The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-02-09
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Arthur Wanted Man !. From West
of the Mississippi !
sesry Of q chat with Him Just sssers
1 the Convention At Which He Nas
Nominated for the Vice
Presidency. +.
Rx z. J. EpWARpa.

SBy e. }. EDWARDS.
One day In the nrst week Of June.
1851. l was compelled to wait at the
railway station 1t Albany. N. T.. for q
train from the west that was reported
two hours late. The day was warm.
and the station platform wa almost
deserted except by employees. /!
|; AT last ] 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.
Il suppose you are on your way to
Chicago. g%eneral?" | asked. having In
mind the fact that the Republican ma
tional convention was about to con
vene in that city.
YES" he replied. II am to take
here the special train that is running
from New York city. I came up to AL.
bany yesterday to 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, a little owe 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.
Il doubt" said he-and he was one
Of Roscoe Conkling's stanch support.
srs in the Grant third term movement
II doubt whether we shall be able
to c the nomination Of General
Grant. Judge william c. Robertson
Of this state seems to have his bolt
Ing delegates well in hand, and I Am
convinced that the delegates from
Pennsylvania who sfAxe stated that
thsyswM not ssupportaurant.s 4nozntna-
tion viii stick TO that determination.
All this looks to me as II Grant can
not be nominated"
I'm case you do not nominate Cen
eral Grant," I asked. who. then, 10
likely to be the choice of the conven-
lion? Blaine?"
mo, not Blaine. But for him Grant
would be nominated. II Grant can't be
nominated. Blaine can't be-"
Does that mean q dark horse?" I
asked. "Of John Sherman?" Sherman
was an avowed candidate.
General Arthur looked at me queer
" for . moment before replying.
DO you really think that the New,
York delegation would support tho
nomination Of Sherman in view Of
what has h%appened?" 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 ONCE Of
collector Of the port Of New York.
an act that greatly angered the New;
York organization.
FOR myself I should like to see
some one nominated from one Of the
states west Of the Mississippi river II
We can not nominate General Grant"
Arthur continued.
THE temptation will be great. Gem
eral Arthur" I 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"
ut wouldn't do at all." be replied!
hastily 1T would mig everything all
up" !
"Well," I said, 'in case you nomii
nate q far western man for president.
the convention will probably come
east for IL candidate for v~ice-presii
dent" /,
General Arthur smiled. aThe vice
presidency ID 20 remote . contingency
until the candidate for president -
nominated that We haven't given It 9
momentis 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 10 not worth . MOI
ment,s consideration" /
That was the attitude Of the man
Who astoW days later. ri himself to-
be nominated for v~icerpresident and
Who, q we paced the platform TO-
gether, tacitly admitted TO me that he
wass contemplating his election on the
following winter Is United States sen
ator from New York to succeed Fran
cis Herman. &
VINO General Arthur's far western,
choic, torsthe presidential nomination.
w. i never learned. sfs