The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-12

Peculiar Ways of the Ohio Demo-
cratic Leader.
w. G. Nicholas in Chicago Post.

w. q. Nicholas in Chicago Post.
John R. McLean's ''rooters'' encourage
be spent in Ohio il he secures the guberna-
torial nomination and that the outlay will
be the forerunner of still more prodigal
nomination for President away from Colonel
Bryan as the natural sequence of Ohios
success next fall. Rarely has there been
more beautiful structure built on founda-
ton Of ifs and perhapses. The trouble with
John r. Mclean is his unconquerable pro-
pensity for quitting at critical points In
ness throw up their tails when the pace gets
too hot for them. Mr.. Mclean bluffs vio-
lently in the index, but 1t has been observed
tests of endurance, especially when he Is
subjected to financial strains. He does not
like the gait and does not pretend 10: Con-
without loss of time. An instance in point
was his venture in the field Of metropolitan
journalism. He bought the New York Jour-
ously announced that he was going to spend
Sl,0O0OO0 In building 1t UP and giving New
Workers what they had long needed J.. q live
was secured under longtime contracts and
the paper was run under the Mclean ban
ner for six momentous weeks. suddenly and
without minutes warning he quit ana
sold out to Mr.. Hearst. The only excuse he
ever made for letting go was that he had
discovered that in buying the Journal he
ty for which he had no use and which he
unloaded as quickly as possible. The SUD-
sequent experience of Mr.. Hearst In estab-
Mr.. Mclean discovered also that he might
actually have TO spend that $l,0O,0Vo DE had
it to spend. all right, but not to throw up
in the air experiment. That Is not the
Mclean way.
Another case easily recalled is the Mclean
Irritation with the Chicago convention three
short years ago. Under cover OF play for
first place mis- lieutenants organized a clever
movement to corral the vice presidential
nomination. There was no stage of the game
when second place was beyond his reach,
but at a critical point he pulled out OF the
race. One story was that he did not want
to run on a ticket with Bryan. Another
was that Bryan didn't want Mclean for a
running mate. 1t is known that while Bryan
thought a better nomination could be made
than Mclean he did not rule the gentleman
off the list. Still third explanation OF the
withdrawal of the Cincinnati ashington
editor and capitalist was the story current
at the time in the inner Ohio circle that he
had baked when the size of the campaign
contribution that would be expected of him
as a consideration for the nomination was
preached. 1t was said Of and about Mr.. Nc
Lean that his whole moral nature revolted
that way. The test of the ducility or Mr..
McLean's leg having proved Disappointing.
according to the chronicler of inner history.
the convention turned to the Maine snip
builder.
This predisposition on the part Of Mr.. Nc
Lean to take flight when his pocketbook
is threatened Is recognized popularity
much discussed among his friends. He is
not singular in this position, however, and
the fact would hardly be worth mentioning
were it not for the ostentatious efforts
being made in certain quarters to produce
the impression among Buckeye Democrats
that if they only nominate Mr.. Mclean for
Governor the State will be literally sown
with ten-dollar treasury notes I'm order to
convince the country of the President
weakness at home" 1t is an act Of kindness
to prepare the minds of deluded Democrats
who are being educated to look forward to
a harvest of currency Immediately follow
ing the nomination of Mr.. Mclean for the
disappointment that Is In store for them
What they take to be the odor of Mr.. Nc.
Leans burning money is something en-
tirely different. Those who have the pleas.
ure of close acquaintance with the Ohio
multi millionaire never expect to see a con.
fagration of Mclean cash.