The log cabin Democrat., 1912-02-12
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Arthur Wanted Man From West
 of the Mississippi.
Story of a Chat With Him Just Before the Convention at Which He Was Nominated for the Vice.
 Presidency.
By 2. j. EDWARDS.

railway station at Albany, N. T., for train from the west that was reported two hours late. The day was warm, and the station platform was almost deserted except by employees.
 At last l heard a step approaching and, looking up, saw Gen. Chester A. Arthur. He carried a gripsack, which he set down in order to remove his hat and wipe from his forehead the profuse precipitation which the heat of the day had brought out.
 General Arthur seldom failed to recognize any one with whom he had acquaintance, even the slightest, and his greeting of me, therefore. was most cordial.
 T suppose you are on your way to Chicago, general?" I asked, having in mind the fact that the Republican na- tional convention was about to con- vene in that city.
 Yes" he replied. T am to take here the special train that is running from New York city I came up to Al
 
 sonal business and to visit my sister, Mrs. McElroy, whom I have not seen for some time" She was the sister, who, little over a year later, was to become mistress of the White House.
 As we paced up and down the plat form, General Arthur, whose train also was late, spoke with great frankness of the probable result of the balloting for the presidential candidate
 T doubt" said he-and he was one of Roscoe Conltllng's stanch support CTS in the Grant third term movement T doubt whether we shall be able to secure the nomination of General Grant. Judge William c. Robertson of this state seems to have his bolt ing delegates well in hand. and am convinced that the delegates from Pennsylvania who have stated that they will not support Grants nomina- ton will stick to that determination. All this looks to me as if Grant can not be nominated"
 Tn case you do not nominate Gen eral Grant" I asked, 'who, then. is likely to be the choice of the conven- tion? Blaine?"
 No, not Elaine But for him Grant would be nominated. If Grant can't be nominated, Blaine cant be"
 Does that mean a dark horse?" asked "Or John Sherman" Sherman was an avowed candidate
 General Arthur looked at me queer ly for a moment before replying.
 Do you really think that the New York delegation would support the nomination of sherman in view of what has happened?" he asked. He re. ferred to the fact that it was John Sherman, who, as secretary of the treasury under Hayes, had caused Arthur's removal from the office Of collector of the port of New York an act that greatly angered the New York organization.
 For myself l should like to see some one nominated from one of the states west of the Mississippi river # We can not nominate General Grant" Arthur continued.
 "The temptation will be great. Gen, eral Arthur" I said "to publish the fact that you, and presumably your friends, have some Republican whc lives west of the Mississippi in mind as second choice in case you cannot nominate General Grant"
 "It wouldn't do at all" he replied hastily; it would mix everything all up"
 Well" I said, "in case you nomi nate a far western man for president, the convention will probably come east for it's candidate for vice-presi. dent"
 General Arthur smiled The vice. presidency is so remote a contingency until the candidate for president Is nominated that we haven't given 1t a moments thought" he said Almost any good Republican who lives in the east would make good candidate for vice-president Personally, I should be inclined to name some one from Pennsylvania or New England. but the matter at this time is not worth a mo- ment's consideration"
 That was the attitude of the man who few days later was himself to be nominated for vice-president and who. as we paced the platform to- gether. tacitly admitted to me that he was contemplating his election on the following winter as United States sen, ator from New York to succeed Fran cis Herman.
 Who General Arthur's far western choice for the presidential nomination was never learned.
 <1,.-.-.t,rl,t 1Q11 hy JN E-1vya r5, An