Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-18
AS TO MR.. CLEVELAND.
The Part Taken by Him I'm the speaker.hip
Contest
WHAT rs SAID BY THE FRIENDS OF THE Ex-
PRESIDENT AND or GOV. HuL-A GENERAL
BELIEF THAT MR. CLEVELAND has SUFFERED
FROM THE RESULT.

During the speakership contest there was a
great deal of talk about the parts Mr.. Cleve-
land and Mr.. Hill were taking in the matter
Much is now being said about the consequences
to Mr.. Cleveland of Mr.. Mills defeat, and there
appears to be a prevailing opinion tha, Mr..
Cleveland has suffered some damage by the re-
suit of the contest
Those who have been most familiar with the
situation from the beginning of the contest
contend that il Mr.. Cleveland's prospects have
been damaged in any way it is because the
public are inclined to hold him responsible for
the action OF his friends
The indications are that there is a disposition
to fix this responsibility upon him, and. OF
course, his opponents are ready to take adyan-
tage of the opportunity offered TO advertise to
the world that the defeat of Mr.. Mills was the
defeat of the ex-Presidents efforts to gain a
mastery over the whole democratic party.
Personal friends Of Gov. Hill declared at the
time and have since maintained that the gov
ernor and his friends took no part in the con-
test that would bring the question of presiden-
ual preferences into the speakership fight. II
Mr.. Cleyelands friends insist that their favor
lite has been given a black eve ii is Eot 10 be
expected that bis opponents will 20 out of their
way to dispute the assertion but they insist that
If this be true the blow was given accidentally
and that 1t is Mr.. Cleveland's own fault for al
lowing himself to be dragged into fight to
which he was not party. II black eye is put
on exhibition, they say that they will not us,
any cleansing wash TO attest its genuineness-
SOME CURIOUS PARADoxEs.
There are some curious paradoxes in the
situation. Gentlemen who are in a position to
know the truth Of the case insist that from frs;
to last Mr. Crisp did all in his power to keep
the presidential question out of the contest
and hat
ested in it that he would not make common
cause with any presidential candidate. The
| only advantage Gov Hill had over Mr.. Cleve.
land, If he had any, it is said. lies in the fact
that he showed good judgment in picking out
the winner early in the race.
Mr.. Cleveland, apparently, had no oppor-
tunity to make a selection for himself, but had
the colors of the loser pinned to his coat
against his earnest protest. lie repeatedly de-
clared that he had no preferences; that
he was taking no part in the con.
test, and that he would be as wei
as with that of Mr.. Mills. One
| of Mr.. Clevelands most intimate friend,
| declared to STAR reporter that friends OF
1lr. Mills who had called on Mr.. Cleveland hac
failed to get from him any expression of pref
erence for the Texas candidate. Mr.. Mill.
himself, il is said. had talk with the ex-Presl.
dent with the same result. A very warn
friend Of the Texan took lunch at Mr.. Cleve-
lands house and talked with him 70,
an hour and a half without getting
any very satisfactory reply. But the mer
and papers most closely associated with Mr.
Cleveland, both during his administration anc
since, worked very earnestly for Mr.. Mills ano
tried to make an issue of Cleveland and anti
Cleveland and of radical against mild tariff
reform.
This associated Mr.. Cleveland with one par
| ticular candidate, whose success would hav,
been heralded Cleveland victory, and Mr.
Cleyelands opponents will not busy them
| selves in trying to convince the public that tn,
defeat was not a set back for the ex-President
| CLEvELkND AND HILL BOTH FAVORED NJ MIILIN
1t is asserted, however, by some who hay,
no particular interest in either Mr.. Hill or Mr.
| Cleveland that. as odd as it may seem, both per
| sonally favored the same man, though neither
supported him. 1t is said that Gov. Hill OF
account of a feeling of personal friendship
| would have favored Mr.. McMillin for thu
! speakership if personal considerations had con
| trolled him.
A warm friend of Mr.. Cleveland informed 4
STAR reporter some time before the caucus tina
If Mr. Cleveland had felt it to be his duty to TAX,
any part in the contest he would have PERSONAL,
favored Mr.. McMillin, but that he was taking
| no part.
This paradox may appear decidedly Pick
wickian. However, 1t is certain that neither
Mr.. Cleveland nor Mr.. Hill supported the
Tennessee candidate. and the general opinion
among politicians is that Mr.. Cleveland Lai
suffered somewhat by the association of his
name with a defeated candidate.