Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-08-15
Hills Presidential Bee.

We do not suppose many Intelligent
politicians will be misled by Senator ilill's
recent declaration in favor of a Western
man for the democratic nomination fer
president The natural inference of course
would be that Hill had Gagged his
presidential bee, and had relinquishcd all
hope of reaching the White House, but any
one who knows the man unlerstdr l.,
that he never allows an ambition once
formed to subside.
Senator Hill still desires to succeed
Cleveland, but he has plainly determined
to change his tactics. Heretofore he has
openly or by inference allowed it to he
understood that the presidential nomin-
alton at the hands of his party would not
be distasteful to him. Now he evidently
hopes that by seeming to repel the nomin-
alton he can approach it unawdrcs, even
if his attitude does not actually draw it
nearer.
If Hill was sincere in the estimation Of
tho public his course would be to a certain
degree successful as we'll as shrcwd; for
his expression in favor of the West would
almost certainly lead many democrats in
that section to lean toward him in case Of
contest confined to Eastern presidential
aspirants That the people OF the West
do not as a whole regard Hill as TIE
embodiment of sincerity and franknes.; is
evident from the utterances of Hon. Will
liam r. Morrison, interstate railroad COM
missioner, who was mentioned 10y Hill
as an available candidate. IN an inter-
view in Atlanta Col Morrison said with
reference to Hills statement:
The idea of Senator Hill is not bad
agree with him in the theory that The
best aims of the party can, be accomplished
and that there is more hope for success
in democratic ranks should strong man
from the West be agreed upon. | fear
that Hill has an eye for his own good
When the time comes and all conditions
are ripe he will appear in all his glory
Just now he wants the New Workers to
put on the soft pedal when it comes to
his name, in order that he may set his
traps. He hopes to turn attention from
Whitney or Lamont, or from Cleveland.
too, for that matter. before the sentiment
of the East becomes crystallzed. This
once accomplished, Mr.. IIill could manoeu-
vre with impunity, and unobsfrvcd could
accomplish much toward clinching his
own campaign"
This, it should he noted is not a partisan
view of the situation. but the opinion Of
a leading democrat, and ii must be admit
ted Col, Morrison speaks as ono having
knowledge of the subject as well as Of
Senator Hin himself In the language CT
tho daV Morrison is nlain.v Of tho holt. r
trat Senator Hin "winked the other eye
whom nominating him for pr resident. and
il view of the fact that Morrison has no
possible chance for securing the uornn-
alton. everyone will agree that Col. Nor
rison's theory is very probable.
1t is of course barely possible that Hits
utterancc in this case was an exception,
for any man may be occasionally truthful,
II not always, and it may he that the
senator really desires to see some Western
democrat nominated in 1896. If this IL
the case Hill is plainly convinced that
he is not a man of destiny for next year
and the chances are that he is trying to
bet from under the shadow of Oeve-
land or Whitney. Even little Dan Lamont
can cast a shadow larger than a mans
hand, and it is barely possible that Hin
fears the secretary of war as a rival
Be this as it may Hill was careful not
to say anything that would take himself
entirely out of the field, and we are
inclined to the belief of Col Morrison
that when the time comes the New York
senator will be in the race and trying
for first place.