The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-08-16
Is NOT A CANDIDATE.
WILLIAM c. WHITNEY DOES NOT WISH
FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
Tells His Friends Sincerely He Would Not
Turn His Hand to Secure It-His Rela-
. lions With President Clevelan las No
Political Ambition.

W.
Political Ambition.
William G. Whitneylis not u candi-
date for the presidency. He tells all
his friends, and tells them sincerely,
that if he could win both the nomina-
ton 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 predict that he will not decline
it if it be offered him. So far as l know
NO man ever did refuse a presidential
nomination by one Of the great political
parties.
1t is an odd thing that this man
who is in so many minds the most avail
able Democrat for 1896 is himself who'll
ly without ambition. There is no hum
buggery about Mr.. Whitney's DECLARE
ton that he is not a candidate. He is
not waiting to be coaxed. He is not
playing the coy maiden game which
General Harrison is suspected of anus
ing himself with.
Wherever one goes, III Washington,
New York, Boston, Whitney's name is
talked Of in connection with the presi-
dency. I have heard it from the lips Of
cabinet ministers and important govern
ment officials at Washington. The pol
iticians and business men Of New York
echo it. Only Il day or two ago, across
the bay at Sorrento, l was surprised to
hear Chief Justice Fuller say that if
Mr.. Cleveland is not to stand for a third
term-and he had no idea Mr.. Cleve-
land would permit any such thing
Whitney was by long odds the most
available man in sight. This is what
the chief justice said, and if any one
imagines Melville Weston Fuller is mo-
n good politician or judge of political
conditions he should undeceive himself.
William G.. Whitney is Il of the
most interesting men i'll this country.
Many people do not understand him.
They CANNOT conceive Of q mar with a
gift for politics and public service with
out desire to hold office. 1t is not too
much to say that Mr.. Whitney has this
gift. He today, without much question,
is the ablest politician before the public
eye. His ability as an administrative
official was a~bundantly shown while he
was secretary Of the navy. In 1892 he
showed what he could do as a conven
ton and campaign manager. Cleveland
had great difficulty in inducing Mr..
Whitney to take 4 seat in his cabinet
during the first term. He declined at
first and accepted but two or three
days before the Inauguration at Mr..
Cleveland's urgent appeal. He accepted
then more to please his wife than him
self.
Two years ago, after Mr.. Whitney
had managed the campaign for Mr..
Cleveland's 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 Mr..
Whitney would take no Office. Every one
else supposed q man who had worked as
Mr.. Whitney had worked, who had given
SO magniicently 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 his
choice Of cabinet places or of all other
places within a 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 we'll to give the truth. This l am
able to do authoritatively. There never
was any quarrel or rupture. Their rela'
tions have always been and still are COZ,
dial. 1t is not true that Mr.. Cleveland
and Mr.. Whitney have had 10 persona
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 III distribution of eff
cial patronage in New York state thC
president was less conciliatory to the
Hill-Tammany people than Mr.. Whit
ney thought he ought to be, consider
ing all the circumstances. But it wa
only a difference Of opinion, and Mr.
Whitney cared SO little about it that h
made no effort to interfere.
In the history Of American polite
probably there never was a finer exam
pie of managerial skill than that whicl
Mr.. Whitney gave US in the campaign
Of 1892. Nothing but genius of a higI
order could have taken hold Of the dis
contented elements in New York an,
wrought ont victory.
l am able to say on authority that i
Mr.. Whitney shall change his mind an
wish to be considered an aspirant fo
next years nomination he will have tn
support Of President Cleveland.
Mr.. Cleveland would be a base in
crate If he were to fail to do everythin
reasonable within his power to compas
the ambition of Whitney. Every OF
who knows anything Of the inside worl
ings Of the 1892 campaign knows thu
Mr.. Cleveland could not nave bee
nominated at Chicago without Viii
ney's g%eneralship. He might have bee
elected without Whitney at the head
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