The morning times., 1896-07-05
lCcnYright. 1S96.)

lGpyIlSUt, lSoOj
There seems 10 4De little doubt that the
Democratic national convention Will be
Iar and away the most interesting and
strepuous gathering OF American citizens
so FAR of the present year. There are those
among the Popuiists who hold that Their
convention to be held in St Louis two
weeks after tie Chicago convention, will
he an even more exciting meeting, but
as a famous ADglo-Indian romance writer
is fond of saying, that is another story
To be referred to little later on. 1t is GER
tain that the congregation 10 be sheltered
under the roof OF the Chicago Coliseum
up Tuesday and fOr several days following
Will contain Just the sort of elements cal
culatcd to SIR things up, and that the tail
tower al that building may witness the max
ing of the most important variety OF political
history.
None will be more conspicuous among
those who will help make history there
than william c. Whitney. He will not
be a member OF the convention, to lie sure,
prefcrrDg TO he what is sometimes know as
a sidewalk delegate and 10 do his work
from without tie walls, but DO one who
knows the man will doubt for an instant
his ability To make quite as much OF an
impression upon the history of his party
from without tie walls as from within.
II was not us Il delegate that lie wOrked
for the nomination of Cleveland IN 1872,
But he won and that in the face of bitter
cnpoSition the very bitterest of which was
manifested by Democrats of his own state,
And the fact that he hardly hopes com
plcte,y TO win in his fight for the gold
standard this year will not take away one
lot from the energy of his fighting or
mitigate his persistence in tie slightest
degree William c. Whitney is ere o1 those
who never surrendeT-he would 20 IN
fliuching to ;o teal destruction if neceS-
.ary, but he would not think of yielding
what lie considered u vital point.
MIR. WHITNEY'S RECENT CAREER.
Three years go MT. Whitney WAS spoken
OF III many quarters as one who had retired,
possibly finally, GruIn politics. Three weei3s
ago he had no potion of actively re-enter-
ing The field this year, at least telrrc the
onnve ventiuD, iii spite of bis brilliant VIC
tory III Clcvelapd's behalf at the cCnyen-
lion -four years ago. This victory was the
climax Of one OF the most stubborDiy CON
tested battles of his entire political life.
II was followed hya campaI gu u whlChnOne
worked with more fire, enthusiasm nj SIT
Eacity than he. Although he was not chair-
man nf the executive Committee, it was his
genius that directed many Of the shrewd-
est moves, his energy that Carried them
through. His endeavurs for the success
direction. He made Suggestions regard
ing the conduct Or the speakers bureau,
the committee that had the polling OF voters
iii charge, the getting out Of documents"
and the best way to make use OF the party
press with equal surety OF judgment: and
from the beginning to the end of the cam
paigu his suggestions uniformly bore good
fruit. Once, when he proposed the spend
ing of a cousidera ble sum Of money 10 Sc
cure the services of a bigh-priced cor
respondent in the interviewing line, the
expense was demurred to by Some members
of the committee.
VERY well,'' said Mr.. Whitney, in ef-
feet, ''f you think it too much for the COM
mittee to foot the bill, l Will pay ii my
scIf.''
The next Gay he had commissioned one
of the teSt-6nuwD of all the correspond
cuts, whose views were in accord with his
own, to attend to the intervie wing tina had
been mapped out. Nutiuply did Mr.. Whit
ney meet tie high figures charged by the
correspondent for his services, but also va
rious other incidental charges. And the
only instructions regarding money that were
ever given to the newspaper man were not
20 worry as to the cost, but TO get the ma tier
wanted, TO get it quick, and put il out in
the most effective manner. IL was not Il
week after tie first of the interviews began
10 appear III the newspapers IcloTe tiey
were heard from in the most satisfactory
way.
And yet. although Mr.. Whitney had been
o Cabinet officer during Mr.. Cicvcland's
first to rrn and il was fully expected that he
would have great influence ,lar'a:: tie sec
ond. he soon dropped almost completely out
of sight as Tctcnt political factor. just
what brought this about. these who know
the facts have Eeen careful to keep deeply
hidden mystery. Whatever were the cir
cumstanocs. they were evidently oonsid-
cred of the gravest possible character both
by Mr.. whitney and his friends. and Mr..
Cleveland and his; and had not the unex-
pectcd with regard to the money question
taken place in the Republican conclavc. Mr..
Whitnc mchtiave remained in politicalre-
tiremcnt this wear. ut least until after the
campaign had been tie gun by the nomination
of the candidate.
THEPAsSING OF COCHRAN.
Another New York Democrat OF prom
fncnce there is, or was, who was much in
evidence AT the Chic jcago convention OF 1889,
but who has since dropped out and who is
still in retirement. Bourke Cochran. the
graceful. eloquent Irishman, who fought
the nomination uf Mr.. Cleveland US yigor-