The Topeka state journal., 1900-06-15
They Urged Him to Become a
Candidate For Presidency
AND HE CONSENTED.
to Run If the People
Wanted Him.
Thanks God That They Do Not
Appear to Want Him.
Wouldn't Have Second Place If
Offered 1t.

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 pro-
spects are not good. He said:
Sometime ago, the leaders, or those
whom we have always regarded as the
leaders, asked me if L would allow my
name to be used in connection with the
presidency.
After thinking this proposition over
several weeks, l said, yes and accord
ingly announced that if the people
wanted me to serve in that capacity
would gladly do so.
But I thank God that they do not
appear to want me.
In these days the people do not select
the president. The choice is now made
by a few political leaders who put their
heads together and fix up their slate
before the convention assemblies"
Admiral Dewey recalled that in for
mer days it was customary for the can
didate before a national convention re-
ceiVing the next highest number OF
votes to the successful man 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 nom
ination for vice president. He said some
of his very best friends had urged him
to make a formal announcement that he
ticket with Mr.. 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 ask
ed the direct question, What is likely
to be the outcome of the present COM
plications in China?" the admiral shook
his head as if uncertain about Ventur-
/ ing an opinion.
''The situation in China he said, Il
regard as very serious one-very SER
| ious, indeed can see but one out
come as a result of the conflict now in
progress in China and that is the adop-
tion of the American policy in favor of
| open ports for an American commerce
on equal terms with all the other COM
1 mercial nations of the world.
| 1T must come to that eventually and
it is fortunate that we are in posi-
| ton to say to the nations of EurOpe-
| We are in this deal, gentlemen.
This would not have been possible,
| continued the admiral, had il not been
| for the result of the Spanish war. It
| seems that God is with US in making
| 1t possible to have at the moment the
| largest army of men and the most for
| midable fleet of ships right on the spot
| to enforce our rights and see that AM
| erican interests are protected.
Not only have we an army Of over
$4,000 trained soldiers at the very gate
of the Orient, but we are the only ma
tion that has gunbOats on the Yang
Use Kiang. 1t seems like a special dis
pensation of providence for US to have
two of our gunboats which are capable
of navigating these waters on the spot
| undergoing minor repairs.
why" exclaimed the admiral, in
many parts of China the Chinese are
taking American flour in preference to
rice and all kinds of American pro-
| ducts find a ready market throughout
| the empire. Our commerce is increas-
! 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 Philippines" the ad-
: miral was asked.
Most assuredly I do. was the promp'
reply Had it not been for our acqui-
sition of those islands it would moi
have been possible to have the f1ghtine
] | force in those waters today ana Ws
would have been ignored in the delib
erations now daily held by the repre-
sentatives of the great nations O.
| Europe relative to China"
WON'T TAKE SECOND PLACE.
Washington, June 15.-Admiral DeWel
returned from his western trip OF
, Wednesday and was seen today by 81
y Associated Press representative an'
e asked whether or not he would defin
( his position relative to the vice presi
: Dental nomination. He replied tha
inasmuch as he had not been offerel
l the nomination it would perhaps be pre-
: sumptuous in him to say that he woul
= or would not accept it.
e But" it was suggested, many Dem
= ocrats throughout the country are dis
= cussing the desirability of placing 20
. on the ticket with Mr.. Bryan
- have never contemplated being
-e candidate for vice president" reptile
y the admiral I am not candidat
l. for nomination for that office. an
( would not accept the nomination if OF
d fered My position is unchanged.
ar stand now where I have stood for tn
s, past three months
II The above statement was submitse
q j.