The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-09
TIE NEXT DEMOCRATIC NOMI-
NEE FOR PRESIDENT.

In Ohio if Tom Johnson had won,
for the Democratic nomination. He
is a man of unquestioned ability
and high character. He is not like
anybody else in the world, and his
picturesque methods Of campaigning
caused people who did not know
the man to underrate his ability. He is
a man of uncommon capacity, an honest
and brave fighter. When the war closed
he was a newsboy in Louisville, Ky.
Today he is many times a millionaire.
His money has been honestly ACQUIRED,
but it has not changed his character or
his convictions. He is the only man who
has proved more than match for Mr..
Hanna, and even in the slump in Ohio
last Tuesday he succeeded in electinS
most of the Democratic ticket in Hanna S
county. He put his campaign upon light
grounds, but he secured the vicious CD
position of every taX-dodger in ohio
who spent money freely TO defeat the
party this year under his Leadership
The result does not lessen the esteem IN
which all men who know Mr.. Johnson
hold him, but it does eliminate him as
probable Democratic candidate Cor the
Presidency.
Twice has Mr.. Patterson been elected
Governor of the rock-ribbed Republican
state of Pennsylvania by the aid of Re-
publicans who revolted against the cor
rupt methods of their party. At one time
it was believed he would be able to re-
peat the miracle this year, but the ma
iority of Pennsylvanians have lost their
old-time belief in clean government and
have given endorsement to Quay
methods. His defeat is no discredit to
Mr.. Patterson, who is a high and clean
mantle best public man Pennsylvania
has known since the days of Jeremiah
Black-but it makes his nomination for
the Presidency out of the question.
The result in New York also eliminates
MIR David Bennett Hill as possible
nominee If Mr.. Coler had been elected
there are many\ who thought it would
make Mr.. Hill the logical nominee.
Such an idea never seemed to us to be
based upon sound reason. If Mr.. Golfer S
first year and half administration as
Governor had been successful the
chances are nine out of ten that Golfer
himself would have been the nominee for
President. He is an able, clean, nigh
minded man of integrity and sense. He
| is not a trained public speaker or man
of as much ability as Mr.. Hill. but he
| has given more proof of ability and
public virtue than Mr.. Cleveland gave
| before he was elected Governor of New
York. Mr. Coler's defeat, therefore, in
itself does III defeat Hills presiden-
tiaI aspirations. There are two things
that contribute to it: Many Democrats
repudiate his government ownership of
coal mines plank, but that cut little ice
in the result in New York However, it
gives TO Mr.. Hills opponents stick
with which to give him heavy blows from
which he cannot defend himself. The
|. thing, however that puts Mr.. Hill out
of the running is this: he is the up
State leader of Democracy and in the
recent campaign he staked his political
future upon securing great reduction in
the Republican majorities north of the
Bronx. Early in the campaign he said
that if Greater New York gave Golfer as
good majority as it gave Van Wyck, his
election was assured. That statement
was regarded by Tammany as something
like a threat to charge it with Coler's de-
feat unless it bumped itself. Tammany
replied with the greatest majority on
record for MIR. Coler. 1t was agreed that
Mr.. Hill would take the management of
ne campaign north of the Bronx. In that
portion of the State, Immediately in the
charge of AIR. Hill the Republican ma
| iority was very much larger than the
majority it gave to Roosevelt The re-
suit, therefore. is 10 impose upon Mr..
| Hill and his upstate Democracy the re-
| sponsibility of Colers defeat If Hill had
| done as we'll in securing increases in
| the Democratic vote as Murphy and Nc
Lauchlin did in New York and Brooklyn,
| Coler's majority would have been as
| great as Cleveland's in 1892 And, the
| thing that hurts Mr.. Hills prestige is
| that he gave it out that his part of the
| State would make great gains-enough to
| win il Greater New York did its duty.
| Greater New York did far better than
| the most optimistic Democratic leader
| expected, while the Democratic vote
| above the Bronxlfell off very much. And
| so Mr.. Hill Will not be seriously consid-
| cred fer the nomination.
| Immediately after the election in 1900
| Mr.. Bryan eliminated himself by declar-
| inc he would not be a candidate