The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-15

Benjamin Harrison,a talented and very
res pectable gentleman who was once
elected and once defeated in race for
the presidency, is naturally DESTROYS of
assuming the duties of chief magi strate
for smother term, In which laudable am
bition he has the support OF many Re-
publican papers and the opposition of
others. In order to have another chance
to be defeated by the people Mr.. Harrison
must receive the nomination of his party
in the national convention to be held a
few months hence. To that end he is
now laying wires which he hopes may at
the proper hour reach into the convention
hall or wigwam or circus tent. as the case
may be, and go influence, capture or hvp-
notize a majority of the delegates that
they will select him as the standard
bearer to lead the grand old party" of
big pretensions and small fulfillments on
to-defeas. Little Benny" as he is
called by persons not familiar with his
dignified bearing. is a very cautious, willy
man. especially In matters political, and
not at all liable to give himself away. If
he must give anybody away he would
prefer that 1t be some otner person. And
20 be recently permitted his Indianapolis
organ to announce that he was mot
cand date for the nomination" the dis
cIsimeY. however, being Immediately fol-
lowed by the usual qualifying statement,
''that if the party should want him, and
decided that it needed him." etc., etc.
OF course these words imply not only
that "Barkis is willin'," but that Barkis
will do all he can. on the quiet. to make
the dear old party believe that he is the
person the party wants, needs and must
have as its candidate in 1896.
But Mr.. Harrison realizes that discre-
ton is the better part OF valor in many a
contest. and he therefore is making his
moves on the political checkerboard with
the utmost caution. He does not intend,
during the present political period, to in
dorse nor oppose anything of national
importance if he has reason to fear that
his Endorsement or opposition might mil
itate against his own chances for the COW
etsd nomination. In accordance with
that policy he has apparently authorized
the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette,
which is Sin position to know" to say
that when the Mckinley bill was pending
in congress he did not oppose its passage
through, though he did, subsequently,,
sign the bill after the protected interests
OF the couutry, by their tools in congress-
had passed it. Evidently Mr.. Harrison
is anxious to be on good terms with Re-
pulbicans who upheld the Mckinley out.
rage because they really believed it wise,
and also on equally pleasant terms with
the numerous mem bers of his marty who
at heart were opposed to Mckinley ism,
but stood up for it rather than ''bolt''
the party. He hopes thus to be ''solid''
alike with those who believe in extreme
robbery by tariff taxation and those who
think that while moderate plundering
Of the manv to enrich the few is perfectly
right, there IS point beyond which 1t
cannot be safely pushed.
Mr.. Harrison is by no means the only
Republican aspirant for public honors
who would dislike to be handicapped in
the coming campaign by an unequIvocal
endorsement OF McKinleyism. That no.
torious measure was bitterly opposed be-
fore its passage and denounced subse-
auently by prominent Republicans. and
especially by Republican papers. The
Chicago Tribune, the most influential
and widely circulated Republican paper
vest OF New York, fought the bill day
Gfter day, for months. in the strongest
terms ut E1itor MedilPs command, as
the following paragraphs from the editor
lei utterances of shat paper under date of
November "a, 1890, will indicate: "lhe
Republican party must do away with the