The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
PLEASED WITH ALETTER
Politicians Regarded This as
an Incident Full of
Significance.
IT URGED HIS CANDIDACY
MIR. Cleveland Was Much Elated
and Inquired After the
Writer.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 1.-THE
dull season scribblers continue to indulge
in speculations concerning Mr.. CIeVeland's
alleged third-term aspirations. 1t seems
that the report Of his third-term ambition
was started by a smile.
As the story goes, early in December,
while politicians were still hopelessly and
heIplesslv in the dumps about the No
vember result, prominent official received
a long letter from a friend-a man not in
office and not wanting office-in which the
whole situation was carefully and, as the
official thought, Iuminously examined.
This man was tariff reformer and an ad-
vocate of gold money. He was also great
admi-er of MI. Cleveland. He wrote at
some length and pointed out that Cleve-
land must again lead the party. Other
wise, as he insisted, Democratic disorder
and disruption would be inevitable.
The argument was that the party as
party had failed to score, except as to the
money question. Tariff revision was next
to confessed fiasco. Mr.. Cleveland had
been right, and had tried to secure proper
and promised legislation, but protection
Democrats in the Senate had defeated him
y,
and was the only man in the party capable
of carrying the fight to successful finish.
He must be renominated fer this particular
purpose.
The figures offered were these: The
South, it was asserted, would not bolt. In
the past she had always held the negro
question above all other questions, and
would do so again. She might insist and
threaten as to silver, but she would never
bolt for any failure to get what she wanted
on that score. Then New York, New Jer-
sey, Connecticut and Indiana would, it
was predicted, return to the Democratic
column, with Mr.. Cleveland far in front
standing for gold money, while in Ohio
ard Illinois, in Wisconsion, Minnesota and
Michigan greater fight could be put up in
Mr.. Cleveland's name than in that of any
other leader in the party.
The prominent official, in reading this
letter to friend, remarked at the close:
81 believe I'll show this to the old man
himself"
81 would if in your place." was the reply.
The thing was done. The prominent
official upon his next visit to the White
House, after transacting his regular bust
ness, produced his friends letter, saying:
Here is something, Mr.. President, that
may interest you"
Mr.. Cleveland took the letter, read it
slowly, and handing it back smiled pleas
antly and replied: "That is very kind, but
of course haven't thought about such q
thing. Tell me something about your
friend"
And this the prominent official proceed
ed to do in terms of very warm eulogy.
The story got out. The President had
"smiled" at the suggestion of his name for
another term and had inquired about the
author of it. The suggestion soon came
from other quarters. This same official
got letters of like tenor from other persons
and other prominent men did also. 1t
seemed to please such people to be told
that their letters had been read by the
President and that he had appeared to
appreciate their very high praise. And a
good many of these letters, it is said, found
their way to the White House.
Beyond this there is no authoritative
report. Mr.. Cleveland at the most seems
only to have smiled when the subject was
mentioned and to have manifested some
polite and natural curiosity about those
indulging in such unusual praise of him.
The best politicians in both parties agree
that the talk of nominating Cleveland for
third term is nonsensical.