New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-05
A BOOM FOR COCKRELL.
Put For1oard for Presidency By HIS
Colleague, Senator Stone.
THROW the TRIBUNE RuREAu.l


washington Nov. about the breezest
thing that has been brought to Washington
from the West by the returning statesmen is
the Cockrell Presidential boom. In the language
OF the immortal Joe Bowers ii comes from
old Missouri-yes. all the way from Pike Not
the least interesting feature Of 1t is that Senator
Cockrelrs new colleague. William Eoel Stone, is
sponsor in these parts for the Cockrell boom.
In point of fact Senator Stone is sponsor for 1t
in Missouri. where there is developing, under
the revelations of bribery and boodling in the
Democratic Legislature of that State, of the
most interesting political situations in the
country. It is not denied that these reve-
la endangering the Democratic party
in the State, and that since Senator Cock
rell. who is now serving his fifth term IN
the Senate, is the strongest man among the
people in Missouri. it is regarded excellent
politics by the Stone school of statesmen to
draft the venerable Senator into the lengthen-
ing but wavering ranks of the Democratic
Presidential aspirants. What Senator Cockren
thinks of all this is not known, though it is
known that he is "foxier' than he looks. His
closest friends say that if he is made to realize
that a Presidential boom for him is necessary
TO save the party in his State next year he will
do nothing to scotch it. But if a natural sus-
picion that the movement is really intended to
sldetrack him from sixth consecutive term IN
the Senate attains strong growth in his mint
he may be expected 10 stop the Presidential
boom business in a jiffy.
However Senator Stone IS talking about his
colleague seriously as the Democratic leader
next year. So apparently in earnest is he that
he complained to-day that what he said ABOUT
his colleague as the most likely Democratic
candidate for President in 1904 had been omit
ted from an interview with him on the general
oT washington
newspaper published yesterday morning. When
it is remembered that Senator Stone is VICE
chairman of the Democratic National Commit
tee, and in closer touch with William jennings
Bryan than is even ex-senator James X Jones'
the chairman, it would appear that more than
ordinary Importance should be given 10 his ut
terances on the subject.
L do not understand" said Senator Stone
why what l said about the Missouri Democ-
racy's candidate for President was omitted from
the interview published in some of the Eastern
papers the day after my arrival in Washing
ton. l mentioned German and Parker III the
list but l was careful to have CockrelPs name
lead all the rest. l told the interviewer that
the choice Of the Missouri Democrats Ior
President in 1904 was Senator Cockrell; that at
a large and representative Gatherlng OF PeL emo
Gratis at MObeTly a snort Whle before letI
home he had been enthusiastically tndorsed IN
q resolution that requested the next Democratic
State Convention to instruct the missouri ueie-
eya riou m the national convention to present the
name of my colleague in the most effective way
practicable. The only objection that Is urged
against my colleagues nomination is Ihat
he was Confederate soldier. But this Is
strange fault find, either with ms aVallapnity
or his illness in this era of good feeling. The
war is over I hear on every side, ana SUB
scribe most heartily to that contention Be
sides since & Republican President comrnls-
stoned two distinguished ex-Confederate major
generals as major generals in the army OF the
United States during the war with spain placing
them in command Of armies IN the neio Stlo a en-
trusting to them the sacred honor OF the nag,
il does not lie in the mouth Of any Republican
70 oppose Senator CockreH on the ground that
he was Confederate brigadier. l believe he
could carry Nev-York, New-Jersey, Connecticut
and other fighting ground in the East quite as
easily as any other Democrat. The Missouri
Democracy is in dead earnest in the CockreI
movement. and we shall promote II in every
nractical v-ay."