Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-05-11
Talks Fres'y on Every Subject Until Party
Politics are Broaohsd.
THEN BECOMES AS SPHYNlxlIkG AS EVER
Likely to Follow Precedent Of Tilden in Re-
gard to the Nomination.
Belief ts Expressed That Ex-Presi-
dent FavOrs Senator German as
the Standard bearer of
the Party.


tFrom Stan Correspondent)
WASHINGTON, May I0-(speciai)-
-Four weeks ago number OF Washington
newspaper correspondents went to Prince
ton, N. j., to attend the funeral Of one
Of their associates. They took the occa-
SION to visit Grover Cleveland. The eX-
president OF the United States lives in an
old-fashioned house surrounded by largo
grounds filed with handsome trees, and he
has evidently everything to make al
American gentleman happy. His cnildren
are the life of the place. There are evil
dences of them everywhere, Bicycles OBJ
struct the pathway leading to the front
door, decalcomanie pictures are scattered
about the living room, while childrens
clothing and children's toys are in evidence
everywhere.
All OF the six men who called on Mr..
Cleveland on April last knew him in
Washington, but not one of the half
dozen ever found him in SO affable a mood.
He actually seemed glad to see the men
who at one time found difficulty in getting
near him when business required them to
do He talked of public and priva Q
affairs for half an hour and he left the
impression upon each one of his callers
that he is thoroughly contented with the
conditions which surround him and that he
really does find life 'one long, sweet
song"
Ten days ago this same party with the
addition OF nearly 100 others sat at ban
quet table in st. Louis during the dedioa-
tory ceremonies of the Louisiana Pur-
chase exposition, when Mr.. Cleveland was
the guest Of honor. They had previously
hazard Hon. Thomas Carter introduce him
to an audience OF nearly 5000 people as
the most distinguished private citizen in
the world. They had Witnessed the ova-
ton which had been accorded to him
whenever no appeared in pubic in the
metropolis of Missouri They had reason
10 suppose that he was contented with
himself and all the world, and they were
prepared in consequence to hear from his
Iips some pleasant utteFances on the oc-
caaion OF the banquet But they were not
prepared for the speech that was forth
eona,nK. Every line of It was humorous
and witty The ex-president took the oc-
cnaion to pay some compliments to his old
time friends--and enemies-in the news
paper fraternity. He was good-natured In
the extreme. Each period was punctuated
with applause and altogether Grover
c,aveland. the most distinguished private
citizen In the world, won the hearts of
all his hearers.
ME. Cleveland stan sphinIlike,
On neither OF these occasions did the ex-
president indicate by the slightest hint
that he had any ambition whatever to
again occupy the presidential chair. On
the contrary the impression left In the
mind of each of his visitors at Princeton
and of each OF those whom he visited in
st. Louis was that he has no intention
whatever of permitting his name to be
used as a candidate for the presidential
nomination in the democratic convention to
be held next year.
Grover Cleveland has been talked of as
q possibility, even probability, In most
of the states in the union during the past
few weeks His speech on the negro ques-
ton, the ovations which re received in st.
Louis, and every sentiment which he has
uttered In public for some time past, has
combined to bring his name more forcibly
before the country as candidate than
the utterances of any other man since the
days of Samuel ]. Tiden. Those who know
him best believe that IL is his purpose and
intention to emulate the example of tho
sage of Greystone" II will be recalled
that Tilden refused the nomination in 1880
and positively declined to allow his name
TO be used In the convention of 1884 But
II was to Samuel ]. Tilden more than to
any other one man that Grover Cleveland
owed his nomination in the latter year.
Grover Cleveland today unquestionably de-
slres to control the democratic national con-
vention of 1904 In so far as he wishes to
select a man for the nomination who will
represent within himself the antithesis OF
everything that William Jennings Bryan
stands for. The best posted men in the
democratic party in this section oS the
country believe that Cleveland will prefer
German, New EEglanders on the other
hand are hopeful that he will cast his
mantle upon the shoulders of Richard
Olney, But the west at least the west
which was represented In ST. Louis last
week is disposed TO regard David r.
Francis the head and front OF this St
Louis exposition. the "heir-apparent"
TO the strength which Mr.. Cleveland will
develop within the next few months
Activity of David Francis.
Mr.. Cleveland was the guest OF Mr..
Francis during his brief stay In st. Louis
Mr.. Francis succeeded In getting the ex-
position postponed from 1903 until l9O4. Mr..
Francis is attempting at this very moment
to secure the democratic convention of
next year for the city of St. Louis and
although his own campaign for the nom-
ination is being conducted In very quiet
way IL is very well known that he has deep
seated hopes that the combination of a
worlds fair and national convention to-
gether with the friendship OF the most
distinguished private citizen in the world"
VIII lead enough over his adversaries to in
sure his nomination. Mr.. Francis has al
ways affiliated himself with the so-caIled
Cleveland wing" OF the democratic party
rather than with the followers of Bryan.
And yet he has been so shrewd and so
diplomatic in his political conduct that he
has avoided antagonizing either element
His nomination would unques stionably be
entirely acceptable TO the democrats Of the
east II would he pleasing to the south.
and II will not be antagonized by the west.
H. therefore, Mr.. Cleveland. who has so
recently developed strength as a demo-
cratic leader. should decide 70 ask his fol-
lowers 10 support David r. Francis the
chances are that the Louisiana Purchase
exposition will not be without political re-
suits even though 1t may not prove the