Evening star., 1896-03-09
He Will Be the Most Prominent
Leader at Chicago.
WHAT MAY GROW out OF HHB
His Fortunes Said to Be Now
Rising at Home.
THE ROLE OF PACIFICAToR

If announcements already made are ad-
hered to Senator Hill will be 1he most
prominent leader of his party at the. Chi
cago convention. Moreover, as chairman
of the New York delegation. he may be
expected to cut an important figure there,
both in the building of the platform and
in the naming of the candidate.
What May Develop.
What may grow out of this opportunity
is now the subject of much speculation in
political circles. Mr.. Hill is an astute
man, and, despite recent reverses, still an
ambitious man. He is not candidate for
the Chicago nomination. He has said
some pleasant things about Colonel Nor
rfson and this has caused him to be 'lassed
as a Morrison boomer. The better iudg-
ment seems to be. however, that he is no
mans boomer, but considers that the task
which will confront the party at Chicago
will rise very far superior TO all questions
of mere personal moment and advance
ment. The main point win be to hold the
party together. and make the nomination
worth ones while in the interests OF the
party's future welfare.
will Represent sound Money Men.
Mr.. Hills opportunity is best appreciated
by glancing at the list of the leaders who
will not attend the convention. Mr.. Cor
man, Mr.. Brce, Mr.. Watterson, Mr.. Cro-
ker, Mr.. Cochran will not participate. Mr..
Whitney ray rot go. although he has not
forbidden the OF his name delegate.
Mr.. Hill, therefore, is expected largely to
represent and to present the views of the
sound money wing of the party when the
inevitable clash comes between the sound
money wing and the silver wing. And New
York, it is claimed, Will riShtfully lead in
that contest, both by reason of the fact
that she is the great money center of the
country and because the party there SO
cordially indorses the course that the Presi-
dent has pursued.
4 Diplomat Needed.
1t is suggested, however, that the coca
sion will call for diplomat rather than
for an aggressive man of action. The sill
yer men are not of the fiber to be forced
into measures Argument, appeal. a time
ly and skiilful playing on the old strings of
past comradeship viii be worth more than
assertion. Is Mr.. Hill capable of this role? I?
1t is not natural to him. lie has tried it in
local way, but without success. His per-
formance at Syracuse last year, when he
tried to bring Tammany and the Fairchild
people together, was a failure. His sue
cesSeS al home have been achieved on lines
of dash and determination. HIS course in
the Senate here has been similarly fash
ioned He has boldly tackled everything
he didn't like. and n the income tax case
he refused all OvertGreS for ccnproyniso
How VIII he carry himself at Chicago? The
currency question is a far more import ant
question than that of an income tax, and
popular expectation is that It must be COM
promised in some way if a fatal party di-
vision Is TO be avoided at the convention.
His Fortunes Rising at Home.
But, regardless of whether anything Of
national consequence to him grows out of
the part he plays at Chicago, the friends of
Mr. Hill believe that his fortunes at home
rQ acroir Eor ol,o
New York last fall were accepted as having
marked him for the shelf. The legislature
chosen was largely republican, and a repub-
lican successor to Mr.. Hill was so confidently
predicted that the leaders of the party began
to prepare for the fray. AS starter, they
could count on thirty-s.X hold-oVer senators
to fourteen democrats who would partici-
pate in the election of Mr.. HIS successor
in the Senate, and with the tide likely to
continue to run strongly in their favor, sue
cess seemed assured The outlook, Mr. Hills
friends claim, is different now. The present
legislature under Mr.. Platt's influence has
done some very unpopular things, and re-
volt is the order of the day. Bolts from
republican local tickets this year are threat
ened from the Battery to Buffalo, and so
great is the general disaffection that the
democrats are plucking up spirit and talking
of electing a legislature in November. If
such should be the result of the contest, Mr.
Hill. 1T is thought, will be certain to profit
by 1t and succeed himself as Senator.
State Convention Not Yet Called.
The state convention to select the dele
gates to Chicago has not yet been called
Discussion of the matter reveals division
of opinion as to the place. Saratoga and
New York city are both suggested. June
will probably be the time. The delegation
is not likely to be instructed. Neither Mr.
Hill nor Mr.. Whitney is candidate for
the nomination, and no other New York
names are associated with the distinction
The chief concern seems to be to assist in
preventing a rupture in the national or
gaEization, and. at the same time secure a
party deliverance upon which eastern
democrats may comfortably stand. New
cut out, will be that of pacificator-spelt
with large P, and pronounced with a
deep bass voice.