Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-06
BRYAN IS MUM ABOUT DEWEY
HE DECLINES 10 DISCUSS THE ADJ
MIRAL'S CANDIDACY FOR THE
PRESIDENCY.
Dewey Acted on Advice-Says His
Friends Are Both Republicans and
DemOcrats-He Does Not Expect
the Republican NOmination-Was
Carefully Planned Scheme.

90 not care 10 discuss the SUBJECT
NEW YORK, April 5.-A special to
the Journal from Washington says:
Interviewed in regard to his candidacy
for the Presidency, Admiral Dewey
said:
you ask me if 1 have advised with
political friends about my candidacy?
l have. You ask whether they are
Republicans or Democrats. They are
both. You ask what party l would
expect to be nominated by. l should
think President Mckinley would be
nominated by the Republican party.
You ask if have any views as to
tariff between this country and Porto
Rico. l have strong opinions. l do
not care to express them now"
The Herald says: Briefly stated,
this is the story of the Dewey candi-
dacy as given to the Herald last night
by a prominent party leader, who has
successfully manipulated State and
even National conventions:
The scheme to nominate Admiral
Dewey at the Kansas City convention
was carefully planned at series Oh
conferences, held principally in this
city and in Washington. Arthur P.
German, acknowledgedly one of the
most skillful political managers in the
Democratic party, was asked to take
charge of the movement. Such con-
spicuous party leaders as William c.
Whitney, Daniel S. Lamont, Richard
Olney, John R. Mclean and Edward
NJ. Shepard, participated in the confer
ences. They canvassed the entire sit
nation. Until they became convinced
that the movement could be practical
ly carried out, Admiral Dewey and all
of, his friends discredited the reports
that the hero of Manila Bay would run
for President under any circumstances.
They proposed to spring the plan
suddenly, not long before the assemb-
ling of the Democratic National Con-
vention, and on the wave of enthusi-
asm which Dewey's announcement
was expected to create, calculated on
sweeping aside all obstacles and on
making Dewey the party candidate.
Admiral Dewey's announcement of his
templated by the leaders in the move
ment. They regarded April as too
early. That the announcement should
be made by Admiral Dewey now is
due to the persistent reports from
Washington that Mr.. and Mrs. Dewey
would go abroad. This latter an
nouncement, declared by the Admiral
to have been absolutely without foun-
dation, was regarded as an effort to
forestall and sidetrack the Dewey
boom.
The exact wording of Admiral Dew
ey's statement was under discussion
for several weeks. 1t was prepared
with the utmost care, and a draft of
the statement was sent to the Admiral
while he was on his recent visit to St.
Augustine, Fla.
1t was pointed out last night that
Democratic leaders of the prominence
of those mentioned would not have
consented to the publication of Admir-
al Deweys statement at this time I'M
less they knew the exact situation.
They are men too shrewd and too ex-
perienced in political manipulation to
force Admiral Dewey into the position
of candidate without a fair assur-
ance of success.
On the other hand, it was expected
that a large majority of the members
of the present Democratic National
Committee and other leaders swept in
to power by the Bryan campaign,
would repudiate Admiral Deweys
candidacy and would adhere to the
cause of William J. Bryan. The pres
ent National Committee having been
chosen at the Chicago convention,
which made Bryan its candidate, will
expire On the meeting of the Kansas
City convention. They are Bryans
friends. Many changes, if the plans
of Admiral Dewey's friends do not
miscarry. will be made in the new Ma
tional Committee, which will have
great influence over the work of the
Kansas City convention, and which
will conduct the campaign that will
follow.
Perry Belmont said last night: "Ad-
miral Dewey's nomination for the
Presidency by the Democratic party
would be a most welcome end to the
issues of 1896. In his published state
ment he gives expression to q Demo-
cratic idea, when he says that the du-
ties of a President are mainly to exc
cute laws enacted by congress. The
Admiral thus recognizes the theory of
popular government. The chances of
electing a Democratic candidate for
Governor of New York are growing
brighter every day. The Importance
OF selecting a candidate for President
who will not be q loax for the State