Evening journal., 1896-05-04
CLRRESON ON POLITICS
The Iowa Committeeman Gives
His Opinion.
THE FIELD AGAINST MKINLEY.

WASHINGTON May 4.-Ino managers OF
Candidates Allison, Reed and Morton now
concode that the Republican contest IS the
field against Mckinley.
Mr.. Fessendcn, momber OF the Repub-
llcan national committee for Connnocti-
cut and Mr. Clarkson member OF the
same committee for Iowa arc in town and
have had conferences with Senators Quay
and Allison Mr.. Clarkson was seen at
the Shoreh8m and was askod:
Has Mce einley majority Of tho dele
gates already, and what OF the claim that
he will be nominated by acclamationY"
"He has not nearly a majority yet, nor
will no, in my judgment entor the con
vention with majority, replied Mr..
Clarkson. "Indeed he will be shorter of
a majority on the first ballot at ST. Louis
than Blaine was In the emotional year Of
1876 Grant in 1880 or sherman In 1883,
when the latter in a field Of IA candidates
voted for on the first ballot had 320 votes
"He will not be nominated by accla-
nation, because / can say positively that
Allison, Quay and Morton will remain in
the contest, and so surely will Reed, and
judge so will Bradley and Cullom The
states Of the first four named gentlomon
have instructed their delegates to 90 TO
St. Louis to present these mems names TO
the national convention, and thero Is no
doubt that this viii be done
Allison has not the least idea of with
drawing nor Iowa any idea Of giving up
tho fight | believe this Is true of the
other candidates and their states. Mo
Kinloy VIII fall from 80 TO 100 votes short
OF enough to nominate Mt the start, and
the field will represent from 525 to 500
votes.
"By the field 1 moan Allison, Reed,
Quay, Bradley, Morton and Cullom, al
ready suggested, and such other available
men as Harrison, Lincoln, Foraker, Ho-
bart, Davis and General Tracy OF New
York and others who might iitly be men
toned, for our party is as rich I'm its
capable reserve Of available candidates as
It Is strong In the candidates offered No
man flt Co be president or receiving the
call Of his party could or would resist the
duty to accept the nomination for presi-
dent"
Possibly New Names.
"You think that now names may pos
sibly be considered at St Louis"
That is always supposable, and, In
years OF emotional campaigns such as this
has boon so far, nearly always inevitable
1t Is a historic fact In American politics
that in the elimination Of an enthusiastic
campaign every party from instinct at
last avoids tho perils Of factional or emo
tional nomination.
"The Republican party has always fol
lowed this rule except In Blnine's oase,
in 1881, when defeat followed at the polls.
The national convention at st. Louis will
put party interest above any mans ambi-
tion and choose not a factional candl-
date, but one who viii draw every Repub-
iican vote at the polls and thus make
party defeat impossible"
'eYou think the field, as you call II,
withstand OUT" was asked.
II do. j know that Mckinley cannot
be nominated without its holp, and many
OF McKiney's delegates know it too.
There are moro Mckinley delegates likely
to broak than the delegates In the
field. Enthusiasm and emotion do not
stampede delegates. Besides. enthusiasm
Is as often warning as an assurance. For
instance, the enthusiasm for Mckinley
among Republicans and in Republican
papers Is good enough, but the enthusiasm
for him In the Democratic papers is not so
good in itself NOR SO reassuring TO our
party.
fThen you do not believe the story that
the delegates for tho fayorite sons will
break" was suggested.
"No. All the talk about bosses and ooer-
cion and unwilling delegates Is absurd.
This has been a contest Of absolutely free
choice II absolutely free choice has been
hindered anywhere, It has been In Ohio,
and II there are any reluctant delegates
who will vote against their own personal
choice and Judgment Il will be lS dele
gates in Ohio In no other state has there
been an organized attempts to ooerce dele
gates with state pride or state power" "
"General Harrison's name was men
toned by You as being in the available
field of candidates. Do you really think
sop
eyes Every man ft to be president
and who is good Republican is always
available to his party, and Harrison is a
good Republican and responsive 10 party
duty, 3" retorted Mr. Clarkson.
Certainty Is Demanded.
"What tho people demand this year In
Republican candidate and platform is Ger
tainty In one respect Harrison would
give the earliest certainty Of any one who
could be nominated. for the day he should
bo nominated the country would know ex-
actly what his policy would be on tariff
and exactly what it would be on finance
and this would quickly bring confidence
and good times behind it,
You have seen General Grosyenor's ia
blesg"
Yes and they are grossly inaccurate" "
replied Mr.. Clarkson. He claims far too
many votes for Mckinley, and appropri-
atos practically all the contested votes, Of
which there will be 100 or more. The pub
lie should be treated candidly and given
figures that are accurate, and the contest
ed votes should not bo claimed for any
candidate as yet.
AS an example of Grosvenor's inaccu-
racies, he counts practically all of Texas
for Mckinley, while Mckinley has at the
most six votes in that state, and three Of
them contested. He counts all the votes
in Tennessee as instructed for Mckinley,
when, IN truth. the resolution Of instruc-
tiong was simply for the delegates to vote
for Mckinley as long as a majority Of the
delegates should deem il wise and it is
very doubtful IL a majority Of the dele
pates in that state are for Mckinley. He
claims many votes in Louisiana where
Mckinley has only two, and perhaps only