ne men will probably put up
someone else who would, no doubt, receive the same vote that you would
receive. If it is possible for them to elect anyone, I know of no man I
would rather have them thus honor than you. While, therefore, I shall
vote against you and hope you will not be elected,--simply because I am
a Blaine man, and a vote for you means a vote against Blaine,--I shall
not advise you to decline the use of your name."

I then approached Mr. Hanna, who appeared to be surprised that I
hesitated about consenting to the use of my name.

"We have you elected," he said, "by a majority of about thirty-five. You
cannot decline the use of your name, for two reasons; first, since we
know we have the votes necessary to elect you, should you now decline
the public would never believe otherwise than that you had been
improperly influenced. This you cannot afford. In the second place, it
would not be treating us fairly. We have selected you in perfect good
faith, with the expectation that you would allow your name to be thus
used; or, if not, you would have declined in ample time to enable us to
reconvene, and select someone else. To decline now, on the eve of the
election, when it is impossible for us to confer and agree upon another
man for the position, would be manifestly unfair to us as well as to
your own candidate for the Presidential nomination, whose chances may
be injuriously affected thereby."

This argument was both impressive and effective. I then and there
decided to allow my name to be used. I learned afterwards that it was
under the direction and management of Mr. Hanna that the Convention had
been so carefully and accurately polled. That his poll was entirely
correct was demonstrated by the result. This also established the fact
that as an organizer Mr. Hanna was a master, which was subsequently
proved when he managed Mr. McKinley's campaign both for the nomination
and election to the Presidency in 1896.

When the Convention was called to order, and the announcement was made
that the National Committee had selected Hon. Powell Clayton, of
Arkansas, for temporary chairman of the Convention, an attractive young
man in the Massachusetts delegation was recognized by the chair. He gave
his name, as H.C. Lodge. He said he rose to place the name of another
gentleman in nomination; and, after making a neat and appropriate speech
in commendation of his candidate,--a speech that created a very
favorable impressi