The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-07
WILL NOT Be A CANDIDATE
William C. Whitney Does Not Wish
for the Presidency.
Secretary Tells His Friends Sin
cerely That He Would Not Turn
His Head to Secure It. His
Relations With President
Cleveland.

William G. Whitney is not candi-
date for the presidency. He tells all
his friends, aud tolls them sincerely.
that if he could win both the nomina-
zion and election by simple turning
OF his hand he would still put ambition
behind him. He means it too. What
.he would do in tho event of Democracy
calling him to the front is another
thing Mr.. Whitney does not want the
domination, but ut the samo time it is
safe to predict that he will not decline
ut if it be offered him. SO far as know
mo man ever did refuse presidential
nomination by one of thegreat political
parties.
1t is an odd thing that this man
who is In SO many minds the most avail
able Democrat for lS96 is himself Who'll
ly without ambition There is no hum
buggery about Mr.. Whitney's DECLARE.
tion that ho is not IL candidate. He is
mot waiting to be coaXod Ho is not
playing the coy maiden game which
General Harrison is suspected of anus
Any himself with
Wherever one goes in Washington,
New York, Boston Whitnoy's namc is
talked of in connection with the presi-
dency. l have heard it from the lips of
cabinet ministers and important govern
nent officials at Washington. The pol
iticians and business men of Now York
echo it. Only day or two ago, across
the bay Mt Sorrento, was surprised to
hear Chief Justice Fuller say TINT If
MIR. Cleveland il MOTTO stand for third
term-and he had no idea MIR. Clevc-
land would permit any such thing
Whitney was by long odds tho most
available man III sight. This is what
tho chief justice said, and if any one
imagines Melville Weston Fuller is not
q good politician or judge of political
conditions he should unoeceivo himself.
William G. Whitney is one of the
most interesting men III this country.
MANY people do not understand him
They cannot conceive of II man with
gift for politics and public service with
ont desire TO hold Office. 1t is not too
much to say that MIR. Whitney has this
gift. He today, without much question
is the ahlest politician before the public
eye. His ability rs an administrative
official was nbundautly shown while he
Was secretary of the navy. In 1892 he
showed what he could do ms n conven-
ton and campaign manager Cleveland
had great difficulty in inducing M.
Whitney TO take seat in his cabinet
during the first term He declined at
1irst and accepted but two or three
days before the Inauguration MT Mr..
Cleveland's urgent appeal. He accepted
then moro 70 please his wife than him
self
Two years ago, after Mr.. Whitney
had managed the campaign for Dir.
Cieyeland's nomination and election
with such signal success, most people
thought he would be rewarded with
seat in the cabinet, Probably not more
than half dozen men knew that Mr..
Whitney would take no Office Every one
else supposed n man who had worked as
Mr. Whitney had worked, who had given
so mngniiioently Of his strength and
money, was after something, hut he
WASH I. The victory gained. that was
MI he wanted. Mr.. Cleveland wrote
Whitney such a letter OF thanks rs few
men in this world have received. Later
on he begged Whitney to make his
- SNDAA4Ss ltsSs'S VI VI All OlDe(
places within presidents gift. Whit
ney wished only to be let alone.
So many tales have been told concern
ing AN alleged quarrel between Presi-
dent Cleveland and Mr.. Whitney that il
Is well TO give the truth. This am
eble TO do autho,itatively. There never
was any quarrel or rupture. Their rela-
tions have always been and still are Ger.
dihi- 1t is not rrne that Mr.. Cleveland
and MIR. Whitney have had no personal
meeting since the inauguration. THEW
Aave met number of times and are
LIKELY to meet again in few weeka
1t is true that in distribution of Off.
cial patronage In New York state the
president was less conciliatory to the
Hili-Tammany people than Mr. Whit
ney thought he ought to be, consider
ing all tho circumstances. But il was
only difference Of opinion, and Mr.
Whitney cared so little about Il that he
made no effort to interfere.
In the history of American politics
probably there never wns finer exam
pie Of managerial skill than that which
mir. Whitney gave us in tho campaign
OF 1862. Nothing but genius Of high
ordar could have taken hold Of the dis
contented elements in New York and
wrought out victory.
. / am able to say on authority that ~