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ructing them to vote for me as their candidate for president。
After several districts had thus acted I was asked to meet in Whitelaw Reid's office in the Tribune Building Thomas C。 Platt； our State leader； and United States Senator Frank Hiscock。 Platt demanded to know why I was making this canvass without consulting the organization or informing them。 I told him I was doing nothing whatever by letter； telegram； or interview； that I had seen no one； and no one had been to see me。
Mr。 Platt； who had been all his life accomplishing things through the organization； was no believer in spontaneous uprisings； and asked me frankly： 〃Are you a candidate？〃 I told him I was not； because I did not believe I could be nominated with the present condition of the public mind in regard to railways； and I was president of one of the largest systems。
Then it was suggested that I permit the Tribune； which was the party organ； to state that I was not a candidate and did not want to be。 The next morning the Tribune had that fully explained。 The conventions kept on convening and instructing their delegates the same way。
Another conference was called； and then I was asked to make the statement that if nominated I would not accept； and if elected I would decline。 I said to my conferees： 〃Gentlemen； there is no American living big enough to say that。 In the first place； it is gross egotism to think such a thing might happen。〃 The result was that the organization accepted the situation。
The only way that I can account for this unanimous action of the party in its conventions in the congressional districts of the State is the accumulative result of appreciation of unselfish work for the party。 Every fall； for a quarter of a century； I had been on the platform in every part of the State； and according to my means was a contributor to the State and local canvass。 During this period I had asked nothing and would accept nothing。 If I may apply so large a phrase to a matter so comparatively unimportant； I would deny the often quoted maxim that 〃republics are ungrateful。〃
When the convention met there was an overwhelming sentiment for Mr。 Blaine； but his refusal was positive and absolute。 I had always been a warm supporter and friend of Mr。 Blaine； and his followers were very friendly to me。
What were called 〃the Granger States；〃 and especially Iowa； had become very hostile to railway management and railway men。 They were passing laws which were practically confiscatory of railway securities。 The committees from those States visited all other State delegations and spoke in bitter terms of my candidacy。 The strength of my candidacy was that New York was unanimously for me； except for one vote from New York City； and no nominee could hope to be elected unless he could carry New York。
After receiving ninety…nine votes； I found that on the next ballot my vote would be very largely increased； and decided to retire。 I called together the New York delegation and stated my position； and the reason for it。 A considerable debate took place。 The motion was made and unanimously carried that the four delegates at large should meet and see if they could agree upon a candidate who would command the support of the entire delegation of the State。 The object was； of course； to make the State； with its larger number of delegates than any other commonwealth； a deciding factor in the selection。
The delegates at large were： Thomas C。 Platt； Senator Frank Hiscock； Warner Miller； and myself。 When we met； Platt and Hiscock declared for Senator Allison of Iowa。 Warner Miller with equal warmth announced that he was for John Sherman。
A heated controversy arose between Mr。 Platt and Mr。 Miller； during which Mr。 Platt said that neither he nor any of his friends would vote for Sherman if he was nominated。 Senator Hiscock； who was always a pacifier； interrupted them； saying： 〃Mr。 Depew has said nothing as yet。 I suggest that we hear his views。〃
Mr。 Platt and Mr。 Miller responded to this suggestion and I replied： 〃Gentlemen； New York has given to me its cordial and practically unanimous support； and I have felt under the circumstances that I should follow and not lead。 The situation which has grown out of this discussion here eliminates two candidates。 Without the aid of Senator Platt and his friends； Mr。 Sherman could not carry New York。 Iowa has gone to the extreme of radical legislation which threatens the investment in securities of her railroads； and New York is such a capitalistic State that no man identified with that legislation could carry a majority of the vote of its people； and that makes Allison impossible。 There is one candidate here who at present apparently has no chance； but who； nevertheless； seems to me to possess more popular qualifications than any other； and that is General Benjamin Harrison； of Indiana。 I do not know him； never met him； but he rose from the humblest beginnings until he became the leader of the bar of his State。 He enlisted in the Civil War as a second lieutenant； and by conspicuous bravery and skill upon the battle…field came out as brigadier…general。 As United States senator he became informed about federal affairs。 His grandfather； President William H。 Harrison； had one of the most picturesque campaigns in our history。 There are enough survivors of that 'hard cider and log cabin' canvass to make an attractive contribution on the platform at every meeting； and thus add a certain historic flavor to General Harrison's candidacy。〃
After some discussion the other three agreed。 We reported our conclusion to the delegation； which by an overwhelming majority assented to the conclusions of the four delegates at large。 This decision settled the question in the convention； and after a few ballots General Harrison was nominated。 New York was awarded the vice…presidency and selected Levi P。 Morton。
During Harrison's administration I was absorbed in my duties as president of the New York Central Railroad； and was seldom in Washington。 But soon after his inauguration he sent to me a member of Congress from Indiana with a special message。 This congressman said： 〃I come from President Harrison； and he has instructed me to offer you a place in his Cabinet。 He is anxious to have you in his official family。〃
I told him that I was not prepared to enter public life； and while I was exceedingly gratified by the offer； it was impossible for me to accept。
The congressman said： 〃I am a poor man； but cannot understand how anybody can refuse to be member of the Cabinet of the President of the United States。 If such an offer was made to me； and the conditions of our overruling Providence were that I and my family should live in want and poverty for the rest of our lives； I would accept without hesitation。〃
I had met Benjamin Harrison as we passed through Indianapolis on business during the canvass； for the first time。 I was much impressed with him； but his austerity appeared to those who called upon him while present upon official business。 I found him one of the most genial and agreeable of men； and this impression was intensified when I met him at the White House。 At his own table and famil