The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-07
ADMIRAL DEwEY,s CANDIDACY.

ADMIRAL DEWEY's CANDIDACY.
1t is apparent that the announcement
of Admiral Dewey that he IS a candi-
date for a presidential nomination has no;
| greatly complicated the political situation.
| Thus far il has not caused serious discus
sion Of his availability or his fitness for
the office Of President. It has. as a gen
eral thing, called forth smiles and humor-
Gus comments. By this it is not meant
that the Admiral has fallen from the high
! place he held in the estimation of his fell
! low citizens as the hero of Manila, but
| that he has misunderstood the political
| situation and attempted to secure a posi-
lion that is already occupied to the salts
! faction of the great majority of the peo-
| pie. II he had made up his mind sooner
| that is, before the two great parties had
practically settled upon their respective
presidential candidates-it is probable that
he would have stood a chance of having
his ambition gratihed 1t is virtually de
cded that Mr.. Bryan viii be the candi-
date of the Democrats and Mr.. Mckinley
of the Republicans.
It is noticeable that the announcement
by the Admiral OF his candidacy had no
effect whatever on the State Democratic
Convention of Pennsylvania That con-
vention Instructed It's delegation to the
Democratic National Convention to cast
its vote solidly for Mr.. Bryan. This was
done after the Admiral had stated that
he was a Democrat. He doubtless made
that statement for the purpose of having
st. understood that he expected that his
name would be placed before the Demo-
cratic National Convention.
1t is certain that his candidacy is nor
regarded with favor by the members If
the Democratic National Committee. or
by any considerable number of the Dem
ocratic leaders Here and there a prom
inent Democrat has spoken favorably of
it, but the number is so small that it at
tracts very little attention.
As a matter OF fact Admiral Deweys
known views on some of the most i'm
portant public questions are radically diff
ferent from those held by che great ma
jority of Democrats. He could not hon
estly stand upon a platform that would
be acceptable to the Democracy. If the
Democrats were to nominate him, there
fore. he would have to go before the coun-
try without a platform. The Democratic
party is not likely to make the mistake Of
| conducting a campaign without plat
form.
Admiral Dewey says that he has re-
ceived letters from prominent men in ell
parts of the country, asking him to be a
candidate lie tr,ta hot k.,
has. But these men have no following.
They cannot bring a party to his support.
Doubtless they could get together a very
respectable nominating convention, but IL
would be a convention that would have
nothing behind it.
If Admiral Dewey thinks of running as
an Independent candidate, it will not be
long before it viii become apparent to
him that this is not a year In which an
independent political organization is like
ly to flourish The country is divided into
two great political camps, and there is no
call for another fighting force in the DO
ltical arena.
1t is probable that there are a few
Democrats who would like to use Ad-
miral Dewey In an effort 10 defeat the
nomination of Mr.. Bryan, and it may be
that some of them have encouraged him
to think that there IS a chance for him
to be nominated a Kansas City The in
dications are now however, that the con-
vention will be so overwhelmingly in favor
of Mr. Bryan that no serious attempt
will be made 20 prevent the nomination
from going to him. Unless there are I'M
expected developments in the political
situation the Dewey candidacy win be a
short lived sensation.