The age-herald., 1901-03-24
OLE VELAND
 A CANDIDATE?

By Julius Chambers.
 Washington, March 28-The persisteney with which MT. Cleveland keeps himself before the public is regarded as convInc. ing proof that if he is not actively at work to secure the Democratic nomina- ton for the Presidency in 1904, he would be very certain to accept 1t if 1t were of- fered 10 him. The idea Is, of course, rId- fculed by eight out of every ten persons to whom the suggestion is made, but still the sage of Princeton has a few ad- mirers left. Said one of them a few evenings ago: "Yes l belve Cleveland will get another nomination. but it will not be from the Democratic party. In my oDinon there will be a third party in the field three years from now, and 1t would not surprise me to see Grover Cleveland at the head of 1t. The Reoub- licans are beginning to show signs of a spit, and 1t may come sooner than we imagine. McKinleys Cuban and Philip pine policies are not approved by many leading members of the party, but they hesitate to say so openly. The offensive arrogance of Hanna goes against the grain of others, and If he is not pulled down from his political dictatorship be- fore the century is much older the nut terings of revolt will become pretty loud. Again here are many men in the party that believe the corporations and trusts have entirely too much voice In legislation and that 1t Is time to curb their enormous power. Now add to these elements of Republican dissatisfaction the gold Democrats, as they are called, and those who are disgusted with Bryan Ism, and you have the material for a very formidable organization. Its prinoi- ples would appeal to the great independ- ent newspapers of the country, and it would assuredly attract an immense fol- lowing of young men in every State in the union.'
 An Adullamite party of this character is exceedingly improbable.
 From the Washington point of view, David B. Hlll and Arthur P German regarded as the two strongest candidates now before the country, but with Hill a long way in the lead. Hill's strength lies in the fact that he has a great state be- hind him, and there Is conviction that he can carry 1t on a sound conservative platform, such as he briefly outlined in a recent letter to political club in Balti- more. Again, the New York man is popu- lar in all the southern states; far more so than MT. German, although he may be said to belong to that section. The fact Is MT. German is under the suspicion of being too closely identified with many of the great corporate interests, rail- roads, banking, manufacturing and insur ance companies. It may be that the charge Is unfounded, but 1t exists, and 1t will not be easy to eradicate the impress sion.
 AS political managers, both may be said to be without peers either in their own party or even among Republicans. In this respect they are evenly matched. Both are past grand masters in political intrigue, in the art of managing men, which is the secret of success in busi- ness, as we'll as in political campaigning. It would be hard to determined which of them has the pre-eminence in this re- spect.
 Bryan must not be counted out of the race notwithstanding his two disastrous campaigns His hold on the extreme rad ical element in the party is as strong as 1t ever was, and what is left of the Pop ulist party will, in all probability, be willing to accept him once more. Towne IS lOOkeQ upon as Bryan pOlltlcdl ieBd- tee for 1904. A sincere friendship person. al and political, exists between the two men, and unquestionably each will sup port the other, as the situation may de- mand. What that situation will be- no one can now forecast. If the movement that is on foot n the Democratic party to restore what are called fits ancient principles both Bryan and Towne will be in hopeless miSority in the next na tional convention, and utterly impotent so far as dictating what the future policy of the party shall be. Should this move ment fail to produce the results antici- pated, the outlook before Democracy for years to come will be nigh hopeless from a national point of view. It may hold power in spots, but so far the nation at large is concerned, it will be in MT. Clevelands famous condition of ''innocu- ous desuetude." Such at least is the pre- valent opinion here reflected by the keenest observers from all parts of the Union.