Roosevelt's election as a delegate from New York was in the nature of a national surprise.

Mr.Blaine was believed to be very strong in that State.

The public, therefore, was not prepared for the announcement that Theodore Roosevelt,--an anti-Blaine man,--had defeated Senator Warner Miller,--the able and popular leader of the Blaine forces in that State,--as delegate to the National Convention from the State at large.

The Blaine leaders were brought to a realization of the fact, that, in consequence of their unexpected defeat in New York, it was absolutely necessary, in order to make sure of the nomination of their candidate, to retain the support they had among the Southern delegates.
With that end in view the National Committee, in which the Blaine men had a majority, selected a Southern man, Hon.

Powell Clayton, of Arkansas, for temporary chairman of the Convention.