Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-28
Admiral Dewey on the Presidency.

In the Interesting interview which Inc
Star Yesterday copied from the Newark
Evening News Admiral Dewey was quoted
as follows as to Mr.. Cleveland and the
presidency:
ct notice that he is being talked about. at
least. II looks as though he might be am
bilious for something. The PRESIDENCY,
however in these days, is very dfHerem
position from what it was, say. twelve or
sixteen wears ago. l mean by this that the
office seems to require a man In the prime
of life. He mustn't be too old IN these Gays.
1t Is a strenuous undertaking, to use tnal
very expressive word, to become the chhef
executive of the nation today. Look at
President Roosevelt, now. He is about TO
undertake two months trip, Nasltlne phe
great west, as far as the Pacific Thlnk OF
the strain, the enormous draft on the vital
ity of the human machine, This sort of
thing has never been gone into IN the past
to such an extent as 1t seems to be required
of a President today
'.Then, besides, the performance OF the
duties of the Office themselves requires
man of the greatest physical and mental
strength. This was not SO much so before
we became a great world power, one OF the
greatest if not today the greatest. In world
wide influence. The United States today is
called into the disputes of the European
family of nations. not to speak or the orlen-
tai countries and of our Latin American
friends. 1t can be seen, then, that the re-
sponsihilities and the obligations Of this ma
ton were comparatively. small previous to
the Spanish war to what they are TO-DAY.
This condition Of affairs requires the great
est mental and physical vigor. Some of the
possible candidates mentioned at thds time,
it seems to me, are too far advanced in
years.
AS If expecting an observation of this
kind from some quarter, Mr.. Cleveland, in
his recent interview with representative
of the New York World. mentioned with
pride that he was feeling unusually well.
and the past winter had escaped his old
enemy, the rheumatic govt The correspon-
dent himself testified to the robust appear
ance OF the ex-President. and wrote OF him
as easily fit for the exertions of another
national campaign and even another term
in the White House. We all know how
robust Mr.. Cleveland Is when In condition,
and il he Is In condition now we may be
sure that no other man of his years in the
country DIS stronger.
II, however, his point should be pressed.
it will play havoc with the democratic sit
uation. If MIR. Cleveland at sixty Is too
old, what shall be said of Mr.. Olney, who
is as old. or Older? And what of Mr.. Cor
man, who Is sixtyfour? And what of David
B. Hill. who is sixty? And what of Henry
Watterson. who is sixty-two? And what of
NJ. L. luSdilS, WHO ne well dionS III
the sixties? These men are all shipshape
physically and full of ginger, although not
so young of course as they were twenty
years ago. If they are ruled out ON the
score of age, then the democratic list is re-
duced to Judge Parker, who is fifty; Mr..
Bryan. who is forty-three; Tom Johnson,
who is in the early forties and Carter Har-
rison who Is about forty.
We shall hear objections to Admiral
Deweys suggestion. The old stagers and
their friends won't stand It, They will tell
us that the seasoned politician is able at
any age to stand the pressure in the White
House. He understands the art Of saving
himself. and making Smith walk. It does
not fatigue him to have offlce-seekers
swarm round nor grdeve him to send, as of
necessity he must. eight out Of ten Of them
away empty handed. He need not take long
journeys unless he cares to do so and feels
able to spare the strength. Too old at
sixty-six? Mr.. Cleveland would probably
tell you If he were.to write to you on the
subject that the duties of the presidency
would try him less today than they did
eighteen years ago, when he first assumed
them.