The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-26
He Declares That the Prospects Of
Democratic Success Are Far
- From Hopeless.
Hill Is Now Recognized as the Au.
-. tocrat Of the Party in
His State.
Silver Democrats From the West
View Hills Course With
Knives in Hand. :

Chicago, Aug, 26.-William e. Curtis
in New York special to the Record
Herald says: david Bennett Hill has
reached 62 years, the age when a man
goes on the retired list in the army or
navy. He has been in active political life
for 35 years, has been in Office more than
half Of that time, has never taken a drink
or smoked a cigar or kissed a woman, and
now, as his reward, he finds himself for
the first time autocrat of the democratic
party in the empire state.
What shall 1t profit him? is question
a good many people are asking. There Is
no recompense or reward in sight except
glory and satisfaction which are assets
that he cannot realize upon or use for col
lateral, and, according to the best ac-T
counts there will lurk at the Threshold
of the next democratic national conven-
ton numerous gentlemen from Nebraska
and elsewhere, with silver mounted knives
and a determination to prevent him from
achieving any greater hOnOrS or influence
in his party,
Nevertheless, no one can deprive David
Bennett Hill of the qualification that filed
his soul at Saratoga last Saturday when
he looked over the democratic state COM
mittee In conference assembled and real
lied that not one man within the range
of his vision would refuse to obey any or
der he might issue. The last time Mr..
Hill met that same committee, and it was
only two years ago, he was jeered, derided
and degraded, and only small minority
had the nerve to be seen calling at his
| rooms. They would not even let him
plead his cause. The man who presided
and he was there again Saturday, among
Mr.. Hill S most obedient servants, was not
able to see him when he arose to make a
motion and several times treated him In a
most cOntenlptuOus way.
Since then MANY things have haDDeneO,
Mr.. Croker who was then absolute mon
arch as Mr.. Hill is to-day, lives in Eng
land, practically a political outcast. Ed
ward Murphy, Jr., Mr.. Hills former ally.
who deserted him, and went over to the
enemy, has been dethroned in the little
| oligarchy he ruled at Troy, and no longer
exercises either power or influence. Two
years ago nothing was done or decided by
| the democrats of New York without his
| 20. K upon the back, no man could be
| nominated for a state office. without his
| consent, and he aided to humfliate Mr.. Hill
in 19O0.s- Edward Murphy, Jr., is also an
| exile, and lives most of his time in the
state which shelters third of Mr.. Hill $
| most formidable enemies. Mr.. Cleveland
| Is friendly to him now, or at least IS
supposed to be, but wasn't the least SO
when his friendship was Of any value.
Roswell P. Flower is dead. :
There is no one to dispute Mr.. Hill .
|
enough to disobey his orders. The adj
| herence of Tammany and of several other
democratic organizations in the state, Is
| not entirely voluntary, and it is not what
| some of the local leaders would prefer,
| but, as Mr.. Whitney said, the democrats
| have neither an issue nor a man, and
hence they have called Hill out OF the
| bulrushes, as it were. He has repaired
| the democratic machine which Croker left
| so badly wrecked, painted it and put II
! in running order Therefore his right to
| run it is not disputed.
| The representatives from the several
senatorial districts at the meeting of the
state committee at Saratoga Saturday ex-
| pressed opinions not favorable to demo-
| cratic success at the November election.
There is very little enthusiasm among the
local leaders of the party, and still less
| among the rank and file. 1t is difficult
to get up much excitement with neither
| money nor offices nor prospects OF success.
| But Mr.. Hill made an earnest speech, urg-
! ing careful and thorough organization, de-
/ claring that the prospects of a democratic
| rarty victory in November were far from
hopeless and stating that he was very
confident of the election Of a democratic
| president in 1904. He promised the boys
that money would be forthcoming II
| strong ticket was nominated at the ap-
| preaching convention, but thus far has
Il suggested no candidates. -. '-s.. ..s