Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-19
ROGER A. PRYoR's COURSE.
He will Support Cleveland and Part
Company with Butler.


Gen. Roger A. Pryor's position in the
pending Presidential canvass is generally
misunderstood. His well-known friend
ship and high personal regard for Gen.
Butler has repeatedly been made the basis
OIL stories which credited him at one time
| Win the intention to bolt the Democratic
ticket, and at another with scheming TO
defeat it while ostensibly giving it his
Endorsement.
In an interview SATURDAY. with a CORE
spOndent OF the Baltimore Sun Gen. Pryor
said: '0i
~ have never for one moment had the
slightest hesitancy as to my duty in the
pending Presidential contest. / am n
Democrat. L firmly believe that the
principles of that party enforced in the
administration of the national govern
hent VIII restore its former purity and
insure lts permanency. l believe that il
a9Vocates the true interest and is the best
Hleno OF the workingmen. This is nv
posltlon from a general point of view
Holding these principles, it would be i'm
possible for me to support ANYTHING but
the Democratic ticket.
NOW as regards the personnel of the
tlcket. My relations with Gov. Cleye-
Iand are very friendly. regard him as
Ihdh oI hlgh personal character, and pos
sesslng very marked ability. and of the
strIctest integrity. In 1882 | drafted the
platform upoAo WR icR,shay.Gap apd.4v-ap
is true that in the late National Conyen-
tion advocated the nomination of Sena-
tUI DayaI u, yet that course was not in the
least influenced by any question in my
mind as to Gov. Cleveland's fitness for
the position. When he was nominated
there was, therefore, no obstacles in the
way of my candid Endorsement. Under
these circumstances, l did not feel the
slightest hesitancy In Immediately an
nOuncing my position. On my way home
from Chicago / frankly told Gen. Butler
that l should support the Democratic ma
tional ticket.
''Now with regard to the story that l
went to Saratoga to try and induce Mr..
Kelly to support Gen. Butler, let me say
that it was made out of whole cloth. 1
went to Saratoga as the guest of friend
and In 1ulhllment OF an engagement made
six months ago. L succeeded in staying
away for three days, when imperative
business compelled me to return to this
city. This is the reason of my short stay
at that place. But let me add that while
there / never spoke to or even met Mr..
John Kelly, nor had any communication
with him, directly or indirectly"
"Do you intend to work for Gov. Cleye- |
ldAlu ClCCJlOHs
''Yes, in my own way" replied Gen.
Pryor, land as far as my professional en-
gagements will permit, l have done a
good deal of work in a quiet way in his
interest. On Sunday, July 81, went to
Boston for the purpose of endeavOring to
induce Gen. Butler to support Gov.
Cleveland. was with him all the next
day, and when he finally gave his answer
refusing to listen to my appeals, then ]
parted with him politically. This will
show that my position this year is not in
the least equivOcal.
"NOw it may be that good deal of the
talk regarding me arises from the differ
ent view l take from some persons re-
garding the proper method of conducting
the canvass. There is a disposition to
abuse Gen. Butler and scotf at the disaf-
fectiOn among the wOrkingmen. Gen. But
Ter is not man to be treated in this man.
ner. He possesses great ability, and can
lnjure us in many ways should he 90 out
OF his path to do so. For my part l see no
reason to make a personal fight on him.
What good can accrue to our party from
such a course? With the workingmen
our interest lies not in scoffing them. but
to try to induce them to vote the Demo-
cratic ticket, for every vote will count this
year. They should be shown that their
interests In the case lie in the election of
Grover Cleveland to the Presidency. This
is the sort of canvass that | would make,
and all the time that | can spare will be
devoted to working in this manner"