The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-10-09
MEN, NOT ISSUES.

democrats are concerned. luey vail
and must have the offices. Saying sc
themselves, it would i'll become a re
publican to say anything to the con-
trary. Quite recently n of the
leading democratic newspapers of the
state, it modestly lays claim to being
the leading one, announced this as
the party's platform, when it said that
the work of the next democratic ma
tional convention would not be to
reach an agreement as to the issues
before the American public, but the
selection of candidates who could win.
The paper referred to spoke with
a prescience that was really remark
able, in view of the news that has
come from Washington within the
last few days. Party leaders there
say, and they claim to know what
they are speaking of, that the next
national ticket of the party will con-
tain the name of at least one and
b possibly two of the three best known
modern fighting men-Dewey, Schley
and Miles,. They admitted having be-
impressed with the idea that
some extraordinary measures must be
adopted to head off the wonderful
personal popularity of President
Roosevelt among the young men,, and
particularly amcng the militia ele-
ment.
wanted. The Parkers, Olneys, Cor
mans and all Of the others of the older
men who have been mentioned" fail
young fellows, like Carter Harrison,
Mcclellan, Tom Johnson and the 9TH
ers receive no more show of cordial
ity. In the dilemma the only thing
that suggests itself is return to the
scheme for the nomination of a mill
tary candidate which was entertained
for a short time four years ago. Some
of the more pronounced in their ad-
vocacy of to the military be-
lieve it would be we'll to take both
candidates from that field. Dewey
and Miles, or Miles and Schley. they
think, would be a combination prac-
tically invincible. The conservatives
incline to a partnership composed of
German and Miles, a blending Of the
military and civil, as 1t were, and
thereby appealing to both elements.
The objection to be offered to this
suggestion lies in the generals well
known unwillingness to be anything
but 1T and his aversion to being the
performer on any other instrument
than the one whose incisive notes
indicate it to be one by which all the
others are guided. Still, he might be
coaxed in to submission, especially
as, German is no longer a young man
and the generals equestrian perform.
sance on the eve of his retirement
showed him to be in a condition of
physical preservation that augurs well
o many years of active participa-
ton in things terrestrial.
That he may have given thought
to h matter and that his decision
nor to become a candidate for any
office is not irrevocable is suggested
IN different ways. There is the demon.
stration in his honor in the Massachu.
sets convention, his trips through the
south and west, and the many other
forms in which either he or his friends
manage to keep him prominently be-
fore the public. Those who may be
regarded as feeling no other way but
friendly to him have expressed it as
Their belief that he is devoting the
time now at his command to the con
struction Of q political machine n
that the Massachusetts delegation has
1folnised 70 present his name instead
- that of Olney.