Saint Mary's beacon., 1897-04-01
DEMOCRATIC POLITICS.
Interview With xr. George coltol

tied the home Of Mr.. George Col
ton, Saturday, where he found the
veteran politician in his library
busy with his books ahd papers.
Although advanced in years, he
still maintains his mental faculties
unimpaired, and his physical con-
dition wonderfully preserved.
Haven't seen you around much
recently" said the reporter. "Do
you feel the same interest in poll
tics as usual 20
"Oh, yes," said the veteran. al
feel the same interest, and am very
much concerned about the situation
OF our party in this state"
"As everything coming from
YOU" said the reporter, sis read
with interest, il not taxing you too
much, the American would like to
have your views upon the present
political situation"
'In order to do this" said Mr..
Cotton, cit is necessary to 60 back
for a couple of years. In 1895 the
party nominated for governor Mr..
John T.. Hurst, one of our princi-
pal business men, and one against
whose character ard business quail
fications no objections could truth
fully be made, and upon the same
ticket. with him, as a candidate for
mayor Of the city, was placed the
name Of Henry Williams, another
business man identified with the
material interest of the state and
city, and free from aflil;ation with
rings or factions. But, as soon as
the nominations were made, q GER
tain faction of the party. calling
themselves clean handed indepen-
dent Democrats, declared the NOM
nations illegal in party sense, and
forced upon them by a ring that
for years had usurped the powers
Of the party and ruled it with an
iron hand; they denounced German
and Rasin as leaders. and declared
they would not support the ticket,
but do everything in their power to
defeat it; at the same time declar-
ing their loyalty to the party, and
stating that ut the election Of 1896
for president they would be found
foremost in the ranks, and battling
for the success ef the Democratic
party. But of this may speak
fully little further on.
''DO ! think that German and
the present managers will stand
aside and give the control of the
party into other hands? Mr.. Cor
man does not generally play into
the hands of his enemies, whether
OF his own or the opposite party.
The influence of German and his
fuends are as necessary for the sue
cess of the party today as it ever
was, and there can be no success in
this state without their aid, and if
1t was not a serious matter, it
would, indeed, be very ludicrous
one; the idea of 10G 900 regular
and loyal Democrats, who stood up
boldly and voted for Bryan, who
went down with their colors flying
and their faces to the enemy, giving
the management of the party into
the hands of some 10000 or Is 900
independents, calling themselves
Democrats, who have not voted the
ticket for three years unless it suit
cd them. and for che last two most
important elections-one for COVER
nor and the other for president
not only voted against the party.
bit did all in their power to turn
the state and government into the
hands of the Republicans"
LAST FALLS CAMPAIGN.
"The election for president last
fall was a very exciting one," sug-
gested the reporter.
Yes" said Mr.. Cotton. sit was
and a very unequal one, too; the
whole monied interest of the coun-
try was arrayed on one side. every
banking institution, every railroad
corporation, every trust company,
every insurance company aud al
most the entire press Of the coun-
try was arrayed against us: the
whole political four hundred of the
land we're enlisted, and. with Nor
gan, Belmont, Whitney and other
miliionaires in the lead, it was. in
deed. wonderful com bine, of gilt
edged aristocrats. OF high steprers.
silk stocking. pateut-leather, full !
JeWeled, eighteen-karat stem. wind