The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-17
DEWEY NO LONGER A FACTOR.
REALIZES HE is NOT A PREsIDES-
TIAL POSSIBILITY.


in China Is Most Serious and That
the United States should Retain
the Philippines.
Washington June 16-Admiral Dewey is
satisfied in his own mind that he Is no
longer a factor in the presidential race or
from vice presidential standpoint. with
characteristic frankness the Admiral dis
cussed the subject with me this evening
at his picturesque country home In Wood
ley Lane. I requested him TO discuss with
me the result of his observation from a
political standpoint during his recent trip
He good-naturedly replied that he did not
care to discuss pilItics, for" said he II
am not a politician and my visit to Grand
Rapids and Detroit had no political sig
niflcance whatever.
Il have no hesitation in saying" he
continued that my position is just this
some time ago the leaders. or thcee whom
we have always regarded as the leaders,
asked me If l would allow my name to be
used in connection with the presidency
it is the dream of every American boy
that he may at some time become Presi-
dent l must confess l would like TO be
President. but 1 would never enter into a
scramble for ii or resort to methods some
times employed in making Presidents. Al
ter thinking the proposition over several
weeks, l said yes and accordingly an
nounced that If the people wanted me TO
serve in that capacity l would gladly do
So. Then the Admiral added, good-na-
turedly, but 1 thank God they do not ap-
pear TO want me-
Has Studied the situation.
This may not be the exact language en-
ploy ed by the Admiral In thus eliminating
| himself from politics, but the above quo
tation is the idea he wished to convey
In the conversation which followed he
showed that he has been making very
close and accurate survey CT the pol teal
field and his experience has already
taught him that 1t is one thing to be an
aiored naval hero and something else to
be successful national politician. As an
| evidence of This fact which he fully ap-
preciates he remarked:
In these days the people do not select
| the President. The choce is now made
| by few political leaders who put their
heads together and fix up their slate be-
fore the convention assemblies"
To emphasize this point he recalled
little incident CT STATE convention
which was supposed to voice the serti-
ment of the people of a certain state.
| The political bosses in advance selected
all the candidates except sergeant at
arms. 1t was unanimously agreed to re-
fer the selection of that important official
to the convention.
AS further indication that the Admiral
is not unfamiliar with political prece-
dents, he recalled the fact that In former
Gays it was customary for the candida
before National Convention receiving the
highest number of votes next TO the sue
I 10 nj fA,N
TIE nomination for Vice President, and
that meant succession 10 the Presidency
If the party continued in power. This led
the Admiral up to the question OF whether
or not he would accept the nomination for
Vice President. He said that some Of his
very best friends have urged him to come
OUT and make a formal announcement
that he will not accept second place on
the ticket with Mr.. Bryan.
Did Not Like the RidicuIe.
Continuing to speak with the greatest
freedom and unreserVe, which prevailed
throughout the entire interview. the Adj
miral said
1T would not be proper for me to de-
cline such a nomination before 1t was
rendered to me, and I so informed my
friends. | was ridiculed because l said
l would serve as President II the people
wanted me, and I would probably be SUBJ
| iected 10 similar treatment should make
premature declaration regarding the
| vice presidency"
The Admiral insisted, however. that he
| did not wish to go into a political dis
cussion, and 1t would be a violation Of
confidence to repeat all that he said on
/ the subject. He received me so gra-
1 ciously and discussed other topics OF
greater Importance SO instructively that
l will pass from the political field for
/ the present. Before doing So however
hn Adj irol tod han bat
/ he would like TO be President, although
he appreciates the responsibilities and the
| great demand that Office makes upon the
mental and physical faculties of the oc-
| cupant of the executive mansion. He
intimated that one term in the White
! House ought to suffice any man, which
remark I construe to mean that the
| country will be willing to have Mr. Nc
! Kinley retire al the end of his present
term. Without assuming TO be a presiden-
tial forecaster, the Admiral intimated
that Bryan will not be elected next No
vember
Bearer to Him Than ONCE.
What seems to be dearer to him than the
highest political preferment is the love
and affection bestowed upon him by the
men, women and children wherever he has
visited since his return from Manila. He
recalls with enthusiasm the great demon
stration in his honor upon his arrival in
New York. In response to the suggestion
that as hero of the battle of Manila, the
name of Dewey will live in history long
after the names of Presidents and presi-
dental aspirants are forgotten, he said:
81 know l have the love and affection of
the American people and have frequently
been moved TO tears on public occas ions
when old men, old women and young chill
dren greet me and Law their hands on my
shoulder and say, God bless you, Admiral
With pardonable pride he alluded to what
plments recently paid him was comment
in the Herald in which Lord Roberts of
England was "likened to the Dewey OF
America"
Situation In China.
Our conversat ton next led up to the sit
uation in China. With that subject the
Admiral was entirely familiar and YER
batim statement from him will be read
with interest and instruction. When I ask
ed him the direct question, What Is likely
to be the outcome of the present compli-
cations in Chna?" the Admiral shook his
head a s If uncertain about venturing a pre-
diction.
THE situation in China I regard as
very serious one. very serious indeed re-
peated the Admiral, again shaking his
head regretfully. II can only see but one
outcome as result of the conflict now
in progress in China, and that Is the
adoption Of the American policy in favor
of omen DOrts for American rom mol roo nm