St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-05
CLEVELAND'S SUCCESSOR
A Brief Pen Picture of Lieut.. Gov.
Hill, Who is to Succeed Gov.
Cleveland.
A Successful Lawer and Politician, and Will
Give Satisfaction to Both Parties.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

VIII meet on Tueeday. Io-morrow night the
republican members Of the house will meet in
caucus, and IL a candidate for speaker is nomi-
mated he will be elected on Tuesday. and the or
ganzation Of both houses viii be completed.
Theodore Roosevelt stated that at meeting of
all the principal candidates for speaker it was
unanimously agreed that Mr.. Hubbell was the
proper person to be supported for speaker. In
the event that the houses are organized Gov
Cleveland will on the 9Th resign to the assembly
the office OF governor. and Lieut.. Gov Hill will
be inaugurated into the gubernatorial
office, and at once enter upon
the duties Outside OF New York
but few people have ever heard the name of
David Bennett Hill, who will succeed Governor
Cleveland in the executive office of this COM
monwealth. He was born in Schuyler county
August 90, 1s43, and his father and mother,
Caleb and Eunice Hill, were natives of the
county. He was educated at the Havana academy,
Schuyler county, and was admitted to the bar in
1864, when he took up his residence in Elmira,
where he still lives. Since boyhood he has been
Democrat, and in early manhood took an active
interest in his party. In 1855 he was elected
city attorney OF Elmira, and in 1870 was chosen
TO represent Chemung: county in the
legislature. He was reelected in 1871
During his first term in the legislature he intro.
duced into the house bill to abolish the convict
labor system, but although he advocated It's en-.
actment with great ability and much energy it
was defeated. In 1875 he was appointed by Gov
Tiiden as a member Of a commission authorized
to prepare uniform charter for the cities of the
state, VIM. NJ. Evarts and other prominent gem
tlemen being associated with him, but he de-
clined the appointment. In 1880 he was elected
alderman of the third ward of Elmira, the strong
est Republican ward in that city In 1882, ut the
spring election, he was elected mayor Of the city,
but resigned TO accept the Office
of lieutenant governor, to which
he had been elected at the November
election Of that year on the ticket with Grover
Cleveland by plurality Of 1876, ,0s5 votes. For
two years he was an active member OF the DEM
ocratic STATE central committee for the Twenty
ninth congressional district, and in 1877, and
again In 1881 was temporary president Of the
Democratic state convention. He is now presi-
dent Of the company in Emira which publishes
the Elmira Gazette, the leading Democratic jour
nal OF the southern tier Of counties of this state
There is not much TO be said about Gov Hill, he
has not impressed himself upon the legislature
OF the state, or been leader In any movement
within his own party or In opposition
10 the Republican party. He may be
described as successful politician,
shrewd man and good but not
q great lawyer. He possesses the rare faculty
of being an active politician and a successful
lawyer, AT the same time giving all necessary at
tenton to his profession, while he controls in
all its parts the machine by which the Demo-
cratic party Of his own county is managed. Skill
full in political manipulat on, he is not political
leader OF the highest type. A regretsble state
ment explained by the fact that he won his po-
litical spurs IN district In which the Office has
not for many years sought the man. He was
nominated for Lieutenant governor On the ticket
with Cleveland, not because he represented the
ideas in politics that Cleveland repre-
sented, but because he earnestly
desired and skillfully sought the
nomination. He was one OF the men Tilden
brought into alliance with himself In the great
coutest against Tweed and the canal ring, and
Tilden had few more efficient lieutenants than
Hhl was. In the Legislature OF 1872. to which
Tilden had been elected for the purpose Of OBJ.
tanning the necessary legislation 10 overthrow
the Tweed ring which was exposed In 1871, Hill
served with Tilden on the Judiciary committee OF
the house, but was not, as u member OF that
committee, at arst 10 hearty sympathy with Til.
den's plans; but afterward, while Til.
den was governor, Hill became one of
the most jealous Of his supporters.
and gave 10 the cause of reform under
1ilden's leadership all his energy and ability In
1876 he was Tilden delegate to the ST. Louis con
Yention, and since that time has constantly been
3 conspicuous hgure in the Democratic party OF
this state. lie will now become governor, and
Republicans and Dem ocrats alike predict that he
will administer the state affairs with ability and
honesty.
Gov. Cleveland will receive no visitors to-mor.
row, the last day on which he viii act as gov
ernor. lie will be busily engaged considering g
pardon cases, and dlsposing of other work which
cannot be done by his success ssor Gov. Cleve-
land will resign his Office TO the legislature
and Lieut.. Gov. Hill will be inaugurated
as governor On Wednesday Gov Cleveland
will remove from the executive mansion, and vii
then visit his old friends and neIghbors In Buf
falo. About the 18th inst he will return TO AL
bany and be at home TO all visiting statesmen and
the rest Of mankind.
No member Of the cabinet has yet been deter
mined. Senator Bsysrd may, as heretofore
stated, have the portfolio Of the secretary of
state, but he has not signi1ed his intention OF
accepting 1t, and 1t Is understood that he will
not. He will. It is believed here, remain In the
senate. On the return OF Gov. Cleveland from
Buffalo the cabinet question will be seriously
considered. and part Of its membership will be
soon thereafter determined.