The Helena independent., 1893-12-23
THE WEATHER.
A LOOK AHEAD.

LOOK AHEAD.
The arrival of the Hon. Benjamin Har-
rison in New York. following close on
the heels of~the visit of Hon. William
Mckinley to the same city, has set the
political gossips all agog. Already the
newspapers are discussing the relative
merits of the two men, as though they
were even now pitted against one another
as rival candidateu for the republican
nomination for the presidency. At first
thought it seems long way off to the
election OF 1896, and yet, after all, it is
only little more than two years to the
time OF the holding Of the first state
conventions to elect delegates to the ma
tional convention. H
A great deal may happen to presiden-
tial aspirants and to political parties,
however, in the, next two years, and
both Mckinley and Harrison may have
disappeared beneath the surface of the
turbulent political waters before the
summer Of 1896 A wise policy of tariff
reform, for lustance. may have become
80 we'll established and SO popular by
that time that Mckinley will have no
following, and it is doubtful whether
outside of Chairman Carter, and the
small majority op the republican ma
tional committee, Mr.. Harrison will have
any enthusiastio adherents. If the re-
publican party exists in fighting shape
two years hence it is quite likely to have
a new leader.
In Washington the newspapers, and
the correspon dents of outside papers
occasionally DISCUSS the possible demo
cratic candidates and of course, as is the
habit in Washington, they think of the
men who are figuring on the public stage
at the capital. Mr. Henry MacFarland,
the accomplished and experienced OBJ
server for the Philadelphia Record, in a
recent letter, speculates in an interest
ing way on several names. First on his
list Is Judge Gresham who is now gen.
orally accepted as pretty good demo-
crat. His strength as candidate. it is
thought, would lie in his ability to get
independent and republican votes, al
though just now the Hawaiian episode
seems to have dmmed his popularity.
Next comes Secretary Carlisle, intel
lectually the greatest man of the new
administration, but with less ability in
successfully manipulating politics than
many inferior mon. 1t is hardly proba-
ble that the candidate for 1896 will come
from the cabinet, more especially as
Gresham and Carlisle may represent diff
ferent elements in the party-Gresham
the mugwumpish democrats, and Car
Isle the straight-out sort.
Next on Mr.. MaoFarIands list is Vice
President Adlai E. Stevenson. Mr..
Stevenson sill maintains his hold on
the party in remarkable degree. He is
not a nonentity in his unimportant office
and is consl icuous figure Of the pres
ent administration. Conservative in his
views On all public questions, he has
offended mona. He is man of fine
pres ace, atfa bic manners, and as ira
siding officer has won great popularity.
Then comes the weakest name in the
lot, that OF Daniel WeDste- Voorhees,,
in ornate and eloqusnt man, without
fixed convictions on any question -
politician, but not statesman. The
country never would have him.
Senator Gray, of Delaware, is O ccas.
ional'y entioned by frequenters of
the senate gallery who look down upon
his pcrtly and oaderous figure, but he
is hardly reckoned as possibility.
On the whole, Mr.. Stevenson is the
only really available piece of timber
that Washington can offer us for con-
siceratiou, unless it be Senator Hill,
whose tenacity ard political vitality are
yet sufficient to bring him to the front
1t looks now as though New York might
have other favorites The delegation
from that state in national INVENTION
could be swung to the popular and able
Whitney at the drop of hat; and
don't fer get that Gov. Roswell 2. Flower
is no mean candidate.
But, after all, 1896, like 1884, may
p,ove 6 ceat year for the dark horse.
In h3 presidential contest of 1880 the
name of Grover Cleveland wss un-
know II outside of Buffalo. Four years
later he was the successful candidate
for president. The next president of
the United States may be the unknown
person who will be elected governor of
New York next year, or of Ohio in 1895.
--------------------------
SOLELY for the purpose of maintain
ing their monopoly the proprietors of
the great Disston saw manufactures
have notified their army of employees of