The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-22
GOVERNOR HILLS AMBITION.
He Is Candidate for the Presidential Nomi-
nation, and Will Not Be Pushed Aside.

He Is q Candidate for the Presidential Nomi-
nation, and Will Not Be Pushed Aside.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
ALBANY, Jan. 2l.-There is no attempt here
to conceal the fact that Governor David B. Hill
is candidate for the Democratic nomination
for President. Whether Cleveland gets the del
egates from the State Of New York or not Hill
will not regard himself out of the for the
nomination until the result is announced. even
though he does not receive single vote on the
first ballot in the convention. This declaration
is not authorized by Governor Hill himself, but
it does come from as intimate friends As he has
men who are factors in his political plans,
and who hope to profit if they are successful
" hen the Governor is asked whether he is a
candidate for President not, he is simply 81
lent When he is asked whether he is a candi-
date for reelection as Governor he says that he
has no wish to retain the place. but that he
thinks it is too far before convention day to
nounce what he will or will not do.
This attitude implies no active or even pas
sive hostility to the federal administration or to
President Cleveland. Neither does it neces-
sarily mean that the Governor and his friends
are going into the State convention to try and
that fight will DO made on the subject. Rather
than have open warfare that would be attended
with injury to the Democratic party of the
State. and that would do inevitable harm to the
campaign next fall, tho friends of Hill would
turn in to aid Cleveland in the State hoping
that this kindness their part might be recip-
rocated in case Cleveland could not secure the
necessary two-thirds vote in tho convention.
Hills friends could then ask, with good grace,
the aid of the administration to prevent the
nomination from going out of the State of New
York
1t is shrewd plan and it is in the charge Of
shrewd men, men who better politicians
than actors, and who know more about the
methods of capturing delegates than the latest
Mr.. Randalrs friends and almost the whols
high-tarif wing of the Democracy. They ara
backed by Democrats who are interested in
manufactures, mining, and the iron Industries,
and who are against the President in the issuef
presented by his message. Joined to them are
powerful politicians in New England the Mid
die and Southern States, who displeased at
the course the President has taken in the dis
tIibution OF patronage, who have ambitions
of their own that they think would be furtnered
Hill.
This is their reasoning It will take two
thirds vote Of the convention to elect. Glove
land will not have that There will be enough
State candidates and local opposition to prevent
two-thirds of the delegates coming to the con-
vention for Cleveland The delegates from
protection States like Pennsylvania, New Jers
sey and West Virginia will be against him. The
delegations from States like Ohio, Michigan,
Georgia. Alabama and Tennessee and New En-
gland will be divided All that we need do is t
prevent Cleveland from getting two-thirds. Ia
this the whole field will be united. and If they
will be prevented. 1t will then be left for tho
New York delegation to decide whether it pre-
fers to nominate Mr.. Hill or to have the nomi
nation go outside the State. Whether the New
York delegation is instructed for Cleveland or
not. there will be many friends of Governor
Hill in it, and if they see the way to nominate
him it will be done.
Governor Hill stands as the candidate of tbs
Democrats who are opposed to the plan of tariff
revision proposed by the President. His at
tltude on the tariff, as on almost all questions.
is q cautious one. Governor Hill is not q man
who ventures far thin ice without having
carefully calculated whether it will bear bis
the trip. He does nothing rashly or without
seeing where the last consequence will land him.
10 every appointment he has made and in every
act of his official life of which the motive was
apparent. he acted with consideration and q
thoughtfulness for the future that he hopes to
reap a bountiful crop from when the harvest
day comes
All the glory there is in being Governor OF
New York, Governor Hill has obtained in ths
two terms he has served. Another terra would
only add TO the length of his service without In.
creasing his political greatness. At the end Of
three years more he would not be any better of
in the furtherance Of his great political ambition
life and he would have the enmities and jeal-
ousies of those additional years which every ona
who holds the high Office of Governor must in.
cur In addition, Governor Hill is a poor man,
and he cannot afford to be Governor in the way
that men like Drexel or Levi P. Morton could.
While he is Governor he is forced to withdraw
from the practice of his profession from which
he could derive larger income than his salary
as Governor without having the additional sxs
pense that the position of Governor entails.
More than this the opportunity which now
presents itself may never como again. Next TO
President Cleveland, Governor Hill is the best
for the nomination. he is strong with his party
in New York and he is strong with the party
men in other States. The many men who seek
the delegates in their States tor complimentary
vote in the convention or in the hope that some
advancement may occur by their prominence as
candidates for the presidency, are against the
Every one of them indirectly
helps Governor HILL He has more chance of
getting the nomination for President than Cleve.
land had in 1882 of being nominated for Gov.
ernor, yet Cleveland had almost 200, 600 majority
on election day.
So far as the control of the organization of
tho Democratic party in New York goes. it is as
much in the hands of Governor Hill as of Pres
ident Cleveland At the organization of tho
State committee. a pronounced friend of the
President was not made chairman, and a man
who Is friendly to both the Governor and Presi-
dent WAS On clear issue between anti
Hill man and the old law partner of the Cover
nor. and at present the Governors confidential
friend, for secretary OF the COMMITTEES, the Gov
errors law partner won. This was not contest
in which there was q direct issue between Hill
and Cleveland No such issue has yet oeen
raised. Governor Hill stands in an attitude ootn
friendly and hostile to Cleveland; friendly In
that he hopes for Democratic success In case
Cleveland is nominated; hostile because ne hopes
10 he nominated himself. He would like to have
both Cleyeland's friends and Cleveaud's enc
mics for his friends that IN case their contention
became too strong both would prefer him.
General Grant on Tobacco
Pittsbure Dispatch.
II was at the tail end of rather long inter-
view had with General Grant, in the Office Of
L.