Evening star., 1896-07-06
THE DISTRICT CANDIDATE
Washington Interested in the Outcome at
Chicago.
Sketch of Mr.. John II. Mclean, Who
is Looming Up Into Prominence
for a Place ON the Ticket.

The name of Mr.. John r. Mclean has
been mentioned so favorably and prom-
rently in connection with place on the
democratic ticket to be nominated at the
Chicago convention that all Washington,
irrespective of politics, is deeply interested
in the subject. This is not surprising, be-
cause while Mr.. Mclean is citizen of
Ohio and the owner of its greatest daily
newspaper, he resides in Washington most
of his time, and is among the most sub
stantial and highly esteemed citizens of the
national capital. Mr.. Mclean is a gentle
man possessed of great wealth, and not
small portion of ii Is invested In this city.
He is the president of the Washington Gas
light Company and a heavy holder of its
securities. He is director of the Capital
Traction Company and owns large block
of the valuable stock of that corporation;
while his real estate holdings here are, like
those in Cincinnati and elswhere, extensive
and valuable. Mr.. Mclean is the son of the
late Washington Mclean, who died several
years ago, after he had removed his resi-
dence from Cincinnati to this city. WASH
ington Mclean was one OF the poltncal
powers of the west up to the day of his
death. He had helped to make Presidents
and unmake aspirants for that proud posi-
tion, and under his direction his paper,
the Cincinnati Enquirer, became one of the
most potent influences in the politics and
domestic affairs of Ohio. well as in Ken
tucky, and the more doubtful states, po-
itically, of Indiana and West Virginia. His
took active charge of the Enquirer be-
fore his fathers death, and has since con-
tinued to be its directive influence.
The Kind of a Man He LIS.
Mr.. Mclean is a man of attractive per-
sonality, especially TO those who are on in
innate terms with him. He has a keen
mind and ready wit and an appreciative
sense of both the pathetic and the humor
Gus. II business he has been uniformly
successful, and invariably so just and equit-
able in his dealings with his fellows that
John r. McLean's word is regarded in the
commercial world good his bond.
1t Is in his domestic life that Mr.. Mclean
is pee uliarly happy. Eight or nine years
ago he married Miss Emily Beale. the
daughter of Gen. Edward Beale who was
Gen. Grants most intimate friend and
who was for many years one of the most
prom nent men at the national capital. Mr..
and Mrs. Mclean had ore child, Edward
Beale Mclean, who is now about seven
years of age, and who may be said, with
out exaggeraton, to be the center Of his
fathers universe. If he had not been such
a smart and well-balanced boy he would
have been spoiled beyond all hope of re-
demption long ago. Everything that
juvenile heart could wish has been show
cred on young Besle, he is called. after
his revered grandfather. His toys are the
newest and, Of course, the best. His little
not the least important of which is a min
iature four-in-hand. A square of the ground
formerly occupied by Holmead cemetery,
in the northwestern section of the city,
was purchased by Mr.. Mclean, and is now
Beale's playground, house having been
erected there for his accommodation and
the grounds being laid out in order TO per-
NIT him to enjoy himself with his little
friends to his hearts content
Great Social Favorites.
Mr.. McLean's mother also resides in
Washington, and occupies the former resi-
dence of ex-Gov. Shepherd, at the corner
Of CONNECTICUT avenue and X street. His
two sisters also live in Washington. They
are Mrs. Bugher and Mrs. HaZeE. Mr.. Nc
Lean and his family are great social favor
ties, ard the entertainments at the Nc
Lean mansion. CORE of 18th and / streets.
are numbered among the most exclusive
and elegant given at the national capital.
One of the best indica tions of the thor
oughress of Mr.. McLeans character is to
be found in the devotion with which his
friends regard him. They are represented
in all classes of life, because as a success
full neWSpa per man, an active politician
and a business man of enormous interests,
he has mixed with the world thoroughly.
Those to whom he has extended his
friendship and his confidence-and they
are numerous-repay it to the top of their
ability, and at the recent convention in
OHIO this influence was shown when Mr..
Mclean received almost the unanimous
vote of the delegates for delegate-at-large
to Chicago.
Said to Bc Sure of One Place.
While nearly all the politicians are at
tending the Chicago convention at pres
ent, the feeling among those still In the
city is that Mr.. Mclean. while standing
excellent chance for the first place on
the ticket, is pretty nearly assured of the
second place anyhow. The news from Chi
cago indicates that McLeans unique posi-
ton among silver leaders will result to his
great advantage, as vel! as to that of his
party, If he Is given the nomination. 1t is
declared that If Mr.. Mclean were nomi-
mated he would not present any vulnerable
points to personal attacks of the oppos.-
tion 1t is pointed out that he could not
be charged with being silver fanatic or
a populist or the possessor of socialistic
tendencies, for the simple reason that he
is easily ten-times millionaire, and is
large holder of United States securities in
addition to his other substantial and
widely divergent interests. Those who
know Mr.. Mclean best say that no matter
what occurs at Chicago, the result will
make no difference in him personally, and
that he will be the same shrewd sensible
and matter-of-fact gentleman that he has
been heretofore.