Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1887 — Mr. Blaine’s Early Ambition. [ARTICLE]

Mr. Blaine’s Early Ambition.

St. Louis Globe-Democrat Colonel Lionel Sheldon, ex-Govemor of New Mexico, and at present one of the receivers of the Texas and Pacific Railroad, is in the city, at the Southern. In conversation with a Globe-Demo-crat reporter yesterday he related the following incident: In 1872 he (Sheldon) was a member of Congress from Louisiana. One day, not later than January of tlqat year. Mr. BJaine, who was also a member of the House, met him and suddenly Baid to him: “What would you think of my running for Vice-Presi-dent on the ticket with Grant? I think I can get it.” "'Well,”said Sheldon, ‘4f you want to retire from politics the Vice Presidency is a good road to retirement. Formerly the Vice President was looked upon in the line of succeswion—theV ice President of one administration was the Preeident of the next; but they’ve changed all that lately, and

now the moment a man is elected Vice ' President he < eapes to be in politics.” I “I guess so,” said Mr. Blaine. “But I’m too young to retire from polices. How would it do forme to be Secretary of the Treasury under Grant?” “That’s worse yet ” said Sheldon, “so far as any future is concerned. Finance mirristers are rarely heard of after their terms of office." The conversation was broken off at about this point, and was not resumed until 1879, wnen Blaine visited Ohio to make some speeches. Sheldon had by this time returned to Ohio and was living about twenty miles from Cleveland. Blaine and Sheldon met, and had not been long in conversation when Mr. Blaine introduced the subject of the Presidency and his owp candidacy. Sheldon shook his head and said: The trouble with youjsthat you live at the wrong end of the country. The West is going to make all the Presidents hereafter.