The record-union., 1896-01-20
BOOMING MORTON'S CLAIMS
Hon. ]. SlOat FaSsett Reviews the Stu.
alton.
He Thinks the Republican Party VIII
be a Sure Winner in the
Next Campaign.

Saturday evening for short stay.
AS it was understood that his presence
on the coast at this time was in the
| interest Of Governor Merton's candl-
dacy for the Presidential nomination
at the National Republican Convention,
representative of the 'Record-Union
called on him. He found him suffering
from an attack of grippe that keeps
him close in the house during the pres
ent unfavorable weather, but his In
disposition did not affect his affAbility
OF frankness.
While he is for Morton first, last and
all the time he spoke with perfect can
dor and fairness of the other candidates
in the field, and their respective stand
ing before the people, that gave his
listener the impression that he feels
pretty sure of the strength of the one
whose nomination he is advocating and
that his chances were at least equal.
There is one thing about the pres
ent campaign" said he, that is not
always the case. There is no factional
feeling in the party to initiate against
the chances of any nominee that may
| be made. Morton, Reed, Harrison,
Mckinley and all the others who are
striving for the prize are popular
throughout the country and stand well
with the people. There will, I am sat
/ isfied, be no splitting up after the nom
ination is made. The whole party VIII
go for whoever is fortunate enough TO
secure it.
"As there is a general conviction
| that whoever secures the nomination
will certainly be elected, = anticipate
that there will naturally be long and
arduous struggle in the convention, and
that the choice will not be a quick one.
l find very kindly feeling on the coast
toward Governor Morton. The prom1-
nent men of the party here do not seem
to be pledged to any particular man, out
seem to be rather in a waiting atti-
Underwriting for lines on which TO
form before committing themselves.
Silver? Well, I find quite change
of expression among prominent men
here on the silver question since was
here last May At that time 1T was
much talked of, but since then we
have had a good crop and times have
become better and do not think that
it will be as intense factor either IN
the convention or the campaign as 1t at
one time promised to be. I do not, from
the opportunity of observation I have
/ a.,
| State at present.
mo, it is not prominent question
in New York. There is always certain
percentage of men there, both Demo
Gratis and Republicans. who go off
after new issues like Populism and
Grangerism, but they are only a small
proportion Of the voters. In New York
State there is no silver question, and
| h mi o1U Sn
interest in it. New York has many
millions of capital invested in the sill
yer and other mines of the West, which
brings her into direct contact with the
question. She has more capital invested
in the silver States than any other
State has, but you may have noticed
that the leading papers there in their
discussion of the great issues of the
day almost universally neglect the
question There is no such intensity of
feeling against silver in New York as
the Western people seem to think there
is In fact, if there was any pronounced
feeling on the question it would natu-
rally be for silver, on selfish grounds.
"Yes, in my judgment, the tariff
question will be a very important one
in the convention and the campaign,
and there is good reason why 1T should
i be- 1t deals directly with the revenues
of the country The common people
cannot understand, in spite of Mr.. Car
isles explanations and arguments, why
! a surplus in the treasury is not clearly
preferable to a deficiency, or, in fact,
why surplus is not a decidedly good
thing to have on hand / am of the
opinion that the question will be very
much alive.
II think, too, that for the first time
in many years, the question of foreign
relations will be a very prominent one
in both the great national conven-
tions and 1 think also that there will
be very little difference of opinion or
action on it between them. The Mon
roe doctrine is one in which the Ameri-
can people, irrespective of party, are
practically a unit, and which they are
bound to maintain.
Speaking of Morton, New York is
not only for him nominally, but really
so, deep down to the core. It is strong
point in his favor that he can, more
than any other man, get together and
keep together all the factions OF that
State, which is a very important thing.
There have been a number of meet
ings of the most distinguished men in
the State, of all shades of opinion in
the party, and they are all for him.
Mckinley, Reed, Harrison and all the
other candidates are strong in New
York, and enjoy the confidence and es-
teem of their party, but it is more than
likely that the State will send seventy
two delegates to the convention who
will have no second choice. That fact
carries a weight of moral power with it
that will necessarily go a long ways
toward his success.
TT must be remembered that he car
ried the State against the Democracy's
strongest man, David B. Hill, by
10000 majority, and also that, after
he had been a year in Office, the people
Endorsed his administration by electing
both the Senate and Assembly Repub-
lican by overwhelming majorities and
also elected the State officers by large
majorities. New York is classed often
among the doubtful States. but it will
not be doubtful this time if Morton is
nominated His long and honorable
public career and his record without a
stain, his ability in finance and in many
other directions will tell for him.
"The party is in good shape in the
State, too. 1t has the Governor, the
Legislature and the State officers, and
New York will render good account
Of herself when the time comes. She
does not think herself forward in ask
ing for this recognition at the hands
of the country, for the State, north of
Harlem, has always been loyal to the
Republican party"