New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-19
A SETBACK FOR CLEVELAND
HIS PLAN TO RUN THE CAMPAIGN BALKED
HE WANTED TO CONTROL BOTH THE NATIONAL
AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES, BUT



AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES BUT
FAILED.
The completion OF the organization Of tho Demo.
cratic National Committee has been attended with
an amount of friction which has set the sparks fytny
In every direction. President Cleveland has secured
control of the National Executive Committee but the
National Committee itself remains In control OF Bar
mum, German and Randall, who may be fairly pro-
sumcd to be looking forward to 1892. Some OF the
inside history OF the organization Of the committee
is exceedingly interesting, and has here When
the committee met at Washington, arrangements had
been made for the retirement OF Chairman Barnum
and for the election of Congressman william l. Scott
OF Erie in his place IL was the understanding that
Scott should also DO made chairman Of the Executive
Committee. This would have given the President alb
soluto control Of the National and Executive Cons
mittees conference was called at the White House.
and a dinner was given there TO German, Barnum
scott, Secretary Whitney and Lamont, at which tho
President stated his wish 10 have Mr. Scott made
chairman OF the National Committee. Mr.. German
protested lie declared that men like Barnum and
Randall had been tried by the Democratic party add
found wanting, and as far as he was concerned
he should insist upon their being recognized in this
President Cleveland insisted upon his choice and
German finally said that he had had enough OF nom
sense and discussion He thought the best thing was
TO take vote. ITO uu not tel the President OF Mr..
scott, which was nevertheless true, that Immediately
after the convention at st. Louis had made It's nom-
nations he had slipped around to the various delega-
lions and secured the proxies OF fifteen members Of
the National Committee, which he then carried In bis
ket, and which insured him a large majority Of
the committee for any desired purpose. The Presi-
dent naturally thought his wish would be law.
when the committee came together Mr.. Scott appeared
before 1t and stated the Presidents wish that no
said nothing. A vote taken and nearly two
thirds of tho members in favor Of Barnum. Scott
Jumped up and out Of the committee room, swear
ing that he would have nothing to do with the COM
mlttee. A speech had been prepared with which to
compliment Chairman Barnum upon his retirement,
but his election made IT'S delivery unnecessary, and
IL remains to-day among tho waste paper on Mr..
SCOTS desk
When the President found himself bafned in his at
tempt to dictate the organization Of the committee
he changed front, and demanded that Mr.. German
should take the charmanship OF tae Executive COM
mittec. This failure dctation is the most picu-
of his entire Administration. He has bulldozsd'
his whole party, but found himself obliged at last to
yield TO the iron-iawed Maryland boss who began
his page in the United states Senate, and
followed it up with long baseball player.
German was emphatic In refusing the Craftsmanship
of the Executive Committee he had been in doml-
mating the action of the National Committee He
said in effect: "This campaign committee is the
Presidents committee, and the who is put al
the head Of 1t should DO his man"
Henry Watterson, Of The louisville Courier
Journal" came TO Mr.. German ambassador from
the President and tried to get him accept the chair
manship of the Executive Committee Il not
with yOu,n said Mr. German, on this tariff question.
The who goes at the head of that committee
should be tho Presidents man. 1t should be Mr.
Scott or Mr. Brice or If he doesn't want either, 1t
should be Dan lamont
A further conference with Mr.. German being desired
by the President, 1t held at the White House
on Sunday last Mr.. Scott there as well
as Secretary whitney, "Dann Lamont, Chair.
man Barnnm and some others. Senator German
took the openly declared position that the campaign
must be conducted by the men who controlled the
National Convention for Free Trade Having
sympathy with that doctrine he utterly refused to
accept the position Congressman Scott refused to
take It, partly because Of the slight which had been
put upon him by the refusal TO make him chairman
plea that his business interests were extensive
that he could not afford It, Calvin S. Brice's name
was mentioned and was there settled upon, although
German again suggested Colonel Lamont at which
the President became angry, saying that they knew
he could not spare his secretary
The skill with which Barnum and German havd
thus retained control of the Democratic National
the responsibility of the Campaign Committee upon
tho President and his friends, that the blame OF
defeat shall rest upon their shoulders is commented
upon by political managers about the keenest that
this country has ever known Senator German has
gone back to Washington, while Congressman Scott
remains here perplexeu and overwhelmed by the
situation. senator German will spend the summer at
Deer Park while Mr. Scott will be sweating in New
York with Chairman Brce II is to be noted In cons
nection with this that Mr.. Brice IS by no means an
amateur politician. He active In political affairs
In Ohio during the period when the Democratic party
Of that State organized under plans formulated
by Samuel j. Tilden. 1t was this perfection or Or
made by the late John q. Thompson,
alvin ). Brico and Others, which enabled the Dem.
ocrats to come within six or seven thousand votes
Of carving Ohio at the October election in 1875 Mr..
Brice is known a bold operator both in business,
In railroads and in politics.
The friends of the Administration in New-fork on
being confronted by the situation of affairs as skeched
here are affecting rejoice that the Executive Com
mitee has been organized In their interest William
L. Scott said yesterday that IL was not true that tho
had ever been offered to Mr.. German.
With other free trade Democrats Mr. Scott was busy IN
disseminating the story that President Cleveland was
glad that tho Protective Tariff men had been shelved,
md that the committee organized so as 10 mako
a square fight for the Mills bill and the policies
dec Jared I'm the Presidents message.