The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-05-15
NELL NOT IN

OF twenty-eight national democratic
| committeeman who have been inter-
| viewed on the question of Cleveland's
nomination for the presidency only
three have expressed themselves
| strongly and unqualifiedly in favor of
| placing his name before the national
convention. Seventeen were strongly
| opposed and some of them went SO
I far. as to make bitter attacks on the
sage of Buzzard's bay. Eight declin-
\ ed to place themselves on record, fol-
/ lowing the example of their great chief
n maintaining a sphynx-like atti-
tude, apparently being DESTROYS OF
I waiting to see how his tentative can
didacy strikes the party before COM
hitting themselves.
OF particular interest to this state
is the fact that Montana's commit
teeman, John Stuart Mills Neil, is
4 n OF the trio who are OF the belief
that Grover would make a strong can
4 didate. Another western member who
wants the Cleveland standard held
. aloft once more. is the committeeman
from North Dakota. The third of the
4stalwarts' is from New York, which
may be regarded as quite natural.
II How the position of Mr.. Neill STRIFE
1.-THE democrats Of Montana is a mat
liter for speculation and doubt. Judging
Hfrom the comments made in the past
Hit would seem that he would have
but a small following. The democrats
aOf the state are not SO infatuated with
5lCleveland as to insure him of their
Support ever though he should be
Nominated. The fact is they would
|4oe very likely to withhold their sup
port, particularly if Roosevelt is the
republican nominee. There is nothing
Nm common between them and the
ROrnler president, democrats though
apoth are. His antagonism to
oliver estranged them from him
gong ago and the relentless
manner in which he fought
Bryan only added to the enmity they
Iaold against him. 1t may be said that
hey and he could find a common cause
b the tariff, but even there a disagree
4lent. would be sure to occur. The
protective tariff has proved beneficial ,
" SO many of the industries of the
Htate that, Notwithstanding their sup
&Osed Partially to tariff revision. it
Z extremely doubtful whether they
tould be induced to swallow al; of
rs free trade notions. A yery con-
derable majority of the Montana s
emocrats are OF the Randall school
neutrality-suspicious.. S
OF course, there are the trusts, for
le democratic party is the unswerv-
g foe Of all c~apitalistic and monopo-
4stic combinations, whether in re-
EIraint OF trade OF otherwise, and the
Exposition would be natural that no
n after what their differences on other
~testions might be they could all
srge on this particular one and de.
II tie their energies to the redemption
the country. But right here another
H Lch occurs. Cleveland is regarded
tn too much favor by the men of
sI al street to make his candidacy &C.
III ptable to the men of Montana. The
1@ct that the boomlet which is now
IL banding itself had it's start in quar-
Ms admittedly strongly allied with
III street interests will initiate
n ainst his candidacy in the state.
d even Mr.. Nein's great influence
III hardly prove strong enough to
srcome the repugnance felt toward
fayorite because of this fact.
20 doubt Montana's committeeman
thought Of all these things, but
6ftheiess Is willing to take chances i
[ne t. the desire of his fellow t
rate 70 BE on the side of a pos ]