Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1912 — Lincoln’s Son Refused to Lead [ARTICLE]

Lincoln’s Son Refused to Lead

Robert T. Was Urged to Accept Nomination for the Presidency In 1884, But Declined Because of Loyalty to Arthur. A few hours after the nomination of James G. Blaine for president by the Republican national convention at Chicago, in 1884, and the nomination of Gen. John A. Logan as vice-presi-dent, the late Gen. James H. Husted came to and, taking a seat by the desk at which I was writing, said to me: “You needn’t put It in your dispatches that the ticket which has just been nominated is doomed to defeat; but I tell you that It Is and that the Republican party has made a grave blunder to nominating Blaine.” I heard what General Hosted said with interest because I knew that he was one of the best judges of political conditions in New York state, at least in the Republican party. He had been many times speaker of the lower house ot the New York state legislature; he was the Intimate friend of all the leading politicians of each party, and he was always a great admirer of James G. Blaine. “Are you sorry that Blaine has been nominated?” I asked. “Yes, I am sorry for his sake and

for his party’s sake, because I* am confident he is doomed to defeat,” was the reply. “And I am especially sorry because, but for one thing,- we could have named a candidate who would have swept the country, whQto nomination and election would have wiped out gll> factional troubles, in the Republican party.” •mo is that?” I asked. “Robert T. Lincoln," General Hosted ;■ replied. “I can tell you confidentially now that a movement was begun In Illinois some months ago which had for its. object the nomination of Robert T. Lincoln for president by acclamation by this convention after the first complimentary ballot Jiad been taken. The movement bad the support of many of the friends of General Logan, and I Sim sure it would have, received the support of nearly all the leading politicians of the Republican party had the opportunity come to them to give that support "Months ago ail of the strong Republican leaders realized that if Blaine were, nominated by this convention Senator Roscoe Conkling’s friends In New .York would knife bib? at the polls. I myself am certain that enough of Conkling’s friends will knife Blaine at the election in November to cost him the electoral vote ot New York state. You know, the quarrel between Conkling and Blaine was never healed. On the other hand, it was doubtful whether President Arthur,. If he were could carry New York state. - 80 It was suggested early in the spring of this year that we look around to see if we could not find some candidate who would receive the support of all factions of the party and who would be certain to carry New York state. “Prom some of General' Logan’s friends in Illinois the sugestion came that we take up Robert 'LLfacoln. it was a splendid suggestionj the movement that sprang from it made considerable headway, so that at last it was thought best to put matters before Lincoln himself. I think the better way would have been to say nothing, hut at the right moment'to have stampeded the convention for him. But per*' sonal friends of Lincoln were asked to approach him and Igy the matter before him. This they *11141; and after a brief interview with bifirthdy reported that the movement must stop then and there. They said that Lincoln had told thefit that only member of that be might be president again as *l* steps to -put m stop to it.’ * nominated. And certain .defeat is before us. But do you suppose that there would have been any check to the enthusiasm of the oH Republican!) as coin xor prwwniL • -» (Copyright. A» Rt|hts Tthso'l T> i a.) "