The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-13
GROVER C.'S EAR
TO THE GROUND
It's Suspected That His Minnesota
Visit Won't Be Purely for
Hunting.
This State May Be Taken as Typ
ical of Western DEM
c:acy.

a
reading the announcement IN yesterdays
Journal that Grover Cleveland was
planning to hunt in Minnesota fields next
October The only living ex-presldent
has great many devoted friends In TINS
state, and the glamor OF his two victories
still clings to his name. Whether demo-
Gratis agree with him or not, his name
casts more or less Of a spell over them all.
They will welcome him to the state, and
will shower him with as many attentions
as he will permit.
1t Is taken for granted that Mr.. Cleve-
land has his ear to the ground" He has
refused to consider himself a possible
nominee Of democracy next year, but the
discussion is certainly not unpleasant to
him, and it is believed to be quite posi-
BILE that he would accept nomination If
it came to him with any degree of unan-
unity. Actual strife for the nomination
is out of the question for him. He can
only keep his ear to the ground and say
nothing. . ~
That is what he is expected to do in
Minnesota. He will not court publicity.
which would risk a frost such as his old
rival, David Bennett Hill. received once
| on time in this same latitude. He will
keep still and listen. The democracy of
Minnesota may be considered typical Of
| the west, and if Mr. Cleveland can get an
| accurate idea Of the state of sentiment
| toward him here, he can size up very
closely what the attitude of the western
! democracy would be toward his candi
| dacy.
| way from what it was when Mr.. Cleve-
| land was president. In those palny days
Mike Doran, Dan Lawler, Charlie Foote
! and the Winstons were dominant spirits.
| Two campaigns under Bryan have entirely
changed the complexion of the leadership.
The old leaders swore by Mr.. Cleveland;
| the new ones are more inclined to swear
at him. The new rulers know not Joseph
John Lind and his followers are leaders
Of the party, as they demonstrated by the
nomination Of L. A. Rosing for governor
| last year. It Is a Bryan democracy that
| controls now. John Lind was never on
the same side of the fence as Mr.. Cleve-
| land and Is believed to share Mr.. Bryan's
| opinion of the Buzzard's Bay recluse
Congressman Lind, Mr.. Rosing, T. D. and
| G. D. OBrien, and all who fought the bat
ties Of 1896 and 1900 in Minnesota, are
slow to forgive Mr.. Cleveland forssulkine
in his tent In those campaigns. Neither
| are they ready to concede that they were
wrong and he was right, which they would
| have to do to accept him for standard
bearer. They would welcome him back
| into the ranks, but not to leadership.
The tone Of the democratic press of the
when 1t was preached last fall There
are plenty Of the old guard left, who
would throw up their hats in a minute
Shields of the Faribault Pilot and Mac.
| Donald of the st. Cloud Times would wei
come his nomination.. Such democrats az
Mike Doran and Mayor Smith of st. Paul
| who are still leaders in their locality
| could be counted on. And If Jim Hill II
a democrat now, he is Of the CLEVELAND
variety. In Minneapolis Mayor Hayne!
could extend the hand Of fellowship with
out any computations, and such men a.
B. F. Nelson, F. G. Winston and Georg,
H. Partridge would welcome Mr.. Cleve
land either as a guest or as candidate
But however friendly these gentlemen
may feel, 1t Is not likely that they would
give him a favorable report on Minnesota
The rank and file Of the party care.
more about victory than issues, as rule
However, the democracy Of Minnesota wa:
thoroly committed to the silver issues
and read some Of the leaders out of the
party because they would not stand fol
| sixteen to one" They are ready K
drop silver, but not to pick up a eolt
democrat for the presidency. They will
stand for new Issues and new men, bu
the nomination of Mr.. Cleveland woule
reopen old sores. The Minnesota delega
ton would not favor his nomination
| Most Of the democratic voters would
stand by him If nominated, but thousand!
would vote for Roosevelt In preference az
would practically all the populists.
Mr.. Cleveland will find many friend,
here. and surface indications may b.
most encouraging; but If he keeps his ca
to the ground long enough, he is likely t,
be we'll convinced that the foregoing rep
resents the situation in Minnesota