Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-18
Mr.. WILSONSFUTURE
The Tariff Reform Leader and His
Political Prospects.
NOT AVAILABLE PRESIDENTIAL TIMBER
His Friends Book Him for the Next
Supreme Court Vacancy.
AN UNCERTAIN QUANTITY
Written for The Evening Star.

| Written for The Evening Star.
William L. Wilson's future is an I'M
known quantity and his nearest friend will
not undertake to predict what or where he
| VIII be one year hence. AS the architect of
| the Wilson bill, which, notwith standing IT'S
| nnal subordination to the Senate BILL was
democratic realization of tariff reform
| hopes and platform promises he has been
advanced to conspicuousress in his party
second only to that of Grover Cleveland,
| ana In the course Of affairs 1t would have
seemed natural and probable that he would
De The democratic presidential candidate for
1916 1t was the Mckinley bill which sug-
gested Mckinley as the logical can1i-
oats, and the same reason would make
| wilson the logical candidate of his party
Moreover he is not only the eloquent ex-
ponent of the revenue reform sentiment Of
his party, but he has the close friendship
and admiration of President Cleveland with
all that implies in influencing the choice of
the next democratic presidential candidate.
But Mr.. Wilson's future is none the less
precarious, notwithstanding these circum-
stances, which favor his advancement He
| VIII never be a candidate for the presi-
uency. mat much is certain, so that the
| "lison bill, unlike the Mckinley bill, can
never nave presidential sequel. His friends
nave fully considered the presidential ques-
tlol'' ana nave dismissed ii as an impossi-
| bility. The main reason for their concIu-
sion is mat Wilson served in lie confed-
crate army. At first they were inclined to
| thlnk the thirty years that had elaDsed
SINCE the war would wipe CUE the score of
ms confederate cavalry service. But they
nnally reached the conclusion that another
generation would have to come and go be-
lore presidential candidate could be drawn
| from the south.
| Not an Available Candidate.
ms determination was not reached until
Wilson's availability had been fully cam
| vassed Ills RENE had even been suggested
| for the presidency by one of his enthusiasts
| tic New York friends, who stood high in
the councils of the party. The suggestion
was caught up by others. and Wilson's
name was hosted at the head of the edi
torlal column in several ardent democratic
/ newspapers. This led some of Wilson'S
| close associates here to write to the New
YORKER responsible for the boom, and sug-
| gest 10 min. Wilson'S confederate service as
a possible barrier Hea promptly RESPONDED
that he recognized his mistake. He had not
known of Wilson's cavalry experience while
a youth. And while he believed that IN
| time the memories IF the war would he for
! gotten, ne recognized that the time was vet
Tar OH. This terminated the Wilson boom
ana his name has disappeared from the
| editorial heads .
As a congressional figure Wilson'S future
is also much in doubt. Between the Senate
and House he would naturally prefer the
former, and his friends have been hopeful
that West Virginia affairs would SO shape
themselves as to make him the successor
of Senator Camden, whose term expires
March 1 next. In a quiet way, therefore
q wilson senatorial CANVASS has been going
on OF late in West Virginia. 1t was nate
rally aided by the circumstances sur
roun ling Send tor Camden's connection
with the sugar trust investigl ton, in which
| witnesses swore to having seen photo
graphic copies of sugar orders signed by
Camden. But this affair does not seem to
have hurt Camden much at home He has
captured county after county, and the poll
| ticians familiar with his state say he has
so many legislators assured that the race is
over. In any event, Wilson failed to show
much strength as a senatorial candidate.
Slim Chances of Re-Eicction
The presidency and the Senate being out
of the way, Wilson's immediate chances
are limited to a return to the House of
Representa- tives. But here again he is
heavily handicapped. West Virginia is a
great coal-producing state, and Wilson's
district leads in this coal production When
therefore, he put free coal in his tariff bill
he took his political life in his hands Ii
has always been cited as an Instance of
heroic self-sacrifice and being SUCH II was
done admittedly with the expectation that
Wilson would sacrifice his hold on his dis
tr1ct. The West Virginia coal miners are
a very unsentimental lot of men, They
have more self-interest than self-sacrifice
Those who are familiar with affairs in the
district say Wilson's chances are desperate
Added to this he is likely to have an op-
ponent worthy of his steel in the person
of stephen Il. Elkins, Secretary OF War in
the Harrison cabinet, after Redfeld Proctor
resigned to enter the Senate. Every one
knows of Elkins' political geaeralship and
with this and the West Virginia sentiment
on coal, Wilson will have a hard road to
travel to get back to the House
This has led to the belief that President
Cleveland would appoint Wilson to a lead
Ing foreign mission. There was good rea-
son for this belief short time ago Wilson
was broken down with tariff work He had
gone through siege of six weeks with
nialarial fever. The doctors said he needed
rest more than anything else AT that time
ii happened that the Russian mission was
about to be vacated by President Andrew
ID. White, and II was place well suited To
give Wilson the rest he required He could
have had the place, and some of his friends
wanted him to take 1t, not for the honors
II carried. but for the chance It Offered of
restoring his health. lie would not listen
to IL, however, as the tariff wcIk was still
unfinished. The mission was finally con-
TERED on Wilson'S chose personal friend
Representative Breckenridge of Arkansas
For the Supreme Court
But while Wilson did not go to Russia
the discussion brought out clearly where
nc was Hhely 10 go SnOulq President t'leye-
land have the opportunity of making the
appointment. Mr.. Wilson has little taste
for the hurly-burly of congressional or no
litical life He is naturally a student. He
was drawn away from the presidency of
| the West Virginia University to take n
congressional nomination. But his scholas
tic tendencies have always predominated
and his friends say they would have better
scope for usefulness in the quiet, dignity
and learning which pervades the JInitel
States Supreme Court. This is not a mera
| passing hope on tf4 part OF his friends
They have considered Al carefully, and they
say that Mr. WilsonNNn be the next man to
be elevated to the Supreme bench, in case
vacancy occurs Strfng Mr.. Cleveland:s
presidential term. TIE men who saw Ihis
stand in the very front rank of the Presi-
| dents advisers, andsthis, with the personal
devotion the President has for the tariff
| leader seems to make it certain that VII
sc will go on the Supreme bench i'm case
a vacancy occurs during Mr.. Cle,eland's
term.
Altogether. 1t is evident that with tho
presidency. senatorship. membership of the
House, foreign mission and United States
Supreme Court circling about him WilIIan,
L. Wilson'S future is mos. uncertain