New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-26

They thought that they were taking
him into camp, but all the time, as ne
says in his postscript to Colonel wat
terson's paper II was comforting my
self with the belief that / was taxing
the Quadriateral into camp, and shoulo
find them very useful articles ID begin
housekeeping WITH" a belief that as
the issue showed was well founded
This is where the "Humor' begins
The Adams -Trumbull four thought that
everything would go their way. and
they were certainly encouraged In THIS
conviction by their success IN killing
the boom for Judge David Davis. The
ColoneTs account Of the killing makes
one Of his most diverting passages:
The inner sanctuary of our proceed
ings was a common drawing room oe-
tween two bedchamberS shared ~
Schurz and me. Here we repaired after
supper TO smoke the pipe of fraternity
and reform and to save the country
What could be done to XIII on ID.
Davis" as we irreverently called the
eminent and learned 1urist the friend OF
Lincoln. and the only asplrant having
bari? That was the question. we
addressed ourselves TO the task with
earnest purpose, but characteristically
The power OF the press must be IN
voked 1t was our chief, If not our
only, weapon. Each OF US indlted
leading editorial for his paper, TO be
wired TO it's destination and printed
next morning. striking ID. Davis at
prearranged and varying angle. Copies
of these were made for Halstead,. who
having with the rest of us read and
4
one OF his own in general comment and
review for Cincinnati consumption. In
next days Commercial" blazing under
vivid headlines, these leading editorials
dated Chicago" New York" Spring
peared with the explaining line, The
Tribune of tomorrow morning Tor the
'Courier-Journar or Republican, VIII
say" etc.
Wondrous consensus of public opin-
ion, Tne Davis boom went down before
it. The Davis boomers were paralyzed.
The earth seemed TO have arisen and hit
them amidships. The incoming dele
gates were stopped and forewarned. Six
months OF adroit scheming was set at
naught, and little more was heard or
ID. Davis"
There we're other comic interludes,
and as he revives the memory Of them
Colonel Watterson throws in some
vivid personalities. He is delightful on
Colonel Alexander X. Mcclure. "the
Jupiter Tonans Of Reform" who came
and looked the Quadrilateral over.
! tossed Schurz and Watterson into the
| air. and plainly indicated his disdain
for their projects. Watterson persisted.
Mcclure" said he, despairing, bewil-
cred, but still resolute, what in the
i- do you want, anyhow The scorn-
! full one witheringly replied: What?
With those cranks? Nothing" But the
! confident four had other surprises to
face. Try as they might to limit the
| field to Adams and Trumbull, the name
| OF Greeley somehow kept coming In.
At the psychological moment Gratz
! Brown made his speech in the con-
vention. THE result was" says Colo
mel Watterson, that Greeley was
nominated amid a whirl OF enthusiasm.
his workers with Whitelaw Reid at
| their head, having maintained an ad-
mirable and effective organization
and being thoroughly prepared to take
advantage OF the opportune moment.
! The impossible had come TO
pass. The Quadrilateral had
| been knocked into a cooked hat.
| Whitelaw Reid was the sole survivor.