Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-02-07
Lincoln's Son Refused to Lead

Are you sorry that Blaine has been
nominated?" l asked.
Yes, am sorry for his sake and
for his party's sake, because am con-
fldent he is doomed to defeat" was
the reply And l am especially sorry
because, but for one thing, we could
have named a candidate who would
have swept the country, whose nomina-
ton and election would have wiped
out all factional troubles in the Repub-
ican party"
who is that?" l asked.
Robert T. Lincoln" General Hustled
replied. Il can tell you confidentially
now that a movement was begun In
Illinois some months ago which had
for Its object the nomination of Robert
T. Lincoln for president by acclama-
ton by this convention after the first
complimentary ballot had been taken.
The movement had the support Of
many of the friends of General Logan.
and am sure 1t would have received
the support of nearly all the leading
politicians Of the Republican party.
Months ago all of the strong Re-
publican leaders realized that If Blaine
were nominated by this convention
Senator Roscoe Conkling's friends In
New York would knife him at the
polls. / myself am certain that enough
of Conkling's friends will knife Blaine
at the election in November to cost
him the electoral vote of New York
state. You know, the quarrel between
Conkling and Blaine was never healed.
On the other hand, 1t was doubtful
whether President Arthur, II he were
nominated, could carry New York state.
So 1t was suggested early in the spring
of this year that we look around to see
II we could not find some candidate
who would receive the support OF all
factions of the party and who would
be certain to carry New York state.
From some of General Logan's
friends in Illinois the suggestion came
that We take up Robert T. Lincoln 1t
was a splendid suggestion; the move
ment that sprang from 1t made consid-
cradle Roadway, SO that at last 1t was
thought best to put matters before Lin
coin himself. think the better way
would have been to say nothing. but
at the right moment to have stamped
ed the convention for him. But per-
sonal friends Of Lincoln were asked
to approach him and lay the matter be-
fore him. This they did, and after q
brief interview with him they reported
that the movement must stop then and
there. They said that Lincoln had told
them that he was the only member Of
the Garfield cabinet whom President
Arthur had retained throughout his en-
tire administration; he knew that Ar
thur craved a nomination; not so much
that he might be president again as
that there might be vindication of his
difficult administration: under the cir
cumstances he felt that it would be
rank disloyalty to President Arthur, his
chief, If he were to permit any move
ment of this kind to be made; and,
finally, II 1t went ahead without his
consent, he should take adequate
steps to put a stop to &.
That ended it. So. today, Blaine was
nominated And certain defeat Is be-
fore US. But do you suppose that there
would have been any check to the en-
thusiasm of the old Republicans as
they contemplated the opportunity of
voting for the son Of Abraham Lin.
coin for president?''
Copyright, 1911. by E. J. Edwards. AL
Rights ReseTved)