Arizona republican., 1899-11-19
Representative Benton Talks Of
His Qualifications.
WILL NOT PRESS FOR PLACE
His Colleagues From Missouri Win
Nevertheless Make Sirona PUN
TO Land Him az the Head OF the
House riinorify In the Coming
ConqTcSS-Hc Is fairminded and
Thoroughly Capable.

Washington, Nov. 1S.-Representa-
tive Benton of Neosho. Mo-. who is in
Washington this morning. and has TAX
en- residence for the winter at 1923 Q
street. Mr.. Benton reports business in
his section as prosperous, although
just now the zinc miners complain that
the smelters are forcing down the
prices for their product He is not dis
couraged with the prospects of the ma
tional democracy, but believes that
Bryan has gained strength steadily.
and will be elected president in 1900. He
says the prospects are good for Judge
De Almond receiving the caucus nomi-
nation for speaker of the house.
1--WE Missourians are for Judge De
Almond for leader of the minority up
on the floor of the house. He is cool.
well poised, a we'll informed politician.
splendid lawyer. and a fair man, who
would treat all members of the minor
ity with courtesy and fairness, and he
would make an excellent leader There
is no one in the party in congress bet
ter equipped. I understand that Mr..
De Almond is not a candidate, in the
sense of pressing himself for the place,
but his friends feel that his qualifica-
tions and long service in congress
make him the man for it. We need not
only man with great courage, which
he has, but we need also a man of
great ability and tact. and we know
that De Almond possesses these quail
tiles"
Speaking of the recent election. Mr..
Benton said:
I'm Ohio 1 never had hope of demo-
cratic success. For a dozen years the
average republican majority has been
more than 100000 1t is the home of the
national committee. OF course they
appealed to party sentiment to sustain
them, and the contest for governor was
largely a personal canvass against
Hanna on the one side and against Nc
Lean on the other. The platform and
the mooted questions on which the two
parties will divide next year did not,
and could not, we'll come to the front.
The Jones vote came largely from dis
satisfied men on either side, and it
turned out that we were much the
heavier sufferers.
a.
cratic column, as might be expected
when the full democratic strength is
polled. There is little doubt that it
will remain democratic. Nebraska was
The only advantage we had was in the
strong personality of Mr. Bryan. which
added some votes to the democrats.
The result indicates that the people of
Nebraska will stand squarely on the
Chicago platform. The fact that she
had soldiers in the Philippines does not
make her in favor Of Imperialism.
Altogether. my observation has been
that Mr.. Bryan has grown before the
public. Three or four years ago he was
regarded as a magnificent orator and
of fine personal presence, but there was
a large class who considered him mere
ly an attractive talker. They feared
he would be controlled by what they
termed a lot of wild asses if he be-
came president. These men now are
convinced that Mr.. Bryan is safe and
sound statesman, as we'll as a great
orator and persuasive man.
In the campaign next fall the ques-
tions will not be confined to a few
states. The republican party cannot
concentrate it's forces. 1 look to see
every state of the south support the
Chicago platform, which will be re-
adol ted undoubtedly. and nearly every
state west of the Missouri river, and
regard Indiana and New York as prob
ably democratic next year. This fall
there was no contest except in Ohio.
Nebraska, Maryland and Kentucky. In
two of these, Kentucky and Ohio. the
fight was largely personal In the
other two democratic strength was
shown clearly, and 1 am confident that
in a general election Mr.. McKinley's
foreign policy will receive severe critt-