New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-03
Mr.. THURMAN MAY YIELD.
THE OLD ROMAN NOT so STERN AS HH
SEEMED.
PRESSED BY HIS FRIENDS IN OHIO AND FROM
OTHER sTATEs-N0r IN HARMONY
OVER THE PLATFORM.
far TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNEI


fBY TELEGRAPH To TIL. TRIBUNE
st. Louis June 2.-The topic that continues
uppermost in the minds of the delegates and party
leaders on the ground here, whose number has cons
siderably increased to-day is the nomination ioH
the Vice-Presidency. The name Of ex-senator
Thurman was brought forward more prominently
than ever by the publication this morning in " Ifc
st. Louis Republic" which has changed its namo
from the old Republican" just in time to bq
reintroduced to the party, OF an interview VIII
him, in which he is reported as saying:
I have the highest regard for President Cleye.
land and sincerely hope he will be reelected. TX
thought that my name would add any strength ia
the ticket, am willing to make personal sacrit
fee for the interest Of the party. l certainly
should feel very bad should the ticket be defeated
to think that 1 had declined. il my name would
have strengthened it. OF course, it is only upon
the condition that the nomination comes wlthoue
any struggle that 1 can accept
This was the first explicit statement from the
old statesman that he would accept nomination,
although it was apparent from the first that he was
careful not to say that he would not accept. This
coupled with the news that 1ammany Hall, true
to its old love for Thurman, had telegraphed him
it's determination to present his name to the con<
vention, was sufficient to start goodsiZed ripple
of Thurman enthusiasm among the early arrivals
It was thought BY many Of them that the name
Of the old Roman as he is called for some mys-
tcrous would go through with shout OF
applause. There seemed to be AN impression that
the convention would like the chance to display
a little enthusiasm somewhere in the course OF
its proceedings. Personal enthusiasm for Pres
ident Cleveland is something unknown, appareptiys
It seems to be forbidden by his personal character
but there is plainly universal liking for Thur
man. and talk of him with affection, and IL tho
action of the convention was to be governed solely
by personal regards, Thurman would probably
get ten votes from this convention for President
where Cleveland would get one. Cleveland they
look upon as man of destiny a lucky politician,
but man Of cold and repellant personality, whom
they must follow, but cannot like. Thurman, on
the other hand, they will throw up their hats fon
and shout for, because they like him and evcry>
thing about him-his old-fashioned Democracy
his red bandana handkerchief, his good humor and
his excellent taste in Democratic beverages. He
is and always has been an extremely popular man
in his party. Cleveland never has been and never
will be- and the fact that the convention is obliged
by force of circumstances to take for President
man whom Democrats generally care nothing fors
so far as he is personally concerned, might mako
the body all the more willing to throw LITTLE
heart into the nomination for the second place.
Predictions are rife this morning that both
nominations would be made by acclamation, and
that there would be no other name than that OF
Allen G.. Thurman mentioned in the convention
for the Vice-Presidency. Even representatives OF
the Mclean faction in Ohio, who have fought
Thurman bitterly for years, declared that his name
would 60 through with rush. III this happens,
however, it will be against the sober Judgment OK
n large proportion Of the party. These men do
not make themselves, heard loudly, but their
views are likely to have weight with the conven-
tion, unless it should be stampedcd by an un'
thinking and sentimental impulse. They have ono
objection, and that is serious one, Mr. Thurman's
age. In few months he will be seventy
five years old. II he should be elected he would
be in his eightieth year when his term expired
He is shalSy it is said growing feeble and showing
his age in marked degree. 1t is certainly by no
means unlikely that he might die before his term
expired in which case, in the event of possible tic
in the Senate, the Democrats would lose the benefits
Of the casting vote, which they might have held
more securely with younger man. AT BEST ac
Mr.. Thurman's advanced age, he might be often
kept from the chair by weakness or illness, while
his presence there would be Of use to the partys
ARGUMENTS OF THURMAN's OPPONENTS.
Those who look long ways ahead take into
account also that fact that the deaths OF both
Cleveland and Thurman would put the Presidency
I'm the hands of Mr. Bayard, who, outside of
certain Senatorial clique, is not popular. Those
persons must concede that Thurman is by far the
most presentabe candidate suggested for the Vice
Presidency, that his name will add strength and
dignity to the ticket; but they insist that IL Will
not do to put the party in the attitude oil nomi-
mating q worn out man, simply because he wears
distinguished name. One conspicuous friend or
the Administration said some weeks ago that
,,IA ha Ol
after election" the idea being apparently that IL
the party got the benefit Of his name and popu-
arity during the campaign that would be all 10
would ask. But talk of this kind is resented by
those who feel that the Vice Presidency may be
of great importance to the Democracy in the next
four years The bent of tine Administration to
the proposed nomination of Thurman is the sub
ect of good deal of speculation. Whether the
movement originated in Washington or not, it
was undoubtedly encouraged there, The dlsclos-
ter OF ex-senator Mcdonald seemed to make tho
nomination of the Indiana Governor one OF doubt-
full expediency. The fire needed but little enc
couragement to start 1t, owing to Ihurmans popus
larity but when it was once well under way the
question of his age was brought up and the Presl.
dent was reminded that he had refused to call
Thurman into the Cabinet because OF his age. 10
be sure the duties of the Vice Presidency are not
onerous but by the 4th of March, 1889, he Will
be four years older than he was on the attn OK
March, 1885. II rumor speaks the truth, these
reflections have brought the Administration man.
ayers into something like quandary William
L. Scott who is supposed to Know the iresidents
mind as we'll as any outsider can Is said to have
been talking openly for Thurman in Washington
q few days ago. Now he is as dumb as an oyster
on this subject This may be because Mr. Scott
knows he Is regarded as of the chief spolses-
men of the Administration and does not want to
seem to be issuing its orders, but the party Is
only waiting for orders ana III IS more rea-
sonablc to think that this change has come be-
cause Mr.. Scott and others arc not so sure they
were u few days ago Of the wisdom of nominating
Thurman.
IN DOUBT ABOUT OTHER NAMES
There seems TO be no light the subject Of
what name would be likely to be regarded with
favor by the Administration il that of Thurman
should be dropped A Democrat of National rcpu-
tation, who begged that his name should not be
used the first thing man Of National reputation