Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-08-08

No one will ever know how much money
he spent in the first place. Mr.. Whitney
will never know, nor does he care. He
is of the temperament that stops at
nothing but success, no matter how
great the sacrifice or the effort required
to win IL. / have heard his contribution
estimated as high as $3.50, 600. 1t could
not have been much less, for whenever
there was a money gap Nh. Whitney
was the man who stepped in and stepped
it. The gaps were frequent and wide
Not only of money, but Of strength,
did he contribute lavishly. Naturally a
somewhat sluggish man, he was keyed
at high pitch for several months. He
left his family practically to itself. He
gave up dinners and smoking and drink
ing. He trained himself like an athlete.
He conserved every atom of his strength
that all might be used in carrying ON
the battle.
When the fight was over and the vic
tory was won. he asked nothing but q
chance TO rest. He refused to be secre-
tary OF state or anything else. He de-
olined to have a word to say about who
should on who should not be placed in
Office. He washed his hands of the
whole business and o went away to
the old world for recreation.
People were surprised, but said Mr..
Whitney was only biding his time; that
he had cast his bread on the waters and
that he would bob mp as An aspirant for
the successorship. Well, the time has
come in which he should show his hand
II he has one to show, and again &c
wants nothing. His friends 60 to him
by the score and tell him he could have
the nomination If he would only move
his hand and set a few wheels going.
He resolutely declines to do it. tits as
certain as that the sun shines that if
Whitney is to become the nominee it
must be brought about by the party it
self, not by such combination and effort
and manipulation as produced the NOM
ination of Mr.. Cleveland three years
ago.
Why did Mr.. Whitney contribute his
efforts TO the Cleveland cause in 1895
without hope of reward? Why is he
wholly without ambition for presiden.
tial honors? These are questions which
every one is asking, and the answer is
most interesting. Mr.. Whitney is both
young and vigorous. He enjoys life and
wants to live a long time. He knows
az well as any man in this country
knows that the presidency is . slaves
life. There is no peace in it. Mr.. Whit
ney says there never was a happy presi-
dent Of the United States. Cleveland is
not happy and will not be till he gets
out of the White House. Harrison was
not happy in Washington, though he
appears willing to come back and try it
again. Arthur was not happy, and Hayes
only moderately SO. MI. Whitney be-
lieves that he who becomes president of
the United States must determine to
sacrifice himself ON the altar of duty.
He consigns himself to physical drudg-
cry and mental torment during the term
Of Office and loses the power to be thor
orghly c~ontented thereafter. Mr.. Whit
ney loves life and its good things too
well to immediate himself for the sake
of a longer biography when he is gath
cred to his fathers.
But / still have to tell why he plunged
himself into the battle of 1892. II was
because he loved his party, because he
loved his friends and could not sit silent
and inactive while they were in danger
Of defeat. There is no man in the Dem
ocratic party more loyal to that organi-
cation than Mr.. Whitney. There is none
anywhere that viii go farther or do
more for his friends.
Ii is this quality in him, this pre-
dominating characteristic, which, is like
ly TO force him into the campaign of
next year. Probably he would be per-
feotly content to take up the fight for
the party for success at the polls, il he
could be assured OF being let off for an
other long vacation when the fight was
won. That he would prefer this to his
own candidacy / have not the slightest
doubt, and / know Mr.. Whitney pretty
well. But at the same time one must
believe the same quality would force
him to accept leadership if the party
were to press him into service as its can
didate.
1t is not because Mr.. Whitney fears
the Democratic party will lose in 1896
that he declines TO be a candidate. He
has a strong faith that his party will
succeed. &c believes the commercial
and industrial conditions in the country
are fast making for Democracy's good.
He believes local conditions in New
York are promising "A return of Democ-
TaSy to power in state anu city ut an
early day. He believes the Democratic
party is nearer the masses of the people
than any other, and in promotion of in
ternaticnsl bimetaliis,n which Nh.
Whitney looks npon as the only and the
inevitable solution Of the currency prob