kee--Return to Ohio--Defeat of Harrison.

During the spring and summer of 1892, prior to the renomination of
General Harrison for President and Whitelaw Reid for Vice President,
the choice of candidates was the general subject of comment. A
good deal of opposition to General Harrison was developed, mainly,
I think, from his cold and abrupt manners in his intercourse with
those who had business with him. His ability and integrity were
conceded, but he was not in any sense popular. This was apparent
especially in New York, that state that nominated him in 1888.
During all the period mentioned many names were canvassed, mine
among others, but I uniformly declined to be a candidate, and said
if I had a vote in the convention it would be cast for Harrison.
Some of his friends, especially Charles Foster, complained in
published interviews that I had not taken a more active part in
securing his nomination. From later developments I became satisfied
that Harrison could not be elected, that Platt and a powerful New
York influence would defeat him if nominated. I therefore preferred
the nomination of a new man, such as William McKinley, but he had
committed himself to Harrison, and, according to my code of honor,
could not accept a nomination if tendered him.

The Republican national convention met at Minneapolis on the 7th
of June. On the first ballot, Harrison received 535 votes, Blaine
182, McKinley 182, Reed 4, Lincoln 1. The southern states gave
Harrison 229 votes and other candidates 69, thus securing to Harrison
the nomination. Both Blaine and McKinley promptly acquiesced in
the result. I did not think the nomination wise, but was reported,
no doubt correctly, as saying to an interviewer:

"The nomination is one I expected to be made in the natural order
of things. The attempt to bring out a dark horse against two
persons evenly matched, or supposed to be so, is an extremely
difficult feat, because any break from one of the leaders would
naturally carry a portion of his followers to the other leader.
Therefore, the nomination of Harrison seemed to be the natural
sequence as soon as it appeared that he had a majority over Blaine,
which, I think, was apparent from the very beginning. I think that
the nomination being made, all will acquiesce in it and try to
elect the ticket. There was far more discontent with the nomination
four years ago than there is now. Then there were rapid changes
made that were to be