The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-01-27
ARTHUR WANTED
WESTERN MAN.


One day in the first week of June,
1881, l was compelled to wait at the
railway station at Albany, N. Y, for
train from the West that was re-
ported two hours late. The day was
warm, and the station platform was
almost deserted except by employees.
At last I heard a step approaching
and, looking up, saw General Chester
A, Arthur. He carried a gripsack,
which he set down in order to remove
his hat and wipe from his forehead
the profuse perspiration 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.
81 suppose you are on your way to
Chicago, general?" I asked, having in
mind the fact that the Republican
national 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. l came up to
Albany yesterday to attend to some
personal 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 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 frank
ness of the probable result of the bal
loting for the Presidential candidate.
81 doubt" said he-and he was one
of Roscoe Conkling'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 Cen
eral Grant" asked, who, then, is
likely to be the choice of the conven-
ton? Blaine?"
mo, not Blaine. But for him Grant
would be nominated. If Grant can't
be nominated, Blaine can't be-"
Does that mean dark horse?"
asked. "Or John Sherman" Sher-
man was an avowed candidate.
General Arthur looked at me
queerly 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
referred to the fact that it was John
Sherman, who, as Secretary of the
Treasury under Hayes, had caused
Arthurs removal from the office 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 if
we cannot nominate General Grant,
Arthur continued.
THE temptation will be great, Gen
eral Arthur" l said, ''to publish the
fact that you, and presumably your
friends, have some Republican VINO
lives west of the Mississippi in mind
as second choice in case you cannot
nominate General Grant"
at wouldn't do at all" he replied,
hastily; 1T would mix everything all
up"
We'll" l said, lin 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
I until the candidate for President is
nominated that we haven't given it a
: moments thought" he said. almost
any good Republican who lives in the
\ East would make a good candidate
e for vice president. Personally,
S should be inclined to name some one
r from Pennsylvania or New England
g but the matter at this time is moi
l. worth a moments consideration"
That was the attitude of the mar
s who a few days later was himself &