Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-17
T HE WHITNEY BOOM
One Obstacle 1t May Meet With at the
Democratic Convention.
The Ex-Secretary Held Responsible
for Unfu1flled Promises Made
for Mr.. Cleveland.

There is one obstacle the Whitney boom
is liable to meet with at the democratic
national convention which those desiring
his nomination may not have thought of.
He may not be as popular there as they
expect. Democrats who were at the last
convention hold him responsible for Cleve-
lands nomination. This might not be SO
bad, but he is held responsible for great
deal more A great many pledges were
made at that convention which have not
been redeemed. Mr.. Whitney, 1t is said,
made these pledges as the representative
Of Mr.. Cleveland. 1t has been a matter
of common gossip that the relations be-
tween the President and his ex-Secretary
of Navy have been rendered less intimate
on account of the failure of the former
to honor obligations contracted in his
name.
A Fair Promfser.
Whatever the truth of this may be- Whit
ney is held by many to be a fair prom
iser," and if he happened to have many
of the same set of men to deal with in
'96 they would be apt to make inquiries as
to his ability to carry out his promises.
One OF his strongest pleas for Cleveland
in his visits to the various delegations in
that candidates interest was that Mr..
Cleveland had had about enough Of civil
service reform, which kept his friends
out of Office; that he had learned some
thing since his first term, etc. While it
cannot be said that he was misinformed
to the fact, the construction which his
hearers put upon tie declaration led them
into error. 1t was not the disregard of civil
service reform in the abstract they were
so much interested in. They wanted the
offices, and they hold that they were as
much deceived as if the reform had not
been abandoned.
But this is only a general proposition.
dafi nd
are claimed to have been made and not
kept. and 1t is all charged up against w hit
ney. This is liable to render him less pop
ular i'll a convention than he would be
otherwise.
Perhaps this will not matter to him.
A Friends Statement.
One of his most intimate friends has de-
cIared to Star reporter that he is hon.
estly not a candidate and would probably
not permit his name to be used even with
a certainty of the nomination. The reason
given for his attitude is a sentimental one,
and one which must be respected if. in
deed, so strong. 1t is that since the death
of his wife he cannot bear to be in Wash
irgton TO- any length of time, and that
the idea of taking up a residence here, and
particularly of participating in official life,
is repugnant to him. This was given as
his reason for refusing to go into Mr..
Cleveland's cabinet this last term. When
he was Secretary of the Navy his house was
the gayest and most hospttable in Wash
ington. Mrs. Whitney was woman of
very attractive qualities, great force of
character. tact and amfabffity. Her social
career here brilliant, and her hus-
lands devotion and pride in her excited
the admiration of official society. To re-
new official life here without her, his
friend said would be so different that the
suggestion is painful to him, and no am
bition could tempt him to It.