The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1912-12-28
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Arthur Wanted Man From West
Of the Mississippi.
Story of Chat With Him Just Before
the Convention at Which He Was
Nominated for the Vice.
Presidency.
BY &, j. EDWARDS.

One day in the first week of June.
1881, | was compelled to wait at the
railway station at Albany, ~ Y, for a
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 heard step approaching
and. looking up. saw Gen Chester A.
Arthur He carried a gripsack. which
he set down in order to remove his
nat and wipe from his forehead the
protuse 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.
suppose YOU are on your way to
Chicago, general" / asked, having In
mind the fact that the Republican ma
tional convention was about to con
vene in that city.
Yes, he replied 81 am to take
here the special train that is running
from New York city came up to Al
bany yesterday 10 attend to some per
sonal business and to visit my sister,
Mrs McElroy, whom | have not seen
for some time" She was the sister.
who, little over year later. was 10
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.
4 doubt. said he-and he was one
Of Roscoe Coukling's stanch support
ers In the Grant third term movement
II 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"
In case you do not nominate Gen
eral Grant. ! asked. who. then. is
likely to be the choice of the conven-
ton? Blaine"
No not Blaine But for him Grant
would be nominated II Grant cant be
nominated Blaine can't be"
Does that mean dark horse" !
asked, cor John sherman" sherman
was an avowed candidate.
General Arthur looked at me queer
" 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 49,
an act that greatly angered the New
York organization.
For myself | should Ike to see
some one nominated from one OF the
states west OF the Mississippi riveI II
we can not nominate General Grant"
Arthur continued
The temptation will be great. Gen
eral Arthur" said ito publish the
fact that you. and presumably your
friends, have some Republican who
lives west Of the Mississippi in mind
as second choice in case you cannot
nominate General Grant"
1T wouldn't do at all" he replied
hastily; 1T would mix everything all
up"
Well" | said. I'm case you nomi
nate far western man for president,
the convention win probably come
east for its 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 it a
moments thought he said Almost
any good Republican VINO lives In the
east would make a good candidate for
vice president Personally, | should
be inclined to name some one from
Pennsylvania or New England, but the
matter at this time is not worth a mo
menfs consideration.
That was the attitude of the man
who a few days later was himself 10
be nominated for vlcepresdent 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
els Herman,
Who General Arthur's far western
choice for the presidential nomination
was / never learned.
tCopyrght, 1911, by f. j. Edwards All
piobtS TRasavtse1