The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-27

nHHAUNcEY NJ. DEPEw. New York."
~ was not written across the page
OF the Arlington's register last
night, but Chauncey NJ. Depew, with rudy
health and good nature shining in every
lineament of his genial visage, was a CON
spicuous figure in tie lobby OF The hotel.
He came Ia Washington TO attend the Grid
iron dinner, and spent yesterday talking
to the people who crowded his rooms all
day.
He prefaced his talk TO the Lounger by
the statement that the banquet given by
WashingtOn's famous dining club was abb
soluteiy the finest in every respect he had
ever attended. Then he chose for his theme
the reign of RooseycItism in New York
city.
Every police force in the world" aid
Mr.. Dcpew, must exercise some discretion
in the matter of enforcing laws. OF course,
the Ia WIS should be enforced, no matter how
obnoxious they may he, but extreme meas
ures are invariably disastrous. Mr.. Roo>e
Welt has adopted such measures, eSpe-
ciaI!y in enforcing the excise IL VS., and they
have made him very unpopular among IL
certain class"
You think. then, that the people ought
to be al!o owed to buy beer on Sunday
ITO certain extent; yes. think the
saloons should be allowed to keep open
during certain hours on Sundays. There
are, though, too many saloons in New
York. continued Mr.. Depew, land the
recent decision of the court of appeals
that licenses cannot be granted to places
for the sale of liquor within two arnd-ad
Foo or chm .l.f hnn ,r-tH hn
thing for the city. in that it will reduce the
number OF such places by about 1000.
There are now 10000 saloons in the city,
one for every two hundred houses
From saloons to politics was a short
switch. bat Mr.. Depew in making 1t stated
that it had been his great effort in the past
Few years To separate the one from the in
fluence OF the other.
ITO eliminate the saloun from politics
we should have the Ohio law" he said
THAT law allows no local excise buarts.
and the sale of liquor is regulated by the
State law. 4 local excise board is purely
a political machine, that works for the
interest of theparty in power.
But from excise boards to Presidential
possibilities / think Mr.. Morton's chances
are as good as any of the candidates. for
the nomination. There is Of cuurSe. strong
factiunal feeling in my State, hut in spite
Of that he has the State with him. Mr.. Nor
ton was at my house recently to Il dinner.
at which Messrs. Platt Miller and Hiscuck.
the rest Of the big four, were the other
guests. and the matter was arranged there.
That term ''big fuur." by the way. is n mis-
homer. 1t comes from the fact that We
have been the four delegates-at-large 10 the
national convention for 4 number of years.
What do you think OF Reeds chanCes"'
Well smiling. I'm am for Mr.. Morton.
You see / cannot consider any one clse's
chances. 1t has been hinted." he continued.
THAT Mr.. Morton's age and wealth ought
to have some influence against his nominal
ton. But, wien Theirs saved the French
republic after the downfall OF Napoleon, he
was eighty-four, and when Gladstone took
charge of the affairs of the liberal party
in Great Britain. in the face of difficulties
no British leader had ever to contend with.
he was eighty-two. Then. as To his wealth
Samuel j. Tilden when he ran for President
was much wealthier man than Mr.. Nor
ton is now. and he came very near being
President. In fact he added. laughing,
"a great many Democrats think he was
elected.
THE financial condition of the country
at the present time is peculiar. Mr.. Cleve
land sent message to Congress some time
ago in which he said that under certain con-
ditions. which might arise at any moment,
it would be proper to declare war with Great
Britain. Congress enthusiastically and
unanimously agreed with him. Then. in the
course of a few days. he sent another mes