The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-24
Why DepeW Withdraw.

There is no doubt that Chauncey M.
Depew is one of the most popular men in
the country. No one questions his popu-
larity in New York, and yet he got a very
small vote in the Chicago convention, and
his own state, New York, voted for him
until he withdrew, not because it was be-
lieved he could be nominated, or would
make strong candidate, but because he
was New Yorker
What was the objection to Mr.. Depewi
Why, that he was a railroad man. He was
told before he went to Chicago that he had
no chance Of getting the nomination, be-
cause the west would not support any rail
road man. He tried to overcome this preiu-
dice by pointing out in numerous inter
views in the public prints that it was I'M
just and unreasonable. He went to Chicago
| determined to overcome it. He found that
| it was impossible to do so, and in his speech
of withdrawal he gave as a reason for his
| course that his connection with one of the
great railroad corporations of the country
made it advisable for him not to accept the
nomination even if it were possible for him
to get it.
The opposition to prominent railroad Off
Gals for public offices exists, and, unrea-
sonable as it is, its existence cannot be
ignored by political parties. A railroad
official may be a man of the highest charac-
ter and the greatest worth; he may be popu-
lar and fitted to Gil any position in the gift
of the people, but the simple fact of his con-
nection with a railroad in an important
capacity is regarded as sufficient to shut
him out Of public office.
In 1885 the republicans of Michigan nomi-
mated Judge Cooley for justice of the
supreme court of the state. He was recog-
nized as one of the great lawyers of the
west, and as a man Of irreproachable charac-
ter. He had been on the bench some years
before, and had proved himself to be an
upright judge. He was strict construc-
zionist, and adhered to the law and all its
technicalities even when there were op-
portunities for the admission of equities
which strict justice demanded should be
| considered. The technicalities of the law
were on tho side of the railroads, and the
result was that in the majority of the cases
between the railroads and the people the
railroads were successful.
| Inc repuDucanS Jnougnt That there
would be no doubt about Judge Cooley's
election, particularly when the democrats
nominated against him an obscure country
lawyer. The democratic candidate, how
ever, found Judge Cooley's weak point, and
made the charge throughout the state that
he was railroad judge. What was the re-
sult' Why, Judge Cooley was beaten in
the republican state of Michigan by ma
jority of 10000.
Mr.. Depew was wise in withdrawing.
The time will come, of course, when the
people will not feel that they must oppose
everybody who is connected with, or sup
J ported by, railroads. Railroad commits
! sions will relieve railroad officials from
some Of the hostility Of the people, and in
other ways it will come to be understood
that mans connection with a railroad is
not valid nor reasonable ground of OBJ
lection to him. At present, however, rail
road men who seek public office are pretty
certain TO be beaten