Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-06
GROVER OUT OF IT,
Mrs. Cleveland's Health Such
That lie May Not Accept
denomination.
1T WOULD NOT HELP HILL.
The Man Who Is Laying Low for the
Presidency is Whitney.
HEHAS KEPT CLEAR OF FACTIONS.
Blaine Is More Popular To-Day Than Clay
Was in Ills Best Days.
1T WOULD NOT HELP HILL.
he HAS KEPT CLEAR OF FACTIONS.
SENATORIAL SEAT AT P0UGHKEEPsTE

NEW YORK, Dec 5.-A gentleman who saw
Mr.. Cleveland yesterday represents the eS-
President as being more concerned over the
health of his wife than politics. Ever since
the birth of little Ruth, Mrs. Cleveland has
been far from well Even with the best of
nursing ard the most scientific medical care,
she has failed to regain her wonted health.
and those who are nearest to her are appre.
hensive that she will be an invalid for a
long time 10 come.
''You may put it down as certain" said
this informant, 'fhat unless Mrs. Cleve-
lands health mends the e1-President will
refuse to enter the political arena next sum-
mer, even if the nomination should come to
him without struggle. He has become
exceedingly devoted to his wife and the
baby, and has declined innunerable invita-
tions, that he might spend his evenings
with them
E1-Secretary whitney His Legatee.
To the few who are aware of the ex-Pres-
idents feelings. the question of his residu-
ary political legatee is always matter of
discussion. Cleveland will never raise his
hand to aid Governor Hill, and Cleveland's
friends would do even less. With Cleve-
land out Of the race, and such a possibility
is by no means remote, the coming man
from New York State is believed to be
William Collins Whitney, the so-callel
father of the new nav. To-day Mr.. Whit
ney is the most influential Democrat in
New York State outside, of course, of the
ex-President. Whitney is powerful in
Tammany Hall, for the reason that he is re-
l.. E.1- H., al, ,1,-,.,
in other words, he is known as Richard
Croker's factotum. He is about the only
man in the metropolis that Croker deigns to
call upon.
He has political aspirations. He is not
friendly to Governor Hill in the broad sense
OF the word, and his relations with Mr.
Cleveland are not so cordial or so intimate
as formerly With Governor-elect Flower,
however, he enjoys friendship that has
existed for nearly 90 wears unbroken and
unmarried by single misunderstanding.
Following the Example of Garfield.
Mr. Whitney is playing the Brer Rabbit
game nowadays and is LAYING verv low.
He has managed with rare success to keep
aloot from all party and factional differ
ences, and behaves as Garfield did at the
National Convention of 1850, as the general
conciliator OF all. He has done better still.
est and most important wires of the Demo-
cratic party of New York during the past
wear without revealing his identity. There
is not Democratic leader of prominence
in the State who is not aware of Mr.. Whit
ney's subterranean tactics, and who does
not suspect that when the contest in the
National Convention between Hill on one
side and Cleveland on the other begins,
that Whitney NAV not be sprung upon
: H. +1an Dnn rln
knows Whitney we'll said the other day:
UNLESS there is marked change for the
better in Mrs. Cleveland's condition, 1
don't believe the ex-President will permit
his name to go before the National Conven-
tion. In that case, Cleveland's friends will
be allowed to act independently, as they
please, for Grover is the last man in the
world 10 dictate TO his followers what they
ought to do. The original Cleveland men
will never touch Hill. L believe if
Hill were nominated for the Presi-
dencv thousands of good Democrats
would treat him as thousands of good Re-
publicans treated Fassett this fall by refus-
ing to go to the polls.
Refused the Senatorial Tosa.
whitney would not labor under any of
the disadvantages of either Cleveland, Hill
or Flower. He has been allied with no
faction, he has made no entangling alli-
auceS. but sails on his own keel He re-
fused the United States Senatorship. He
could have had il without the asking. 1t is
true Governor Hill suggested that an in
demnitv of 5000, 600 to the Democratic State
Committee ought TO accompany the nomi-
nation. but that amount is mere bagatelle
70 a man of Mr.. Whitnev's wealth and
financial resources. Nor will Whitney ever
again accept a Cabinet position. He is
opl ,,,
view-the Presidency
"Would he nor accept the second place if
it were offered to him."
''U Under no circumstances. Whitney is
saTacious enough to perceive that with
three candidates from New York, Cleye-
land, H ill and Flower, tearing the partv in
fractions to secure candidates to the Ma
tioral Convention, a strong unknown man,
one whose name has not been banded about
or who has not created enmities by leaning
towari or affiliating with any one of the
prominent contestants, will stand better
chance before the convention than any of
those who have gone deliberately to work
TO capture delegates.
Would Run on Growers Platform
''This is whitney's game, and it is good
politics. He could make the fight on the
Eame lines as Cleveland and would appeal
to III : patriotism of the country for the
services ne rendered in building up the new
navv."
The Republicans of the Empire State
continue their policy of impassiveness.
That the delegates TO the national conven-
tion will go instructed for Mr.. Blaue is
universally acknowledged, provided the
Secretary of State says the word. His
friends are in control of the party machin-
ery and the enthusiasm to-day for him is
greater in the State than has been seen
since the stirring days of Henry Clay
Indeed, men with recollections assert that
Blaires popularity far exceeds that be-
slowed upon the "Nfill Bow of the Slashes. {"
Whatever hostility TO Blaine existed in
New York, and at one time, it must be ad-
mitted, the feeling was intensely rancorous,
was buried in the grave with Roscoe Conll-
ling To-day ii is all Blaine