Evening journal., 1892-11-25
HE WANTS No OFFICE.
THAT IS THE POSITION or EX-sEc-
RETARY WHITNEY.
Waiter HeIimun Cites Him as an Unsel-
FISH Politioian-How This lIasterfnl Man
Managed the cleveland Campaign
Dickinson Is Also nisinterosted.
Especial Correspondencel

Especial Corrcspondencel
WASHINGTON, Nov 24-Two weeks
after the election our Democratic friends
have about finished their mutual ex-
change OF compliments over their VIC
tory, and have taken to watching one
another rather suspiciously. They are
looking to the future, wondering what |
/ they are to get out Of the administration |
gabbag and improving every opportu- |
nifty TO say a good word for themselves.
"This is Just like politics" hear the
reader whisper to himself. Politics is
| very largely game Of selfishnoss, and
/ as O rule the man who spends his money
or employs his energies in politics exc
! poets some day or other TO reap rich
reward therefor But if this rule were
Of universal application we should have
very little respect for many Of onr big
politicians and party leaders.
Happily it is a rule which has many
exceptions. AS a student of politics. as
an observer who mingles much wit
party workers, want to record my be-
lief that in the higher walks of politics
selfshness is not by any means the con-
trolling motive.
Take the recent campaign, for exam
pie. Without question the most notable
figure in it, aside from the two candi
dates for president. was William G.
Whitney. His was from first to last the
commanding personality, the center Of
all effort, the handspring of the machine
ON the Democratic side. Mr.. Whitney
did not 20 into this campaign with amy
selfish motive. He wanted no Office
and wants no Office now. Anything
within the gift Of Grover Cleveland, be
it secretary Of state, of the treasury or
minister to England. is his without the
asking IL he will only accept. But uu-
less he changes his mind, which he is
very unlikely to 90. Mir. Whitney viii
hold no official post under the Cleveland
administration.
It is a secret which has been tolerably
well kept that n year ago Mr whitney
was not in favor Of the nomination Of
Mr.. Cleveland for president. He WAS
inclined t0-hOld aloof and take no part
in the efforts which were being made in
. that direction. Some months later it
, became known that he was for Cleve-
land. How were his sympathies enlist
Ell? Not through any appeal 70 SELFISH
ness. Not by any profit or advantage
II. that was promised for himself. He was
, won over simply by conviction that il
was his duty to stand by his old chief.
j 1T is evident the Democratic party of
the nation wants Mr. Cleveland for its
candidate" argued Mr. Whitney to him-
SELF. "and while the party conditions in
his own state are an against him the
Democracy Of the country should have
its own way. ] believe Mr.. Cleveland
can be nominated and elected"
Tt is not extravagnnt to say that when
Mr.. Whitney reached this conclusion the
battle was half won, and it is perfectly
iusti6able to add that but for Mr.. Whit
ney Grover Cleveland would not now be
tho president elect Of the United States
lie held the key TO the situation botl
before and after the Chicago convention
Whether we be Republicans or Denv
Gratis or nothing at all, we all admire
masterful man, great military com
mander, q notable political genius. Aug
for this reason i wish all my reader
could have seen William Collins Whit
ney at Chicago. Flo was superb.
Amid an the storm of battle there wa
never a rufle in bis feathers. When th
enemy charged most viciously he sinilel
most happily Whom others though
N the Cleveland cause was going 70 orui
er he moved easily about, without shadOy
e. upon his face, without haste on bustiei
his manner. Not for u second did b
n cease to bo calm, deliberate, polite, er
n 6rely at his ease. I well remember op
-r- moment when men were running hithe
IT, and Won in their excitement over fires
as rulaor which if well founded means %
as feat TO Cleveland, Whitney sat tail
BIZ ing over college days with al ola frien
One of his licntcnants, with blanche
face whispered in his ear. on a.icr
to that, said Whitney Instead ot rilsl
ing away be continued his conve1sati,
half an hour. as Sc nothing had happons
mt All eyes were upon him rs he inal
Fix rose toleaye the room On his way o
.h- he stopped to chat in % pleasant va
nd with dozen people, and &c did not tina,
di- matter who they were. Whitney
n. equally polite % miilionaires and wor
.d, ingmen. anahie 70 am who address hn
ht Neither his wealth nor his honors wo
Inc change in him or make him anythil
the else than that which he has always be-
4 q IAN easy going, wen bred kindly, ca
siderats gentleman. Within I'm ho
IN probably after hearing the bad news
it, which ! have spoken Whitney reach
+ a the spot where danger was threatens
yn. In fifteen minutes the skies VT
pe bright again. and the Cleveland s.
osc shone nore brilliantly than ever. The
IF a was some magic in Wldtney's touc
md something almost infallible his fines
tail which enabled him, apparently withc
{ a effort, without the speaking of q han
The word OF employment Of any caus
nu method, TO accomplish that which I'M
ws. men would fail in.
is One of his strokes saved the day
liar Cleveland ct Chicago. a majority
IL the convention, as every one knew, "
tho for the ex-president But the New 80
ini. opposition. led by Flower Croker N
8 tC nhv and Sheehan, had planned a NJ,
has which if executed would have inii'
Ga, lafo5 the convention into setting Gle