The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-01
Gossip at
the Capital
speclal Correspondence Of Tho Triblme.

Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
Washington, April 90 - Ex-Presidcnt
Clevelands speech at the Reform CLUB
dinner in New York last week is still be-
ing discussed by politicians here. Nearly
everybody believes that Mr. Cleveland is
looking forward to a denomination for
president in 1900 All the speeches at the
now famous event are regarded as the
first guns of the battle. II is claimed
that it would not have been held but for
the belief that it is not yet too early to
let the country see that Mr.. Cleveland is
still i'm politics and they point to his adj
dress as confirming their belief that he
sees in himself the logical candidate of
his own position. That silver Democrats
are concerned over his possible re-entry
into the presidential field is shown in the
manner in which they note his every
word and action, while the western
DGmOcrats-eVen those who have no per-
sonal liking for the X-prcsident-concede
that he has a considerable following in
their country. 1t is believed that CleVe-
lands policy of "honest money and low
taxation" will be the slogan upon which
the gold Democrats will rally, and they
will try to bring under their standard
much larger following than went last fall
to Palmer and Buckner. It is pointed out
by those who take a political view of the
situation that Cleveland stands in a much
better position than did Palmer, because
his name is better known and because he
could attract TO himself a goodly repre-
sentation of Republicans who will not go
tC the high tariff extreme of the protec-
tlonists of that party
Representative Richardson, of Tennes-
see, says that he has no doubt that Cleve-
land is already planning to secure the
nomination in 1900 "As soon as he was
out of office before" said Mr.. Richard
son, "a plan of campaign was organized
in his behalf. Although his nomination
when 1t came, seemed to be the result of
a popular wave in his favor, the tact is
that sentiment for him was adroitly
stimulated by articles in the country press
and by literature sent out by mail both
emanating from a headquarters in New
York, His friends have plenty Cf money
and the same organization is at his dis
posal today" Mr.. Richardson does not
believe, of course, that this campaign can
be made effective under the conditions
which now exist in the regular Demo-
cratic party. There is a feeling among
some of the Democrats, however, that
Mr.. Cleveland will be nominated by the
gold faction. This is the view of silver
Dick" Bland. yes" said Mr.. Bland
Cleveland hopes to be nominated, and
he will be- but not by the Democratic
party, which will remain true to the prin-
ciples declared at Chicago last spring. He
Will be the candidate of the handful of
people at the Reform club dinner shall
be very glad to see the issue directly
made, for l do not believe that four years
from now Mr., Cleveland will find cor
porals guard to follow him. There Is one
good thing about that dinner. 1t shows
that there is to be no concession and no
compromise, and the Cleveland party will
not coalesce with the G,5OO,O0O who followed
the regular standard bearer"
1t Is already apparent that I'm some lo-
calities the lines are being drawn very
tightly Congressman Champ Clark of
Missouri, who agrees that Cleveland Will
be the nominee of the gold Democrats,
says that out in his state, the test of De-
mocracy in the recent primaries was the
support OF the Bryan ticket last fail.
THAT is what we ought to have done in
Alabama" said Representative Stallings,
of that state, but we had TO bear in
mind the negro question, and so the lines
were not so closely drawn. / remember"
he continued "how CleVeland's nomina-
tion was secured the last time. / know
that a tremendous amount of work was
done In my state, and large amount OF
money was spent in the effort to secure