Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-04
GEORGE L. CONVERSE TALKS.
Views of One OF the Shrewdest Democratic
Observers in Ohio.

Views Of One OF the Shrewdest Democratic
Observers in Ohio.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
COLUMBUS ONO, June 4.-One Of the shrewd-
est Of democratic observers in Ohio is the i'm
mediate predecessor of Congressman Outh
waite, the Hon. George L. Converse, one of the
few staunch protection democrats Of the Samuel
]. Randall school. Mr.. Converse is now out Of
public life and has not the most remote idea Of
again entering 1t. He 10 busily engaged in the
work of his profession, which he has built up
by years of hard and earnest labor.
While not speaking for publication Mr. Con-
verse expressed himself substantially: Yes, SO
far as this state is concerned the outlook for
democratic success is dark, and l think with
out the slightest chance Of success. The fight
for the nomination, which 1 think is sure to
most ardent Of either faction. Beyond the
honor, if such it may be called, the nomination
will be an empty one. The friends of either
faction will knife the victor. but aside from
that the work of the last legislature would be
amply sufficient to defeat any party.
''The election this year is not for state
officers, although full ticket will be placed in
the field. No well-ihformed man anticipates
the election Of either Campbell or Neal The
fight is purely and simply for the legislature
and the election Of q successor to John Sher-
man."
Can Mr.. Sherman be defeated2'
Ordinarily speaking, no; but the exact OPP
posite sometimes occurs. Mr.. John X. Nc
Lean is very wealthy man. In point of fact he
has more money than he can ever use himself.
1t Is but natural that he should aspire to politi-
cal honors. Ii Mr.. Mclean could defeat John
Sherman. man hardly without a peer as
statesman. l believe he would fill the very
highest aspirations that he ever entertained.
The retirement Of Mr.. Sherman or his death
would be deplored by Mr.. Mclean himself, but
hn -, -
succeed statesman with a reputation world
wide he would not only win the plaudits Of his
party but distinction possessed by no other
Senator. He would be the hero Of his time in
the political world"
'But it has been given out repeatedly that
Mr.. Mclean had no aspirations Of a political
nature to crafty and desired no office"
Very true, but the United States Senate is
not what 1t once was. Nearly all of the men,
bers, especially those elected during the past
few years. are ali, or nearly all of them. wealthy
and comparatively young, and with all the
quite natural for Mr.. Mclean to aspire to be-
come member Of so aristocratic and select
body?
mo, l do not regard the gubernatorial
nomination of the democratic party of any
practical moment, simply because it is already
conceded that there is no hope of success. You
Will discover, however, that there is hope of
securing Legislature, and candidates on the
state ticket will be traded for legislative votes
In every county whore there is ray Of hope.
And money will accomplish much in these
days"
How would you regard the retirement of
Senator Shermani'
81 am a democrat, but am free to say that
the retirement of MIR. Sherman from any cause
would be national misfortune. believe that he
is the greatest statesman in this country today,
and democrat though am, and fully appre-
ciating his great ability and worth to the entire
country. would if had the vote necessary to
retire him or elect him. name him as my choice
for the reasons have given"
Who will be the next nominee of your party
for President, Cleveland?''
mo, Cleveland will not be nominated again.
He has had his inning. Whitney seems the
most available to my mind at the present time.
Cleyelands strength was greatest In the south,
and he cannot rely upon that section again"
In the event Mckinley should carry Ohio
with whirl, would not the democrats take the
cue and go back to the old Chicago platform
upon which Mr.. Cleveland stood during the
campaign, but tumbled off Of SO abruptly after
landing in Officer
s. ut would not surprise me at all II the democ-
racy returned to solid ground. They must if
test. 1t is idle to talk of success to any party
that neglects to make laws for the benefit of
the masses, which are the laborers, the bone
and sinew Of the country. In this age Of i'm
provemcnt and education 1t is the sheerest
twaddle to carry out policy calculated to de-
grade labor by the opening Of the gates to the
products Of pauper labor to compete with that
of our own people. Such a policy is against
public interest. against the education and in
telligence Of our people, and any party that
Undertakes to carry out such course will be
speedily crushed out The wage workers of
this country owe what benefits they enjoy to
protection Of American industries, and demand,
as they have right to do, ample protection"