The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-05
Democratic Approaches to Dewey.

We are getting from time to time state
ments about alleged approaches made to
Admiral DEWEY by politicians DESTROYS Of
persuading him to run for President. This
is the sort OF history that is usually not
written with accuracy until long after the
event No wonder, therefore, that the
newspaper accounts OF the alleged mp
proaches to DEWEY are vague, contradictory
and generally sleazy.
Colonel WATTERsoN has printed in the
Courier journal an intimatlon that he knows
a good deal about the mysteries Of this
business. He reports that certain Demo-
cratic statesmen, names not specified, had
their eyes on the Admiral at least twelve
months ago. We copy here the interesting
part OF Colonel WATTERsoN's statement:
in the early autumn Of last year some Democrats
Of standing conceived tho idea that In DEWEY the
Democratic party might md what the wings had
found in TAYLOR and the Republicans in GRANT.
They took measures to ascertain how the land might
le and, naturally their hrst step in that direction
was to consult DEWEY himself. Not merely were
letters Of . confidential character sent-cmanating
from those who had the right to send them-but
confidential messenger went; and at least this
Dewey movement died before IL was born
The Democrats OF standing who sent con-
fldential letters and messages to Manila,
having, by their eminence in the party
councils the right to approach the Admiral
on the subject, are not named. 1t is safe to
assume that Colonel BRYAN was not one Of
them. Colonel WATTERsoN does not say
that he himself joined in the quest, yet he
seems to know all about it; for he con-
tinues
1.-THE Courier. Journal does not mind now telling
that before 1t threw out the Dewey articles
which occasioned so much comment at the time
knew that DKwEY was Republican; that he would
not allow his name to be used; that he would not
accept Democratic nomination and that he sin.
cerely desired the nomination and reelection OF Mr..
MCKINLEY"
At the same time when the anonymous
Democrats Of standing were sounding
DEWEY on the subject OF the Presidency,
with results noted above, they were also
sounding the less enterprising but posi-
bly, more influential Democratic leaders in
the United States in regard to DEwEY's ac-
ceptability as a candidate. Here, likewise,
according to Colonel WATTERsoN, the prof.
ect encountered a serious rebuff:
There not an argument which addressed
itself to tho wings in favor of TAYLOR in 1913 and
did not address itself to the Democrats in favor OF
DEwEY. But the Democratic leaders would have
none of it, OF him. They Affect to believe that
they would rather lose with BRYAN than win with
DEWEY. quite forgetting that II they lose another
battle they are lost forever.
The Colonel proceeds to bitter reflections
on the short-sightedness OF the Democratic
leaders who rejected DEWEY. Then he sud-
denly recalls the important circumstance
that DEWEY was not available, anyway, and
that he, WATTERsoN. knew it all along.
"a, matter of fact. they could not get him, and
nothing was lost to them: unless. indeed, per
sstent and well.condueted suasion might have
proved in the long run efiioacious. But the
dict as their lack Of foresight Ill stand against
them all the same"
This Is one OF the most curious and,
we had almost said, naive articles that
ever proceeded from the pen Of its brill
liant author, but it recites exact facts.
No man that knows Colonel WAITER.
SONS habit OF candid and straightforward
utterances can doubt for an instant.
Yet he could have made the revelation even
more interesting than it is by catalogung
the Democrats Of standing who sent con-
fdential letter and confidential messenger
to bring in DEWEY to the Democracy's
camp.
Another account Of Democratic ap-
proaches to the Admiral has been furnished
by New York correspondent Of the Times
Herald Of Chicago. According to this ver-
sion, which Is slightly more specific than
the Wattersonian narrative. an ex-judge
OF South Carolina court named W.
II. BRAwLEY was concerned with BEN
j. CABLE Of Illinois, and others, in the
effort to exert upon the hero Of Manila
| what Colonel WATTERsoN calls persistent
| and well-conducted suasion." The Braw-
| ley-Cable enterprise, however, appears TO
have been started IN the interest Of the
Indianapolis party Of Democrats, rather
than the Chicago party.
Judge BRAwLEY Is represented as n
Gold Democrat and personal friend Of
| the Admiral. He has been interviewed,
and with proper dignity and reason he
admits that he was the emissary chosen
ito breach the matter to DEWEY and
obtain his consent" It was at first
proposed that the Judge should go out
| to Manila and breach in person to his
distinguished friend, but later he concluded
| to use the mails. He wrote several let
tiers and received several in reply, which
he has in safe keeping at home in South
Carolina. DEWEY informed the Judge,
according to this version. that he has "lived
| a sailor and shall die one" Under no
circumstances would he be a candidate.
| His temperament was such that he would
not be able to stand the strain, and he
begged his friends to abandon the idea.
'I think there 10 no possibility that Admiral
| DEWEY become the Democratic candidate for
| President said Mr. BRAwLET. It 10 too late for
| that. I have the CORES pondencs at home, but