St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-05
Prefers Cleveland, but Looks
on Him as a Political
Impossibility.
Hill Has the Nerve Of a jack
son and the ShreWdness
Of a Tilden.
Tariff Reform the Policy OF
the Party Under What
ever Nominee.

party are wont to turn for counsel
and guidance, none stands higher IN the
public estimation than Hon. William
Dawson, president of the bank of Min
neSOta. For years he has made politics
a practical study and he has brought to
bear the keen sagacity and trained
Judgment characteristic of the man,
until some of the shrewdest politicians
of the state come to this quiet, unas-
Stunning gentleman and hail a Nestor
of Democracy. What are Mr.. Dawson's
views on the presidential question? To
ascertain and lay them before the pub
lie, a GLOBE reporter called upon him
yesterday afternoon. A quiet smile
fitted across his face as he thoughtfully
answered the question:
MIR. Dawson, in your opinion. who
is the best and most available man for
the Democratic nomination for preSi-
deut?"
$50 answer rather Indirectly, | would
say that l would rather see Grover
Cleveland president than any other
man. but / do not expect to. In my
Judgment he is a presidential impossi-
bility, and say candidly and frankly
that regard David Is. Hill as the COM
ing man. He is the most conspicuous
and picturesque figure before the
American public today. When there
was that great wrong to be righted in
New York state, he displayed
the iron nerve of an Andrew
Jackson and the shrewd sagacity
of Samuel j. Tilden. Such
man we want at the head of the nation
when the Republican tendency is dis
played in such cases as the steal of the
ton OF gubernatorial authority by such
men as Bulkely and Thayer. Hill has
ability, supplemented by courage ana
resolution. and l admire him."
"Why do you regard Cleveland as an
impOssibility?"
''There are several reasons, the most
important of which is availability l
do not believe in renominating defeated
candidates; the prestige is against
them; and the cause of Cleveland is
upon the decline. The principles he
represented-which were laid down be-
fore him and will live after him-have
found other opponents now"
''Then you do not regard the cause of
tariff reform imperiled by the retire
ment of Cleveland?"
mot in the least. My idea of the
wishes and desires of the people in the
line of tariff is embodied in the Mills
bill, and since the passage of that bill by
a Democratic house it has steadily been
the policy of the Democratic party 1t
will be the policy distinctly and firmly
to be enunciated at the next Chicago
convention and the man to be nomi-
mated by that convention will be
heartily in accord with it. The idea
that any one man is broader or greater
than the Democratic party and the I'M
dying principles on which it is based. is
to me repugnant. The age when one man
gone by. We have now over $4,000, 600
of people and the ranks of our own
party are crowded with patriots. l
could name 100 Democrats VINO would
make admirable presidents. and | need
not go out of ST. Paul to find one who
would make at least as good president
as the present incumbent. No, great
and good a man as is Mr.. Cleveland, he
does not in the least monopolize the
party's strength nor obscure the merits
of plenty of available candidates. There
is Senator German, for example. The
skill, strength and diplomacy he dis
played in the defeat of that in
EQUITY, the force bill, must en-
American people and commend him
to its judgment. But of all the avail
able material, l prefer Gov. Hill. |
have studied his record as governor of
New York, and find it without a flaw.
He gave all excellent administration,
uttering no platitudeS of self-righteous-
ness, but vetOing every measure that
savored of job. His record in secur-
ing the legislature Of that state to result
in fair remuneration and appointment
and proper representation in the
! United States senate. entities him to
the gratitude of the Democracy of the
nation. 1t must be remembered, too,
that he did this at great personal peril,
tor had he failed to secure the legislat-
ure, the Republican senate would GER
tainly have seized the pretext to unseat
him.
''As to the presidential nomination, it
is as | Sald,la question of availability.
That is what nominated Cleveland in
1884. He had recently been elected gov
ernor of New York by 1926 In 1884
he carried the state for president by
1,200 and i'll 1888 lost it by $4,000. The
argument of 1884 better applies to Hill
now. Running on the ticket with Cleve-
land in 1882, he received plurality of
1877. 900 and in 1885, when Cleveland lost
New York, Hill carried it by $4,000. [
am firmly convinced he could carry the
state for president"
do you regard New York as the bat
tleground?"
There, think, is where the great
battle of 1892 must be fought. We must
carry New York to win. and we should
discourage and defeat the Republicans
at the outset by nominating man who
has never failed to carry the state. If
Hill comes to the convention with the
solid delegation from New York at his
back, cannot see why he should fail to
secure the nomination."