Just before that body was called to order I decided to confer with Maj.

William McKinley and Hon.

M.A.
Hanna, of Ohio, and act upon their advice.

McKinley was for Blaine and Hanna was for Sherman, but my confidence in the two men was such that I believed their advice would not be influenced by their personal preference for the Presidential nomination.

I did not know at that time that Mr.Hanna had taken an active part in the deliberations of the conference that resulted in my selection for temporary chairman of the Convention.