The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-16
He CANT PLY FIRST
And Won't Play Second Fid-
die, and That's Flat.
DEWEY TALKS OF CHINA
With Which Topic He Seems
TO be More at Home.

New York, June 1.-THE Herald:
i washington correspondent sends 4 report
of an interview with Admiral Dewey, II
which he is represented as confesslng
that his presidential prospects are not
good. He said:
Some time ago the leaders. or those
whom We have already regarded as the
leaders. asked me If I would allow my
named to be used in connection with the
presidency. After thinking this PROPOSE
ton over for several weeks, I said Yes.
and accordingly announced that II the
people wanted me 10 serve in that ca
pacity / would gladly do SO. But thank
God they de not appear 40 want me. IL
these days the people do not select the
president The choice ms now made by a
few political leaders who put their heads
together and fix uo their slate before the
convention assemblies"
Admiral Dewey recalled that In former
days it was customary for the candidate
before a national convention receiving the
next highest number of votes to the sue
cessfuI. to receive the nomination for
vice president, and that meant succession
TO the presidency if the party continued
in power. This led the admiral TO the
question of whether he would accept the
nomination for vice president He said
some Of his very best friends had urged
him to make a formal announcement that
he would not accept a second place on the
ticket with Bryan. This he had declined
to do, on the ground that the nomination
has not been rendered him
Admiral Dewey is entirely familiar with
the situation in China. When asked the
direct question. What IS likely TO be the
outcome of the present complications in
Gilman the admiral shook his head as IL
uncertain about veRturing an opinion.
The situation in China" he said, II
regard as very serious one-very serious
indeed. 1 can see but one outcome as a
result of the conflict now in progress IN
China and that is the adoption of the
American policy in favor OF open ports
for American commerce on equal terms
the world. II must come to that event
ualy, and it is fortunate that we are in
position TO say to the nations Of Eu-
rope, We are in the deal, gentlemen.
This would not have been possible"
continued the admiral. had 1t not been
for the result of the Spanish war II
seems that God is with US in making II
possible 10 have at the moment the larg-
est army of men and the most formidable
fleet of ships right on the spot to enforce
our rights ana see that American inter-
ests are protected. Not only have We an
army of over 900 trained soldiers at the
very gate of the Orient. but we are the
only nation that has gunboats on the
Yang tse Kiang river. 1t seems like a
special dispensation of Providence fer Us
to have two of our gunboats whieA are
capable of navigating these waters, on the
spot, undergoing minor repairs.
"Why." exclaimed the admiral. in
many parts of China the Chinese are tax
ing American -four in preference to rice
and all kinds Of American products find
a ready market throughout the empire.
Our commerce is increasing 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 re-
tention of the Phillppines?" the admiral
was asked.
Most assuredly I do was the prompt
reply. Had it not been for the aeeuisi-
tion Of those islands II would not have
been possible to have the fighting force
in those waters today. and We would have
been ignored in the deliberations now
daily held by the representatives of he
powers Of Europe relative 10 China, The
same as we were Of the smaller countries
of South Africa"