The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-02-27
DECLARED ABSURD.
The story that Cleveland Ia not Candi.
date Flatiy Denied by Him and
His Friends.

nomination of his party next year is re-
jectcd in Democratic circles here The
friends of Mr.. Cleveland pronounce it to
he absurd, while those Democrats who are
opposed to his leadership declare it to he
entirely too good to be true.
Ex-Secrctarv Whitney, who is referred
to in the Posts article as having just con-
cluded a conference with Democratic lead
ers in Congress based upon the question,
denies the story absolutely. He said to-
day: "thc story is without any foundation
of truth whatever" Mr.. Whitney left
here for New York this morning
Another warm personal friend of Mr..
Cleveland, Congressman Charles Tracy,
Of Albany, entirely discredits the story.
The Star this afternoon says:
Mr.. Tracy, OF New York, had q personal
letter from Mr.. Cleveland within four days.
No reference is made in it to any purpose
on the part of the writer to withdraw from
the field Of Presidential possibilities,
though the character of the letter gives
opportunity for such an avowal, were it in
| his mind
On that subject he says merely that if a
MAJ ority of his party are opposed to him,
he is standing in no ones way This may
indicate an Indifference rs to the result,
but it certainly gives no indication of a
purpose to place himself out of the reach
of his party if they want to nominate him.
! To Il
that while he did not know positively
that the story was not true, he did not be-
lieve it. He said he did not think Mr..
Cleveland was at all eager for the nomi-
nation, but he felt positive that he would
not decline the nomination if offered him.
Some time ago, Mr.. Tracy said Mr.. Cleve-
land had an idea Of taking himself out Of
the field of choice, but his friends pointed
out to him that his duty would be to
obey the command of his party, and he
had agreed not to withdraw his name, but
let the future shape itself.
1t is well known by Mr.. Cleveland's
friends that he will not seek the nomina-
ton; that he will not trim his opinions
from time to time to catch the prevailing
breeze, but they do not think he can with
draw his name from among those from
whom the candidate must he chosen in
1892
The ramon has, Of course, awakened Il
good deal of speculation. In the opinion
of some it is purely thc product Of rcpor-
torial Imagination, while there are others
who see in it IL Sort of feelcr thrown out
for the purpose OF asccrtaning just what
Mr.. Cleveland's strength is, with the idca
that the bare prospects of losing him as
the Democratic candidate will develop
how strong he is and how futile is the talk
ofanybody else.
Those most thoroughly amused by the
story are the friends who stand by MIR.
Cleveland in all Of his positions. They
hold that he is the representative of gem
eral policy which would suffer in the event
of his Withdrawing trom the political field
at this time.
MIR. Cleveland said one of them,
stands for tariff reform, honest money and
honest government. That is to be the
basis OF the next Democratic national plat
form, and the candidate must he in har-
mont with it, 1t is true his recently ex-
pressed views as to the free coinage of sill
yer have elected warm protests from those
\
| those protests have nowhere gone to the
extent Of creating antagonism to him.
If Mr. Cleveland were to announce now
that he would not allow his name to be
used in the next national convention OF
his party it would he claimed and accepted
rs triumph OF a free silver policy over
the financial policy that the Democracy OF
me East has always adhered to- The re-
suit of that would he that a platform
would be written for the party next time
upon which no man of Mr.. Clevcland's
views could stand, and which would be
certain to cost us the States of New York,
New jersey, and Connecticut, and pfoha-
bly, Indiana.
CLEVELAND or THE SITUATION.
(New York World!
The following Interview with Mr.. Cleve-
land has been sent out by the City Press
News Bureau, and was dictated By Mr..
! Clevcland:
President Grover Cleveland was
seen by a reporter last Night at his resi-
dence, SIG Madison avenue, in reference
to the statement published i'll yesterday 5
issue of the Washington Post. When Mr.
| Cleveland was handed the dispatch he
read it carefully and remarked: 1T is en-
tirely untrue, so far rs | am acquainted
with any facts connected with it. | be-
licve it to he mere newspaper sensa-
ton
s'Do YOU believe the statement origina-
| ted from Mr.. Whitney, as had been asser-
ted?' was asked.
ono, do not, cmphatically replied
the ex President.
"Whcn questioned further Mr.. Cleveland
refused to define his position in regard to
the Democratic national convention OF
1892"
A representative OF the World called ON
Daniel S. Lamont, at his residence, 23o
West Sevcnty-third street, last evening to
see if he had heard anything tending to
show that the story from Washington was
true. That Mr. Lamont did not believe
the story was apparent. If it was true
that Sir. Cleveland had decided not to al
low his name to be used as Il candidate for
the Presidency in 1892, Mr.. Lamont, as
one of his closest personal friends, would
likely know OF it.
IL have not seen Mr.. Cleveland for a
week, said he land really know nothing
about the story. At the same time will
say frankly that | do not think there is
ANYTHING in it. a decision of this char
actcr is not made in day, or two days,
or week, and would be, think, of care
full consideration by the friends OF Mir.
Cleveland before it was made public.
have heard nothing OF the kind stated III
this dispatch from Washington, which,
saw in the evening papers. have not
| sarn Mr. WAituev TOR Il week either, so
can simply give YOU my opinion that there
is nothing in it