Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-31
German, Parker or 0lney
Picked as the Candidate.
THE TARIFF THE ISSUE
VIEWS OF MR.. RICHARDSON,
DEMOCRATIC LEADER OF HOUSE.
Holds That Revision Will Be Accom-
plished Only by Democrats-Ex-
Secretary Smiths Campaign.

II think the contest in the next national
democratic convention for the presidential
nomination will be between Mr.. German,
Judge Parker of New York and Mr.. Olney
Of Massachusetts," said Representative
Richardson. the democratic leader of the
House, in the course of talk with Star
reporter today. Each of these gentlemen
will have support. and 1 am not prepared
now to say which would make the most
acceptable candidate for the democracy.
Il think can see leaning in Mr.. Bryan
toward Mr.. Olney. There is no question
that Mr.. Olney is being doomed IN the
west. He will make a formidable candi.
Date. While not personally a magnetic
man, he has clear political record and un-
doubted ability. He supported Mr.. Bryan,
as did Mr. German, and they are equal
there. 1t may be that some Of the 'inger-
ing animosity to Mr.. Cleveland will react
upon that gentleman's former Secretary Of
state but We can't tell.
Many democrats have become reconciled
with Mr.. Cleveland and yet in some quar-
ters great deal Of bitterness toward him
Is felt. Whether Mr.. Olney would share
1t is question.
Mr. German We all know. He has been
with us, worked with us and for Us, and
his record Is plain to all democratic be-
holders. His friends will not let the nomi.
nation go to another without a contest.
Mr. German will be in that convention.
and no man can say that he will not be the
candidate.
Judge Alton B. Parker of New York Is
forging to the front very rapidly. From
what 1 hear of him he would be entirely
acceptable to the southern democrats II he
should be the choice of the convention. He
has not blot on his political record and
will go into the contest for the nomination
with a clean eScutcheon. l believe that if
he had been nominated by the democrats
af arnt for hoy
carried New York state last fall 1 think
fair-minded republicans concede that such
would have been the result"
The Tariff the Issue.
What will be the issue, after you get
the man?' Mr.. Richardson was asked.
What better issue do we want than the
one the republican party is now furnish
ing us through its division on the tariff
question:" Mr.. Richardson said 1.-The peo-
pie are demanding tariff reform. The re-
publican high protectionists will not give
it to them.
"You will never have tariff reform to
suit the people, said Mr.. Richardson, with
emphasis, $50 long the manufa cturer
virtually sits in committee and writes the
schedule. The way the protectionists usu.
ally reform the tariff is to stick on a few
points more Of duty. Then, when there Is
a cIamor for change they say, oh. leave
the revision of the tariff in the ha ads of
its friends
"Will the democrats advocate free trader
Mr.. Richardson was asked.
"Oh, no, no one is going to urge free
trade in this country. But we will have to
have the tariff reduced, equalized and so
as not to permit 1t to harbor monopolies.
But to get tariff of that kind, the task
must be intrusted to the democratic party.
The republicans will never do 1t.
The Drift of Sentiment.
Some of the republicans, who are moro
far-seeing than their associates, realize
the drift of sentiment and they are trying
to save their party by granting a modicum
of revision. They can not get even that
much. The high protectionists are in
trenched and they can not be persuaded to
come out by pleadings of their colleagues.
They will have to be routed out by the
democrats.
''The country is patient and has been In
let the tariff be revised by its friends. But
the country can not be fooled forever. I
think the people are awakening to the real-
ization that the friends of the protective
tariff will revise 1t only to their further
advantage"
Mr. Richardson's talk about presidential
candidates brings up the fact that Mr..
Hoke Smith. who was Secretary of the In
terror under President Cleveland, and now
south. has started active campaign for
Judge Alton B. Parker. Mr.. Smith, it is
said, thinks that Judge Parker would be
spared the opposition which Mr.. Olney
might arouse from the old associations
with the Cleveland administration, and 10
inclined to go in and make a rousirg cam
paign for the New York judge.