Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-02-20
GENERAL BATE.
The IrrepressibIe interviewer
Hunts Him Down i'm Gin
cinnati,

1NA1
has the following
General W. B. Bate, of Nashville,
Tenn, the member of the National
Democratic executive committee from
that state, has been in town this week
on his way to New York and Wash
ington, to which latter place he goes
to attend a meeting of the committee.
While at the Grand Hotel he had a
conversation with an Enquirer repre-
sentative on political matters, some
of the points of which, com
ing from such a nan as he,
are interesting at this time. The Cen
eral is an eminentlawyar of Nashville,
was a general of division in the Com
federate army during the late war, and
is very prominent in his own State.
He was a member of the National
committee for the past twelve years,
and was a Presidential %elector in the
election of 1876. He is a man of about
fifty years Of age, of a large frame,
dark-haired, with a mustache and i'm.
perial slightly tinged with gray, a
piercing black eye, high cheek bones,
firm mouth and commanding ap-
pearance generally, albeit he is
forced to walk with a cane owing to
wounds received during the war. In
his, talk with the Enquirer represen-
tative he spoke with great enthusiasm
of the prospects of the Democracy In
the coming struggle. Said he "The
Democratic party is going into this
campaign to win, and with good man
agement it will do it. Everything
seems favorable to such a result. The
Republican party just now are waging
a bitter war smong themselves over
the question Of leadership, a fight
which must leave deep wounds behind.
it, whichever way it is settled, and
now, if ever, is the time for the Demo
cracy to assert itself"
OF the probabilities Of the Demo.
cratic convention being held here, the
General would not say much. He did
say, however, hal while in this city
he had been to see Music Hall, and
thought it the finest hall he had ever
seen for convention purposes. but"
said he. Cincinnati does not seem to
be making much Of an effort to get
the convention. Although | have re-
celved letters from every other city in
the Union that is seeking to get the
convention, | have never received a
line from Cincinnati, and as fara cor
respondence on the subject is con
cerned, | have no knowledge that Gin
cinnati wants it."
General Bate said further that du-
ring the National Convention at st.
Louis, in 1876, over 100, 600 strangers
visited the city, brought there by the
convention.
Being questioned in regard to the
possibilities Of the Democratic nomi-
nation, the general said: 1T is very
hard, in fact it is impossible, to say
who will be the Democratic nominee.
Of one thing you may rest assured.
though, which is, that if Governor
Hendricks is sincere land | think he
Isl in the statement that he will not
accept the second place on the ticket,
and an Eastern man should be nomi-
mated for the first place, then Ohio
will get the Vice Presidency"
Who, then, do you think, will be
the Ohio man that will be nominated
for second placer queried the En-.
quirer ambassador.
Ex-Governor r. NJ. Bishop" was
the answer, given with emphasis.
What reason have you for think
ing sop asked the interviewer.
Because" responded the general,
he is the strongest man that can be
had. He carried the State once by a
very large majority, and undoubtedly
can do so again. If the Democrats
can carry Ohio in the coming Presi-
dental campaign it is is not in the
power Of the Republicans to prevent
them from electing their ticket. Fol
this reason | say if an Eastern man il
nominated for President then Govern
or Bishop, next to Hendricks, will b.
the best mar to nominate for the sec.
ond place.