The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-03
SOME NOTABLE ABsENTEEs
LEADERS WHO WILL NOT ATTEND
THE CONVENTION
A Prominent Democrats and Old Tine
Wheel-Horses Who Will Have
Other Business.


Other Business.
While there is promise that the
Chicago convention will be one Of very
great interest, announcements already
made show that a number of men who
have given color and consequence to
the proceedings of past conventions of
the Democratic party viii not be in
be absent for one reason, and some for
another, but all are known to be labor
ing under the disgruntlement and dis
enlargement which seem to affiict the
Democracy i'm every section of the
country
TO begin with, Richard Croker win
not be present. He has gone to Eng
land to race his horses, and win not
return until August. He was pic
turesque figure at Chicago four years
ago-this grim, bearded, stocky, silent
man, who marched at the head of the
Tammany tigers, and fought so hard
against the inevitable. The galleries
surveyed him with the liveliest con-
Germ, and he played to them with fine
Bowery effects. His entrances and his
exits were capitally managed, and If
every part Of the anti-Cleyeland cru
SADIE had been SO well played as Tam
many's was, the result might have
been different. Who viii march at the
head Of Tammany this year?
Nor viii Bourke Cochran attend.
Mr.. Cochran has been laid on the shelf
by this same Mr. Croker. Four years
ago they were like brothers. They
seemed to be indispensable to each
other, as also to the success of Tam
many Hall. When a battle was to be
planned, Mr. Croker was the man;
when a speech was to be made, or a
magazine article written in the interest
of the Hall, Mr.. Cochran was the man.
But now there is war between them.
Mr.. Cochran could not to-day secure
the humblest favor from the organiza-
ton, of which he was at one time the
pride and oratorical ornament He
possesses exceptional power over Il
popular audience. His exhaustless
vocabulary, the great carrying power
of his voice, his Irish readiness of re-
ply, and his eagerness and earnestness,
all combine to steer him straight to
the heart of the listener. He captur-
cred the convention of 1892, although
he did not sway it's decision. His pro-
test against the nomination of Mr..
Cleveland was very generally pronounc-
ed the oratorical gem of the occasion,
Who will be Tammany's gem-maker
this year? Sulzer? Sulzer after
Cochran, the New Workers say, is
like settler after champagne.
Then there is Henry Watterson, who
has withdrawn from politics, and is to
sail in April for Europe, to be gone
until after the November elections.
This is regarded as a distinct loss to
the gaiety of the party. Mr. Waiter
son has always managed to get a great
deal of fun out OF politics, and at the
same time to contribute to the enter
tainment Of others. He has laid down
as much law, and probably had as lit
tie of it executed, as any leader of his
caliber in the country. He speaks and
writes with equal ease and felicity. He
can construct platform of his own, or
pull to pieces that Of the other fellow,
with a surprising amount OF entertain
ing ingenuity. Mr.. Watterson has at
tended every national convention of
his party since 1872, and upon every
one left some impress of his indiyid-
uality. But these convention scenes
which have known him so often and
so well will know him no more for
ever. He himself has said it.
Mr.. German announces that, contra
~ to his custom, he will take no part
in candidate making this year. And
this will be a loss. The Maryland Sem
ator is a very shrewd man, and pulls
wires with the best Of them. Great
interest has always attached to his
maneuvers at national conventions,
and the galleries have been accustomed
TO train their glasses on the smooth
and imperturbable man carrying,as was
thought, the vote Of his State i'm his
inside pocket. Four years ago Mr.
German was a presidential quantity.
He was the hope Of the anti-Cleveland
people, and all Of his moves were eX-
amined with marked curiosity. But
the scheme failed largely, it has been
charged, because of Mr.. Germans sur
prising lack OF assertion at the critical
moment-und to-day he is out of it,
and content to confine himself to the
humdrum of his senatorial duties. Who
is it that mourns for German now?
But, Of course, even with so many
Of the old actors left out, the play will
60 on. The opportunity for the aspir-
ing youngsters is all the more alluring.
Regulations greater than those that
have gone before may be made at Chi
capo next summer, and this in itself
viii lend interest to the convention.
Political observers viii all be present
to note the new men and appraise the
more promising ones for the future.