The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-08
LAMONT'S WESTERN TRIP.
His Mission Said to Be to Get
in Touch With Democratic
Sentiment.
CERTAIN OF EASTERN SUPPORT.
Every New England State Will Send
Delegations Pledged to the
President.

NEW YORK, n. Y, July IA WASH
ington special to the Press says:
Not only is Mr.. Cleveland a candidate
for the third term, but indications are not
lacking that he is already engaged in an
aggressive canvass in this interest. Secre-
tary Lamonts tour among the Western
army posts is in reality an electioneering
device. 1t has been the custom of recent
Secretaries to investigate the condition OF
the army at regular stations, and this GUS
tom Lamont found specially adaptable to
his political designs.
If Mr.. Cleveland expects to be President
again, he is enough of politician to know
that the achievement of his ambition will
require the most skilIful political manipu-
lation. 1t is Secretary Lamont's mission
to get in touch with Democratic sentiment
through the West, and to find out exactly
what needs to be done to conciliate West
ern sentiment and bring support to the
third-term scheme.
So far as the East is concerned Mr..
Cleveland has no anxiety. He believes
that the issue of "sound money" which
he thinks he has created, will be sufficient
to secure him the support of New England
and the Middle States, although he under
stands the difficulties that will confront
him in New York. But when he was NOM
mated in 1892 it was done by delegates
from the West and South, and it is for
these that he is most solicitous now.
Mr.. Cleveland believes that the longer
the discussion of candidates can be de-
ferred the better his chance will be. While
there is no other aspirant for the nomina-
ton sufficiently conspicuous to attract to
himself the attention of great masses of
the party, Mr.. Cleveland is confident that
the movement OF sentiment will be toward
him. From now until the time of the con-
vention, with a Republican Congress,
| Cleveland as President will be the central
Democratic figure, and whether the Demo-
cratic leaders like it or not, on him, he
thinks, the eyes OF the party must be
turned daily for guidance and instruction.
1t will not be necessary for him to make
any formal announcement of his candi-
dacy. The fact that he is willing to accept
the nomination is sufficient, and his
friends understand perfectly we'll that
nomination will not be declined. The
throwing out of vague hints that the
President is not seeking third term,
linked to the persistent encouragement of
other candidates so as to leave the party in
demoralized and uncertain condition
when the time for action arrives, are the
main features of the scheme which the adj
ministration has entered into.
An active propaganda has already been
instituted in Massachusetts, which is the
headquarters of the Cleveland cult.
prominent Massachusetts Democrat
who was in Washington last week declared
that if Mr.. Cleveland wanted the Demo-
cratic nomination again he could have it,
and that delegations pledged to him would
go to the convention from every New Eng
land State. The same is asserted of New
Jersey and Pennsylvania and Secretary
Lamont is expected to lay the wires for
delegates in the West during the trip
he is now making at public expense.
Mr.. Cleveland is confident that by pur-
suing these tactics he will be able to con-
troll the Democratic convention and, by
the force of prestige and position, in the
face of disorganization and division on
the part..of men who might otherwise sue
cessfully contest his supremacy, to secure
the nomination.