Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-05-15
Is Cleveland a Candidatep

Edytf, tlle untN ptCteu has indeed nap
pened and Grover Cleveland is a recep.
tive candidate for fourth nomination
for President. That paper, said to be
edited by brother of the eX President,
always has been his mouthpiece, ard
doubtless expresses the wishes If not
the consent OF Mr.. Cleveland to stand
as a candidate for reelection. The
Eagle declare that the nomination OF
Cleveland would end all bubbles as to
platform that he would be platform
as we'll as candidate, not because his
opinion is SO we'll known, but that his
individuality is so well marked. In
other words, the party who accepts
him, while not required TO allow him
to make a specific platform, must ac-
cept whatever he desires to embrace in
its scope as political history developes
He, nor his friends, would not care for
a shred Of written declaration of prin-
ciples, SO imbued are they with the
idea OF immaculate wisdom which per-
vades everything he says or does, but
then his following is not of that exten.
sive nature which makes their power
in the least, under normal conditions,
unsafe for the public veal.
Had Mr.. Cleveland been more OF
cOmmoner and less monumental
exemplification OF self-assurance, he
might now be in the strict line OF pro.
motion, despite the unwritten article Of
faith recognized by all parties against
third term. Had he recognized the
deeply imbued tradition OF the party
that the principles declared by the
National Platform are binding for
quiescent if not active support; had
he in Difference to a party that thrice
honored him with a nomination and
twice an election, have said, in 1896
and 1900, mot my will, but thine, o
my Party, be done," which course
would have involved no sacrifice OF
duty to God or man, he might now be
in a position to test the strength of
that generally received feeling regard
ing third term, probably none the less
Objectionable from being separate from
consecutive terms.
Without this aid of party record
there would not be the slightest hope
OF inducing enough of the seven mil.
lions OF Democrats who voted for Mr..
Bryan in 1896, and again four years
later, to forget that recreancy to party
long enough to deposit their votes for
q man who has been by common con-
sent considered the arch traitor to
party usage. This sentiment will no
doubt be powerful enough to check all
the organized effort of his friends in
the convention, and not submit the
party to humiliation of inevitable de.
feat at the polls.
Amidst the many indications that
the matter is under serious considera.
tion to present the issue in convention,
10 the significant fact that the Presi.
dent and the ex. President hobnobbed
so pleasantly on the platform the other
day at st. Louis, and expressed about
the same sentiments on the same
topics. Mr.. Roosevelt, with firm be-
lief in the stability of his own proven
bal good luck, sees in Mr.. Cleveland .
man easily beaten from all points OF
logic which usually apply in such mat
tiers, while Cleveland will have nothing
more to lose as political entity should
he make the race or not.
Cleveland's candidacy would no
doubt receive the 1891 Palmer and
Buckner votes cast in 1896 and proba.
bly, as many more who voted the Re-
publican ticket or scattering, four years
later; Populists, Socialists, and those
who favor absolute free trade, as Cleve-
land comes about as near that fallacy
as any man who ever filled the Presi.
Dental chair, but that he can carry
any great number OF the votes which
were cast for the Democratic ticket
because of an honest and firm belief
in the principles of the platform,
seems altogether improbable, when the
candidate posing has himself advocat-
ed and adopted the ultra method OF
boiling party nominations as q means
Of disciplining it to just such lines Of
personal preference.
If Mr.. Cleveland's supporters mag
iue for moment that they can divert
Wall street from support of the Re.
publican party at the risk of arousing
Mr.. Roosevelts very impressive per-
sonality should the plan fail-and for
q time it will maintain q firm hold
under any circumstances-they are
counting upon contingency not
likely to happen, and if it does will
serve to strengthen rather than to
weaken Mr.. Roosevelt's chances of
election.
This is going, of course, on the pro.
liability SO generously claimed by the
60. p. that Roosevelt carries the nom-
ination under his hat.
THE laundry workers in Omaha, the
other day, decided TO strike If the
laundrymen did not refuse to do work
for certain hotels and restaurants they
had assumed to be unfair. A commit
tee was sent to the laundrymen, who
u,a.o -, soseiop opI thov pvosaptoc