The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-20
THE DEMOCRATIC SCRAMBLE.
A Possibility That Cleveland, Hill and
German May All Lose.

WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. l9.-lSpeciaL 1.-The
withdrawal OF Secretary Blaine from the active
list OF candidates for the Republican presiden-
tial nomination. has resulted in adding to the
determination OF the several candidates on the
Democratic side to win the nomination at the
Chicago convention. With Blaine out of the
way, there is scarcely a Democrat OF any prom
inence i'll the United States but believes that
their party will see its candidate in the White
house at the close of President Harrisons term
They have felt all along that Blaine was the
strongest candidate that the Republicans could
put at the head of their ticket, and the only
thing that bothers them at this time Is the fact
taat they do not feel confident that Blaine
would refuse the nomination ii it was unani-
mously rendered him by his party. II they
could be satisfied on this point they would feel
satisfied in nominating either German. Hill,
Cleveland, Palmer, Boies or Gray. They have
no doubt but their party will sweep up the
ground with President Harrison at the national
election next fall, no matter who heads their
ticket All this indicates that the scramble for
the Democratic prize will be the liveliest ever
witnessed in this country, and from this time
each candidate and his FOL overs will simply
have their coats off doing Trojan work for their
chief
1t is hard to tell at this time whether the
prize lies between Cleveland, Hill or German
There is a possibility, however, that neither of
these distinguished gentlemen will secure the
honor. The Cleveland men think they have a
better fighting chance to secure his nomination
at this time than they have had during the past
six or eight months They believe that he can
be nominated even though Hill secures the New
York delegation, which now seems certain. Hill,
however, is probably making final effort to
land in the White House. This shrewd politician
realizes that he cannot afford to wait. Four
years hence he will have lost the grip he has on
New York state politics, and if he is ever to &C.
cure the backing of the Democratic party in his
state, that backing must be secured in this cam
paign. Hill and his followers maintain that the
nomination is justly due him. They argue that
Cleveland filled one term in the White House
and was again renominated. He was defeated,
of course, but the Hill men say that it was be-
cause of his own ill-luck and bis lack OF tact a.
political manipulation.
They maintain that he has been given all the
honors that are due him from the Democratic
party, aud should retire from the canvass in
favor of Hill. Hill has found that he does not
propose to do this, and will make the best posi-
BILE fight to secure the nomination for himself
As before stated, Hill cannot afford to wait be-
cause the lever he yields in his own state will
have been lost before another campaign rolls
around, and it does not seem possible that he
will figure at all eonspicuously as a member of
that he is not statesman of the senatorial
build, and fears that he will be
lost in the shuttle of the upper
branch of the national congress during
his present term. He must win now or lay
down. This Is the reason why he is moving
heaven and earth to secure the New York dele
CATION at the convention which meets en-
February % at Albany, and the returns from all
the primaries held has proved conclusiveiy that
Hill will be able to do this. There is just bare
possibility that when the national convention
meets at Chicago delegates will find it to their
interest to give Hill this honor and retire
Cleveland to political obscurity. 1t may be,
however, that they will find it convenient to re-
tire both of these gentlemen. In that case
Senator German will receive the support of the
Hill strength, and at this time stands the best
show of winning, when it is no longer found
feasible for the delegates to stand by either Hill
or Cleveland
The only objection to German as a vote getter
is that he resides in a state south of Mason
and Dixon's line, and 1t may be feared that he
will not be able to poll the full party vote in the
Northern states on this account. In this event,
the Democrats will have Palmer, Boies aud Gray
to select from, and should the contingency arise
that neither OF these is available, they can still
return to New York and nominate Governor
Flower, who has for years had the presidential
bee buZzing in his bonnet There is just bare
possibility that the Cleveland men may decide
to allow the mantle of the stuffed prophet to
fail on the shoulders of ex-Secretary of the
Navy William C. Whitney, of New YORK Whit
ney stands well with the party throughout
the country, and the best thing about
him in the eyes of the Democratic
place hunters is the fact that he has a barrel,
and would be willing to tap it in order to secure
admittance into the White House as its chief
executive. II It is found that Whitney won't
do there is another man that has been fro
quently mentioned Of late, who is practically a
resident of Gotham. This is Senator MacPher-
son, who represents New Jersey in the United
States Senate. The strength of the Cleveland
men, if it is finally found that they cannot nom
mate their IDOL will be thrown to either Whit
ney or Mcpherson. There is bare poss bility
that they may go to Flower. The situation is in
such n complex state at this time that the events
of the next few months will not only be interest
ing, but very exciting. The Chicago conven-
ton will go down in history as one OF the liyel-
est that the followers of Jefferson have ever at
tended