He requested me to come to the Speaker's room immediately after the adjournment of the House that afternoon.
When I entered the room Mr.Blaine was alone.

I took a seat only a few feet from him.

I informed him of the great disappointment and intense dissatisfaction which his action had caused in defeating what was not only regarded as a party measure, but which was believed by the Republicans to be of vital importance from a party point of view, to say nothing of its equity and justice.

I remarked that for him to array himself in opposition to the great majority of his own party associates,--and to throw the weight of his great influence against such an important party measure as the Federal Elections Bill was believed to be,--he must have had some motive, some justifiable grounds of which the public was ignorant, but about which I believed it was fair to himself and just to his own friends and party associates, that he give some explanation.
"As a southern Republican member of the House, and as one that is not hostile or particularly unfriendly to you," I said, "I feel that I have a right to make this request of you." At first he gave me a look of surprise, and for several seconds he remained silent.

Then, straightening himself up in his chair, he answered: "I am glad, Mr.Lynch, that you have made this request of me, since I am satisfied you are not actuated by any unfriendly motive in doing so.