Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-05-12
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

The Remarkable Fact That They Are All
Western Men and All Good Ones.
tits remarkable fact, says the Chicago
Inter Ocean, that all the Republican candi-
dates for the Presidency are Western men
reside this side the Ohio river, the old d.
viding line between East and West. 1t is
true that General Hawley and Chauncey
M Depew arc little talked of, but they
can hardly be considered as in the field.
Mr.. Blaine took himself out of the list by
his Florence letter, and Vermont served
notice recently upon Mr.. Edmunds that he
was no longer Presidential plaything.
Senator Sherman not only has the solid
support of his own State but no inconsid-
cradle following throughout the country,
especially at the South. Senator Allison
and ex-senator Harrison are sure of solid
local support so long as there may be re-
asonable prospect of success, but neither is
as yet assured of any support of general
sort. 1t does not follow that they will be
unable ultimately to poll outside votes.
All that can be said at this stage of devel
opment is that the Republicans of the coun-
try are in no haste to declare themselves.
Several States have lurking hope that
Presidential lightning may strike nearer
home. Michigan has something more than
a possibility in Governor Alger, Wisconsin
in Governor Rusk, Kansas in Senator In
gals. These three remote contingencies
may fairly rank with General Howley, Mr..
Depew, and Senator Stanford, of California
The only candidate, now that James G..
Blaine has retired, in whose case mere To-
cality cuts no figure, is Judge Gresham.
We doubt if Mr.. Blaine ever received or
lost single vote in either of the three Ma
tional conventions before which his name
came on account of his State. In itself con-
sidered, it was of no earthly consequence
that he was the favorite son of Maine. In
fact, his locality was against him rather
than otherwise. In the case of Judge
Gresham locality is as nearly eliminated as
possible. His home, speaking from the
standpoint of the ballot, is in Indiana. He
has never had a vote in any other State.
But in other respects he is really an Illi-
noisan. His judicial duties takes HIM oc-
casionally to Indiana, as they do sometimes
to Wisconsin, but his official home is Chi
cago.
He belongs to this city as truly as did
his predecessor, Judge Drummond. The
latter did not belong 70 Cook County, in the
same sense that Judge Gresham does not,
but this city justly claimed him, and took
great pride in his great reputation as ajurist.
So far as concerns the local argument the
real test of Walter Q. Gresham's fitness for
the Presidential nomination is his standing
in Chicago and Illinois. Every since his ap-
pointment nearly all his time has been
spent here, and his qualifications for the
highest trust in the Republic have been put
to their severest test in this city. And if,
as is likely to be the case, he receives the
support Of illinois it will be the result Of no
political maneuvering. for there is nothing
even remotely resembling q machine in
this State being manipulated in his interest
The popular uprising in his fovor can not
escape observation, and is far more signif-
cant than any ordinary or favorite- son sup
port