The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-08-03
"A Man of Wealth, Culture and
Refinement Doesn't Want
the Presidency.
Whitney Worked Hard to Elect
Cleveland and His Friends Think
an Award Is Due.
Interesting Tales That Are Told
of Past Political Complications
and How They Resulted.

William G. Whitney is not a candidate
for the presidency, says Walter Wellman
in the Chicago Times-H Herald. He tells
his friends, and tells them sincerely,
that If he could win both the nomination
and election by a simple turning of his
hand he would still put ambition behind
him. He means it, too. What he would
do in the event Of Democracy calling
him to the front is another thing. Mr..
Whitney does not want the nomination,
but at the same time it is safe to pre-
dict that he will not decline it if it be
offered him. So far as know no man
ever did refuse presidential nomina-
tion by one of the great political parties.
It is an odd thing that this man who is
In so many minds as the most available
Democrat for 1895 is himself wholly
without ambition. There is no humbug-
gerry about Mr.. Whitney's declaration
that he is not candidate. He is not
waiting to be coaxed. He is notaplaying
the coy maiden game which Gen. Har-
rison is suspected of amusing himself
with.
Wherever one goes, in Washington,
New York, Boston, Whitney's name is
talked in connection with the presidency.
I have heard it from the lips Of cabinet
ministers and important government Of
ficials at Washington, The politicians
and business men of New York echo 1t.
Only a day or two ago, across the bay at
Sorrento, was surprised to hear Chief
Justic Fuller say that if Mr.. Cleveland
is not to stand for third term-and he
had no idea Mr. Cleveland would per-
NIT any such thing Whitney was by
long odds the most available man in
sight. This is what the chief justice said,
and IL anyone ina gines Melville Weston
Fuller ID not good politician or judge
of political conditions, he should unde-
cedve himself
William G. Whitney is one of the most
interesting men in this country. Many
people do not understand him. They
cannot conceive of a man with a gift for
politics and public service without de-
sire to hold Office. 1t is not too much to
say that Mr.. Whitney has this gift. He
Is today, without much question, the
ablest politician before the public eye.
His ability as an administrative official
was abundantly shown while he was
secretary of the navy. In 1892 he showed
what he could do as convention and
campaign manager. Cleveland had great
difficulty in inducing Mr.. Whitney to
take aseat in his cabinet, during the first
term. He declined at first, and accepted
but two or three days before the inaug-
uration at Mr.. Cleveland's urgent ap-
peal He accepted then more to please
his wife than himself.
Two years ago, after Mr.. Whitney had
managed the campaign for Mr.. Cleve-
lands nomination and election with such
signal success, most people thought he
would be rewarded with a seat in the
cabinet. Probably not more than half a
dozen men knew that MIR. Whitney
would take no Office Everyone else sup
posed man who had worked as Mr.
Whitney had worked. who had given so
magnificently of his strength and money,
was after something, but he wasn't. The
victory gained, that was all he wanted
Mr.. Cleveland wrote Whitney such a
letter of thanks as few men in this world
have received. Later on he begged
Whitney to make a. choice of cabinet
places or OF all other places within a
presidents gift. Whitney wished only
to be let alone.
So many tales have been told concern
dng an alleged quarrel between Presi-
dent Cleveland and Mr. Whitney that
{u r5-o11 tn oiu
able to do authoritatively. There never
was any rupture. Their relations have
always been and still are cordial. 1t ia
not true that Mr.. Cleveland and Mr..
Whitney have had no personal meeting
since the Inauguration. They have met
q number Of times, and are likely to meet
again in q. few weeks. 1t is true that in
distribution Of official patronage in New
York state the president was less con-
ciliatory to the Hill-Ta1nmany people
than Mr.. Whitney thought he ought to
be. considering all the circumstances
But it was only a difference of opinion,
\ and Mr.. Whitney cared so little about 1t
that he made no effort to interfere.
+ In the history of American politics
probably there never was finer exam
pie of managerial skill than that which
Mr.. Whitney gave us in the campaign
N ~ AoSS. ANoeAAAA6 .pul S5Sli1uS VI Al5l
order could have taken hold OF the dis
contented elements in New York and
f wrought out victory. Senator Murphy
Was chairman of the state committee.
The committee, like himself, belonged
to the Hill wing. They wanted to kill
\ Cleveland and escape responsibility for
the crime. Whitney was determined
they should not do both. When the
4 proper time arrived he spoke as follows:
Properly supported. Mr.. Cleveland will
s3 s carry this state. If he is defeated, YOU
y are the men who must take the respon-
II sibiity therefor. Every Democrat who
II takes part in the defeat Of Cleveland
will be politically ruined Drag Gleve-
Hand down and you go down with him.!
ssss ss Murphy and his assist u & wanted
yhitney TO organize q aClevalanda com
n nlittee to manage the eampai Hi View
81 Fork state #in order sto relI Eve there alaE
oonniit kas sot itsI