The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-02
FLOWER MAY LEAD DEMOCRACY.
The Logical Standard Bearer in View
of the Hill-C1eveland Fight.

WAsHIyGroN CRY, April l. [Spe-
cial. = Politicians of all parties in
Washington City are becoming more
and more convinced that the SAN
culinary fight for the Democratic
presidential nomination is going to result
in clear Knockout to the two conpicuous
candidates now in the race. Cleveland
and Hill are the men referred to, and
while both have greater strength than
all of the other men talked of for
the place at this time, the only actual
outcome will be that both will have
to be turned aside at the Chicago conven-
tion. The more thoroughly the field is
looked over the more probable the result
is that both will go to the Chicago conven-
tion with about an equal number of votes,
but neither will be able to effect any deal
whereby either can be nominated. Unless
the established precedent of requiring a
two-thirds vote in the convention to nomi-
nate is voted down the success of Hill is
out of the question.
1t is claimed in some quarters that the
New York senator believes that he-can
secure strength enough to knock out the
two-thirds rule in the convention. He
realizes as well as any one else that this
action must be taken or he is doomed to
defeat. HIS opponents, however, are not
worrying over any attempt he may make
in this direction. They think, and their
opinions seem to be wise, that if Hill is
unable to go to the convention with the
necessary two-thirds vote he will be I'M
able to change the method that hss
always been in vogue in Democratic
national conventions. Cleveland is in
nearly the same position Hill is in in re-
gard to a lack of votes necessary to bring
about success for himself. The situation.
as it now stands, means that both of these
gentlemen must be sidetracked at Chi
cago, and the only way that either can
have anything to say as to the future man.
{, cement of the party is by gaining foot
hold during the Chicago convention pro-
ceedings by nominating candidate to
head the ticket.
Whether Hill will be wise enough to ar
range fo- movement of this kind in ad-
vance is not known at this time but it is
quite generally believed that he will know
the exact situation several days before the
convention meets, and if he finds that his
nomination is out of the question, he will
probably then endeavor to effect a COM
bination whereby he can dictate the
nomination and prevent the selec-
tion of Cleveland at the same
time. It has been maintained
for long time that he would probably
throw the nomination to German if he
could not get it himself. 1t is now be-
Heved that this aspect of the case has en-
tirely changed. 1t is probable that Hill
will find it wiser move to place any can
didate at the head of the Democratic
ticket this year rather than to override
public sentiment and nominate man like
German, who is still regarded as South
ern man.
As has been previously pointed out in
Washington City dispatches to the PosT-
INTELLIGENCER, it is probable that Hill
will try and place Governor Flower at the
head of the ticket when he finds that he
can not win himself At the same time
Flower appears to be the logical candidate
with Cleveland and Hill out of the wav.
Hill will probably determine that if the
nomination can not be won for himself,
he will do his best to "own the next presi-
dent" providing the Democratic candi-
date is elected next November. 1t is
believed e by shrewd politicians in
Washington City that Governor Flower
would be satisfied with having to tie him
self hand and foot to Hill in order to Sc
cure the presidential prize, the lofty prize
that he has been aiming and scheming for
for so many years. The opportunities now
of his reaching the goal of his ambition
are greater than they have ever been in
the past.
Up to this time Flower, although a
standing candidate for the presidency, has
only figured as a practical nonentity N
the past campaigns. Governor Flower, as
is well known, has plenty of money
with which to further his political ambi-
tions, and if nominated will be
in a position to spend enough to
cement the warring factions of the party
IN the Empire state without doubt. In
connection with the barre! that he would
put on tap, he would be willing to decree
to Tammany and other grasping powers of
the Democratic party in New York all the
fat offices within his gift, and by doing
this he would be more successful in salts
flying all the elements in his party in that
state than either Cleveland or Hill would
be. 1t will not be at all surprising if Gov
ernor Flower, of New York, is the next
Democratic presidential candidate.