Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-16

NEW YORK, June 15.-The Herald's
Washington correspondent sends a re-
port of an interview with Admiral
Dewey, in which he IS represented as
confessing that his presidential pros
poets are not good. He said:
Sometime ago the leaders, or those
whom we have always regarded as the
| leaders, asked me if / would allow my
name to be used in connection with
the presidency.
After thinking this proposition
over several weeks, l said yes and
accordingly announced that if the peo-
pie wanted me to serve in that capac-
ity l would gladly do so.
But l thank God they do not ap-
pear to a me.
In these days the people do not
select a president. The choice is now
made by a few political leaders, who
put their heads together and fix up
their slate before the convention as
sembles."
Admidal Dewey recalled that in for
mer days it was customary for the
candidate before a national convention
receiving the next highest number Of
votes to the successful nan to receive
the nomination for vice-president and
that meant succession to the presl-
dency if the party continued in power.
This led the admiral to the question
of whether he would accept the nomin-
alton for vice-president. He said some
of his best friends had urged him
that he would not accept second place
on the ticket with Mr.. Bryan. This
he had declined to do on the ground
that the nomination has not been ten
dered him.
Admiral Dewey is entirely familiar
with the situation in China. When ask
ed the direct question, What is like
ly to be the outcome of the present
complications in China?" the Admiral
shook his head, as if uncertain about
Y~enturing an opinion.
THE situation in China" he said,
Il regard as a very serious one-very
serious indeed. l can only see one
outcome as a result of the conflict now
in progress in China, and that is the
adoption of the American policy in fav-
or of open ports for American COM
merce on equal terms with all the
other comercial nations of the world.
1T must come to that eventually and
it is fortunate that we are in a posi-
ton to say to the nations of Europe,
1--WE are in this deal, gentlemen"
This would not have been possible
continued the Admiral, had it not
been for the result of the Spanish war.
1t seems that God is with us in making
it possible to have at the moment
The Largest Army of Men
and the most formidable fleet of ships
right on the spot to enforce our rights
and see that American interests are
protected.
Not only have we an army of over
fifty thousand trained soldiers at the
very gate of the orient, but we are
the only nation that has gunboats on
the Yang Use Kiang river. 1t seems
like a special dispensation Of Providence
for us to have two of our %gunboats
which are capable of navigating these
waters on the spot undergoing repairs.
Why" exclaimed the admiral, in
many parts of China the Chinese are
taking American -four in preference to
rice. and all kinds of American pro-
ducts find a ready market throughout
the empire. Our commerce is inereas-
ing wonderfully all the time, and now
that we have the Philippines we are
right at the very door of this rich field
of commerce"
Then you sincerely believe in our
retention of the P~hilippines?" the adj
miral was asked.
Most assuredly l do" was the
prompt reply. Had it not been for
our acquisition of those islands,. it
would not have been possible to have
the fighting force in those waters to-
day, and we would have been ignored
in the deliberations now daily held by
the Representatives of the great ma
lions Of Europe relative to China, the
same as we were of the smaller coun-
tries of South America"
q