blaine
nominated. And certain defeat Is
fore us. But do you suppose that m
D would have been any check to the
thusiasm Of the old Republicans
o. they contemplated the opportunity
/. voting for the son of Abraham Line
3 for PRESIDENT"
8 copyright, 1911, by f. J, Edwards.
g rights reseryed.)
: Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards VIII tel
J. aThe Two Broken Appointments i