The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-07-14
EX-SENATOR THURMAN.
An Interview With Him at CO.
lumbus.


sent an in er, lever to Columbus to SEE
ex-senator ThuimAn. Tue Telegram
thrs reports:
The Telegram man, upon ringing tht
dnor. hell, was ushered into plainly and
modestly furnished sitting room and re.
9uested to wait until the Senator had
finished bis lunch On coming into the
sitting room the Telegram representative
was struck by the marked Improvement
in the Senator's physical condition. He
looks ana sa that he feels stronger
and better than he has tor several years,
anil said that his only disability CON-
sisted OF an occasional twinge Of rbeu-
matisn in his arms. which frequently
bindered bis writing rapidly or with com
fort 10 himself.
Before the pleasant chat ended the re-
porter in a mid, timid manner, intima'-
ed to the ex-senator that msjpritv OF
the Democrats OF OHIO, and particularly
those of Cincinnati, we're anxious to
have him accept the gubernatorial nom.
iDsiion at the coming State convention
and. in fact, that the Telegram had pro
posed him believing thai it would be 8
f ting roundup Of noble career.
"Well, ssil The Ex-senator. "the Dem.
oc.ats of Cine nnati must have changed
considerably in their sentiments as they
were not very strong fer me at Chicago
"Was it not rather the prestige o.
Cleveland. together with the 6xed Law
that no Presidential candidate shal
come from any other State than New
York, thai prevented the Ohio delegates
from supporting you solidly at Chi
cago ?"
Yes, think il was the feeling thai
the candidate must Of necessity come
fr,m New York that nominated Cleve.
lani; hut. beside, l was in no sense 6
candidate before that convention:
neither expected sought or desired The
nomination, but wasahy friends pressed
into permitting my name TO be used
sgaiust my own desires. | have grea
many friends and think great deal o.
them and like to make sacrifices fOl
them. F,r myself have had all the
political honors that / desire, and an
interested only in repaying my many
friends who desire appointments uniel
the administration by writing letters
recommending them, which seems to
satisfy them. but which, | think, do bu'
littlr II any other good"
"Do you think letters OF recommen
da'irn OF much Importance in securing
positions In this or any other ajmials
tration ?"
"N), | do not"
"Are you called upon to write many
lettars OF recommends ion?"
"Yes, sir. have heen kept quite busy
during the winter and spring; IN fact
reading a few OF the associated press re.
ports and dispatches and writing these
letters, which do so little good Other
than to satisfy the persons desiring them
has constituted my sole occupation fol
several months; but am glad To do it,
because it pleases my FINDS, and is
about the only way in which can help
them. When the rheumatism has pre-.
vented my writing have had my srn
write them for me to sign "
"Wbat do you think OF Clevelaud's Z
ADMINISTRATION
at is too early to give reasonable
opinion upon the matter. But this howl
abou, turning the rascals out 10 body
is the merest nonsense 1t is not only q
very tedious but important matter for
an administration 10 6ll over LOG, ,00C
important public places 10 few months
M such wholesale change has been
made for nearly a quarter OF century
| do not think any safe Presidsut would
make changes more rapidly than Cleve.
land has done"
"Do You think the administration viii
be popular one2"
81 cannot say aud it does not matte
whether it be popular or not, 80 long as
it he right and jus, ?"
"Then you thi, k Cleveland has not, as
yet, bad chance 7"
"CertsInly not"
"Why is IL Senator that Democrats in
variably turn to N.w York or the eas
for presidential tlmberf'
ut probably results from two causes
In the tirst place, there is marked and
we'll settled prejudice, or rather jealousy
along the Atlantic coast from Maine tC
Flerida OF the west, which gives tb'
Atlantic Safes something in common
on which to unite.
The eastern Democrats say you can
not carry Ohio, and must have New
York, therefore, you must mite upoI
the man to carry New York. New JERSEY
and Connecticut. On the other hand
the Republican politicians from the ives
have taken the same position in regar'
to Oain, and have boldly said: "Oai'
is a doubtful S ate, and wi hout her yol
cannot succeed" therefore, you mus
have a man strung in OHIO Probabl
the most potent reason for going t.
Nv York for a Democratic candidat
is the notion that we must have grea
deal of money to run campaign, If "
hope TO succeed This is highly i'm
proper and corrupt les. 1t is nonsens
to think that these large campaign fund
can be either obtained or expended lie
Ultimately In the first place, the mo
nopolis,s and corporations who furnis
these large corruption funds do it wit
distinct idea, If not with the under
standing, that they are to be repaid
do not mean that they expect TO he pai
as We pay bank account, but that the
expect to be paid by having an infnenc
upon the administration and Legislation
and they are not generally disappointed
These people do not pay their none
upon mere sentiment -or for persons
friendship or preference, but they re
guard it as an Investment which, al
sorry to say, generally proves to be
good one. New York being the grea
money center, New York man is locke
upon as having the most influence wit
the money kings and be is accordingl
nominated While am by no means
Socialist, l believe in Q plain, homes
dealing and would not for moment pc
nit monopolies and corporations to OF
tain any undue influence or advantag
on account of their wealth over tt
people. Therefore think that am nj
and have not been strong with that clas
10 New York.
UWhu not arcpnt tho uovprnorahi,