Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-03-22

day. HIS dcfeht by Jehu BAKER, through
tho influence Of the monsy.bags of the
coal barons OF Pennsylvania. while gen
orally regretted by tariff reformers and
democrats everywhere, did not detraci
from his prominence and standing in the
least, as is generally the case with I'M
successful candidates. On the contrary
moval from the lower house of congress-
created vacancy that spoke louder than
words as to his ability and services as a
party leader The present position OF
the democratic party on the tariff ques'
ton, and President Clevelands excellent
message on that subject. lends additions
prominence to Col. Morrison at this
time, and it must be with considerable
satisfaction that the great tariff reformei
realizes that his party has at last come
squarely out on the issue he so strongly
advocated in the national legislature.
The Chicago Times contains the fol-
lowing in relation to Col Morrison in a
late issue:
Col. William r. Morrison was as
bright and clipper AS schoolboy on a
June morning yesterday lie is stopping
at the Palmer house with his colleagues
of the interstate commission. Owing to
the enforced absence of Commissioner
Schoonmaker, the tariff reformer found
ample time to entertain Il host of friends
and admirers in his spacious parors. He
talked politics to Il select few. The 9TH
err callers he made happy with funny
stories.
The colont bubbles over with praise of
Cleveland's administration of the public
affairs, and was delighted with the belief
that the common people knew that the
president WAS honest, and rs an honest
man felt confident that he WAS safe. His
attitude toward the business world had
created genera, commentator, not ouly
among democrats. but republicans as
well. Concerning the vice presidency
Mr.. Morrison said in his Jolly way: II
thought had some chance at St, LOUIS,
again at Cincinnati and four years later
at Chicago. Because of the necessities of
the party the nomination went each time
to the Hoosier state. AS you well know,
Thomas A. Hendricks was nominated in
1876. Mr. English 10 1880, and the men
who make presidents and vice presidents
selected MIR. Hendricks in 1884. 10 aid
the democracy in securing victory"
is the situation changed?' he was
asked.
Taking my cue from the present out
look, | should say not. Indiana is very
likely to carry away the prize at st, Louis
with the same ease aud grace that it has
Mt the past three conventions. The In
diana democracy, moreover, ought to
select their own man. Still, nobody
knows what may happen between now
and the time the national delegates con.
vene, and for several hours afterward, for
that matter. There is arnold axiom tina
nothing in this world is certain but death
and quarter day"
"PTesuming the nomination should be
offered you by the convention"
The colonel ran his fingers through his
iron>gray hair and unused for moment.
Then he spoke slowly and deliberately:
II can not speak candidly and say that
would not like to be nominated and
elected to the exalted position of vice
president of the United States. and while
| thought it likely that the place might
go to Indiana, there is such thing as it
might not and in view of such an emer-
gency and for that reason fail to see the
necessity of desiring that the delegates to
the national convention from Illinois be
instructed and fixed for any one person.
A procedure of this kind might abrogate
any chances that otherwise would have
had"
"What about the other gentlemen,
who, like yourself, are prominent, not
only in connection with the Illinois de
mocracy, but the democracy of the na>
toni"
"Ah" exclaimed the colonel vigorous
ly, you interrupted me. As | was
about to say, there are other gentlemen
who feel the some way as | do in this
matter. There are several gentlemen in
this state, for instance, Gen. Stevenson
and Gen. Black, who have been men
toned as being fit candidates, and men
who would be pleased to obtain the NOM
ination. | would say that there are many
reasons why the state should not be fore
stalled. For instance, presume after the
nomination of Cleveland the convention
should think it unwise to nominate any
body for the vice presidency connected
with the administration. Now while an
impression of such character would |
tACluut GGu' DlefGuSOu, Otu. DldCh duu 1
myself, it would admit of the selection
from Illinois of such men as GOV. Pals
mer, Judge Trumbull and -ozen other
grand men that | might present to your
notice, who may today be classed as pos
sible candidates for the office, and who
by their influence would assist the democ
racy very materially IN wrestling the state
from the republicans this fall This is
the reason why my friends have thought
that the delegation from this state should |
go to the convention uninstructed and
with but one object IN view, and that is
to do what is right"
''Is there anything in the movement to
have the nomination of the vice presi-
dency go to the Pacific slope2"
"Should it not 90 to Indiana for the
reasons l have indicated, | do not see
why it might not as we'll go to the Pacific
slope as any other community or to one
state as well as another.
"Can you predict who the republicans
will nominate for president and vice
president?"
u am not in position to know what
the republicans will do at their conven>
tion, but it would not surprise me in the
least if they pattern after the democracy
and select men from New York and In
diana"
What, in your judgment, are the pros
poets OF the democracy in the state this
fallT
Il have been away from the state so
long attending to the affairs of the COM
mission that l really know very little
about the exact situation. 1t looks to