emen representing
different delegations in a room in the building where the
convention was held, for consultation, and to see if they
could agree upon a candidate. The Massachusetts delegation
had authorized me to cast their vote as a unit for any candidate
whom I should think best, whom sixteen of the delegates--
being one more than a majority--approved. I had ascertained
their opinion. While as I said there were but thirteen at
most who would support Sherman, considerably more than sixteen
were willing to support either Harrison or Allison, and perhaps
one or two others, who had been prominently mentioned, including,
I think, Mr. Depew, although of that I am not certain. We
met as I said. The New York delegation had authorized its
vote to be cast unanimously for any person on whom the four
delegates at large, Platt, Miller, Depew and Hiscock, representing
different shades of opinion in the Republican Party of that
State, should agree. Three of these gentlemen, Platt, Miller
and Hiscock, were present at the meeting. Mr. Quay, Chairman
of the Pennsylvania delegation, was also authorized to cast
the vote of the entire delegation as he should think fit.
Mr. Spooner of Wisconsin, Chairman of the Wisconsin delegation,
was present with a like authority. Mr. Farwell, Chairman
of the Illinois delegation, was present with a like authority
from his State. Mr. Clarkson, Chairman of the Iowa delegation,
was present with authority to vote for Mr. Allison from the
beginning. De Young, of California, thought he could speak
for his people, though I believe without claiming authority
from them. Filley, of Missouri, was also present. There
were several other gentlemen of influence, though not all
of them delegates, and not all of them entitled to speak for
their States, but feeling able to assure the company that
their States would accede to whatever agreement might be made
there. The names of several candidates were discussed. I
made a very earnest speech in favor of Mr. Allison, setting
forth what I thought were the qualities that would make him
a popular candidate, and would make him an able and wise President.

Finally, all agreed that their States should vote for Mr.
Allison when the convention came in in the afternoon. Depew,
as I have said, was absent. But his three colleagues said
there could be no doubt that he would agree to their action,
and there would be no difficulty about New York. We thought
it best