Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/31

BENJAMIN HARRISON 13 Orth, the Republican candidate for governor, with drew from the canvass while Gen. Harrison was taking a vacation on the north shore of Lake Su perior. Without consulting him, his name was put upon the ticket as candidate for governor, and when he arrived from the North an enthusiastic crowd met him at the station and escorted him to his home. The trading of horses while crossing the river did not work well, and though Gen. Harrison made a splendid canvass, running two thousand ahead of his ticket, the popularity of Gov. Hen- dricks, who was on the National ticket, pulled the whole Democratic State ticket through by a plu rality of three thousand. The gallant fight made by Gen. Harrison in that losing battle im posed a debt of gratitude upon his party which has not been forgotten. In 1879 President Hayes appointed him a member of the Mississippi River Commission. In 1880 he was chairman of the In diana delegation in the convention which nomi nated James A. Garfield. Some of his friends pre sented his name for the nomination in that conven tion, but he insisted that it should be withdrawn. His canvass of Indiana and other States during the campaign of 1880 was brilliant and effective. President Garfield offered him a place in his cab inet, which he declined. He was chosen United States senator in 1881, and served until 1887. His course in the senate was such as to win the esteem