New-York tribune., 1901-10-15
WATTERSON'S AMBITIONS.
-,rrrRAN KENTUCKY EDITOR SAID TO
ASPIRE TO BE GOVERNOR AND
PRESIDENT.
rsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSE.l

TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
,o,,,syille Oct 14-Henry Watterson. Editor
=, THE Courier-Journal," has overcome his
.,tipathy 10 officeholding. and has quietly an
ornced 10 his friends and few politicians that
- would not be averse TO accepting the nonina-
40, for Governor OF Kentucky in 1903. Mr..
-,.t.erson has made no public announcement
his candidacy. but it is now generally known
t.t ne is willing 10 accept this Office and lead
the kentucky Democracy out of the wilderness
,r,o which ii has wandered since the rise and
.ou of the Goebel dynasty.
.srbe Evening Post" of Louisville. made the
&C. announcement of the fact that Mr.. Waiter
yras a receptive candidate this afternoon, IN
.be following statement in black type the
first page:
The most interesting political event OF the
lest few weeks is the announcement by Henry
1To+terson Of his candidacy for the Democratic
nomination for Governor.
Turing the last week Mr. Watterson has told
Durnber Of gentlemen in this city that he is
alreadv a candidate for the nomination before
tbe next Democratic convention. and has solic
tied their support So far his canvass has been
much in the nature OF a still hunt, and II
Soubtess intended TO keep IL a secret for some
time longer. The friends OF other aspirants for
the eovernOrship were not slow, however. in
basring of the work being done in this city TO
nave the way for Mr. Watterson's candidacy,
and upon making inquiries, have learned that
Mr. Watterson is an avowed candidate.
a
Governor at the present time but he is said 10
cherish the most profound ambitions for future
preferment. He now desires 10 be the candidate
az the Democratic party for President In 1904,
and believes that, il he carry Kentucky IN
1903 he will put himself in line for the nomina-
ton for President one year later. With this in
view he is doing all in his power TO under
mine the power Of Mr.. Bryan in the party. and
al the same time ingratiate himself with the
men in this State whom he has opposed in the
past He is working hard 10 induce the silver
democrats OF the State 10 forget the past, and is
also holding out the olive branch 10 the busi-
ness men Of Louisville
When MI Watterson/ saw this he smiled
blandly and remarked. "Our afternoon con-
temporary seems 10 have what the boys call
SCOOP" Then he smiled again. but not for
long His telephone bell began 10 Jingle, and
his office boy 10 pass cards into his sanctum
Reporters for rival sheets and representatives
Of out OF town papers We're on his trail Tell
them Mr. Watterson is not talking" is all he
would say TO any one. and when he left his Of
fee he instructed his secretary and others TO
make this reply 10 all inquiries. He started for
his home, at Jefersontown, at o'clock, and
there he is free from intrusion, as there is
neither telephone. telegraph nor train connec-
tion at that place after that hour.
Although he has been IN public life nearly
forty years, and has been considered ''the man
behind the throne in more than one national
never,
save once held public office, and when he re-
tired that time he declared he would never again
accept an Office Of any kind. His one expert
ence was in Congress. in 1876, when the people
Of the With Kentucky District GousviIle) elected
him 10 I'll out the unexpired term OF Repre-
sentative e Z. Parson. He accepted this only
On the request Of Mr.. Tilden. He was made
q member Of the Committee Ways and
Means, and his speeches in the electoral COM
mission were the most noteworthy utterances
on that subject This TfIden period was, IN
fact, The most notable and picturesque in Mr..
Wattersons public career. At the urgent de-
mand OF AIr. Tilden's friends he had presided
over the convention that nominated the Sage
Of Gramercy Park for President.
Since the seemingly irreparable split in the
Democratic party in Kentucky over the money
question first and then over Goebelism, Mr..
Wstterson has felt that he might be able to
heal the breach, and he has turned his energies
IN that direction. AS the leader Of the Kentucky
Democracy, he can cement all breaches and
pirng about united party in the State. He is
willing 10 make personal sacrifices. and sacrifices
OF ease and comfort TO accomplish this. AS TO
The Presidency, or the platform that is a long
way on, and Mr. Watterson has a habit Of not
crossing bridges until he reaches them.
Governor Beckham was elected last year for
g term OF four years.