Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-07
FRANCIS PLAYS At POLITICS
Delay in Exposition Part Of Plan to
Further Presidential Ambition.
GOVERNMENT OPPOSED TO THE SCHEME
Objection In Not Alone from Repub-
Iicans, hut from Democrats with
Ambitions-PrObsb Leaders
of Congregational Fight.
(From a Staff Correspondent

which according to the terms Of the act
OF congress, must be held in 1903, do not
seem to be able to make such arrange
ments as will assure the opening of the
exposition on the date originally speci-
fed. Whenever any Of these managers
come to Washington they say that every
thing is in readiness, so far as they are
concerned. Then they add a proviso.
which is that the inability of foreign gov
ernments to get their exhibits ready in
time may force a delay for one year.
These same managers have made several
attempts to induce the State department
or the Board of Government Commission
ers to recommend postponement Of the ex
position until 1904 But so far the gov
eminent oficials, have. one and all, de-
clined to listen to President Francis and
his associates.
There is a we'll defined belief that Mr..
Francis has a big political scheme in view.
The presidential bee is buzzing in his ben
net. He is understood to have withdrawn
lis opposition to the election of ex-Gov-
ernor stone to the senate as a preliminary
move towards securing the support OF the
Stone following to his own plans, which
contemplate the endorsement of himself for
the presidency by the Missouri delegation
to the next national convention. The fact
that he served secretary of the interior
in President Clevelands last cabinet gives
him strength with the Cleveland, or sound
money wing of the democratic party.
Use Exposition Employees.
According to gossip here Mr.. Francis is
laying plans to have the democratic con-
vention in 1904 held in St. Louis. II. there
fore he can accomplish the postponement
Of the exposition for one year without
apparently trying to do so. he will be able
provided, of course, the convention is
held in his city-to accomplish a great
deal of campaign work during the next
twelve months, because he can send the
agents of the exposition into every town
in the country commissioned to proselyte
for Francis, while talking up the neces-
sity OF exhibits and the desirability Of at
tendance upon the exposition.
It is largely because OF this political
scheme, believed to be behind the move
ment for postponement, that all the gov
ernment offlcials have declined to in any
way suggest or recommend postponement
The St. Louis people insist that there is
no physical reason why the date should
be postponed and yet they allowed nearly
year to elapse after the passage Of the
loan bill before making any attempt what
ever to secure the foreign exhibits. which
| they insist are so essential ito the success
of the undertaking.
II is not only republican oficials who de-
cline to become parties to the postpone
ment movement, but the friends in the
democratic party of the other candidates
for the presidency do not take kindly to
the idea Of furthering a scheme for the
benefit OF Hon. David R. Francis. Still the
/ mr. Of is hat
will be devised for bringing about a delay
of the opening and should the democratic
national committee at its meeting next
November decide upon St. Louis as the
place for the next convention Mr.. Francis
will have scored two points in the game
Of presidential politics.
Represents the New south.
James Matthews Griggs of Georgia, who
has just been selected chairman OF the
democratic congressional campaign commit
| tee. is one of tho foremost representatives
Of the younger element Of the south. Born
| in 1861, he has none of those bitter recol-
lections of the struggle between the states,
which have in times past warped the judg-
ment and soured the friendships Of men
! from the south who have occupied promi-
nent places in the councils of the demo-
cratic party. MIR. Griggs ranks on the re-
publican side of the chamber as the most
| popular democrat in the house. In the
campaign which is soon to be inaugurated
| for the control of the ffty-eighth congress
| sectionalism will find no place. Judge Griggs
of Georgia has too many friends in the north
| and has too warm a spot in his heart for
| northern men and northern places to per-
NIT OF the conduct OF a campaign which
might be construed in any way as an at
| tempt to reopen the wounds which began
to heal very soon after he was born.
Babcock May Not Serve.
The republicans have not as yet selected
the chairman Of their congressional cam
| ever, that Mr.. Babcock of Wisconsin will
positively decline to serve in that capacity
again, for the reason that his health is not
robust enough to warrant him in attempting
to bear the burdens of another campaign.
| There is some talk, and IL seems to be we'll
| founded, that James s. Sherman OF Utica,
N. Y, will be chosen for this important
position. Mr.. Sherman, like Mr.. Griggs, Is
young man. In temperament he is very
similar to the Georgian, and. like that gem
| tleman. he has a faculty OF winning friends
on both sides OF the house, which has al
| ways stood him In good stead in legislative
matters. With two such men as Griggs and
Sherman conducting the political affairs OF
! their respective parties in the campaign
this fall. there is likely to be more Vigor
| injected into the contest than has been
known for years and at the same time less
acrimony and more argument than has been
| the rule. The selection Of Griggs and the
probable selection OF Sherman may have a
decided bearing upon the future OF the
house itself aside from any effect which It
may have upon the membership. Should
| the democrats be successful, Mr.. Griggs
| will prove a formidable rival to Mr.. Rich
ardson for the speakership. On the other
hand, republican success with Sherman at
the head OF the campaign committee Is
quite likely TO be followed by an attempt
on the part Of that gentleman's friends to
place him In nomination for the speaker
ship. Especially would this prove true
should the present attempt to defeat Mr..
/ Henderson for the nomination in his own
district result in sending some one to con-
gress from Dubuque other than the present
incumbent OF the speakership.
| MAY POSTPONE WORLDS FAIR