Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-01-08
William Collins whitney.
A Character Study.
BY RUFUS R. WILSON.

A Character Study.
BY RUFUS r. WILSON.
A few weeks before the convention
| (lS82) it occurred to Wilson s. Bissell,
the law partner of Grover Cleveland,
then mayor of Buffalo, that his asso-
ciate would make an excellent guber-
! material candidate. He came to New
York to consult with leading Demo
Gratis in reference to Cleveland candi-
dacy, but met with little encourage
ment. Among others, he saw and
talked with Mr.. Whitney. who said:
II all nuch interested in what you
tell me of Mr.. Cleveland; but, to no
frank with you, think there rs no
more chance of his being nominated
for governor than there is OF his being
struck by tightening However, you
had better go back to Buffalo and en-
deayor to secure sufficient number of
reputable delegates who will be Cleve-
land men under any circumstances.
and with whom it might be possible
for us, in view of some utterly unex-
pected contingency, to unite.
MIR. Bissell followed the advice given
by Mr.. Whitney. When the conven
ton met it was found that Roswell p
Flower was the choice of a large num-
Der of delegates, including those of
Tammany Hall; but there were reasons
why the wiser ones deemed Mr.. Flow
er's nomination inadyisable at that
time, and Mr.. Whitney, bearing in
mind what had been said to him by
Mr.. Cleveland's partner, and knowing
that the same arguments had been
used with Daniel Manning and his
friends in Albany, advised with his
associates among the New York Coun
ty Democracy, and concluded that the
best thing would be to turn their -thir-
ty odd votes over to Mr.. Cleveland,
provided the latter had any such
strength as his friends claimed for
him. He started for Manning's room
to make that suggestion. but on the
way was intercepted by telegram in
forming him that his wife, who was ill,
was in q most critical conlition, and
that he must return at once He hur
ried on to Manning's room. AS he en-
tered he noticed gentleman, stran-
ger to him, seated near the door
Passing this stranger with a bow, he
went at once to Manning, told him
that he was called home by an imper
ative necessity, outlined the situation
as it appeared to him, and advised the
Albany leader and his friends to unite
with the County Democracy of New
York in defeating Flower by nominal
ing this man Cleveland, of Buffalo. -
Mr. Manning endorsed this programme,
Mr.. Whitney left at once for home,
and Mr.. Cleveland was nominated on
the following day. When Cleveland |
was inaugurateG governor, Mr.. Whit |
ney was introduced to him, and dis |
covered, much to his surprise, that the
man who had been sitting in Manning's /
room when he announced his desire
for the nomination of Cleveland, then
unknown, was Cleve
land himself.
In the spring of 1884 an interesting
and perplexing condition of affairs
confronted the leaders of the Democ
racy. Whom to nominate for Presi-
dent was problem difficult of solu.
ton. Mr.. Whitney was the man who
solved it. Mr.. Tilden and Mr.. Payne,
though mentally strong, were both out
If the race. There was great inhar-
nony in New York City and in New
York State. Manning and his friends
listrusted Cleveland. They favored
me selection of some more trenchant
warrior the selection of some more
renchant warrior as their leader in
he light, and it was not until Mr..
" hltney secured a request from Mr..
lIlden that Manning and two or three
,thers should visit him at Greystone,
hat the New York leaders faced about
ND accepted Cleveland as an available
andldate. Mr. Whitney moved in a
/ nGt of fnn
he delegates to the Chicago conven-
ion of 1884. For years he had been
delegate to all the State and National
and the people of the
Vest, especially the Northwest, had
earned to look upon him as one of the
eaders of Eastern Democrats, and a
nan seemingly without personal am
,ition. He was in politics apparently
or the love of it. Ohio Democrats af-
irm that Mr.. Whitney did more to
urn their delegation into the Cleve-
and line than all the others combined,
Ind it was evident to those who watch /.
"a the proceedings of the convention !,
Ind were cogniZant also of the confer =.
'nces held in the Palmer House and in ]
he Grand Pacific Hotel, day and
hight, that Mr.. Whitney had doomed 2,
ar above the horizon of ordinary poll ,,
icians, and was fast taking rank
4mong the few who really lead their
elbows.
Mr.. Cleveland was nominated, and /;
he convention adjourned. The secret !
history of the Democratic National
Committee, with the story of their =
truggles for a subsistence during the
nsuing campaign, if it could be told. !.
you'd make most interesting reading.
IN two separate occasions the chair ;
nan OF the committee threatened to !
lose the rooms and go home. All felt
hat the battle was lost. It seemed
ertaln that Cleveland was defeated.
here was no money to be had. They
bsolutely did not have enough cam
'aign funds to pay their stenographers, !
nd their stationery bills. In both of !
hese crises Mr.. Whitney was appealed |;
0, and with success.-MonthLy Illus !
r0tor and Home and Country.