The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-06
CLEYELAND'S ATTITUDE
THE IMPRESSION THAT HE WILL
 RUN GROWS.
Does Not Shy at Prospect of candi dacy for President in 1904. Submits to Interview and Smilingly Admits That His Friends are Doing a Good
 Deal of Talking.

Princeton (N. U.) Special to Chicago Tri- Former President Grover Cleveland, so Tar as his candidacy for the Presidency m lD4 Is concerned is in the hands of his l friends.
 He returned home fatigued by the jour ney from St. Louis but highly pleased with the demonstrative welcome accorded him in the West. After a good dinner l he submitted to an interview in the re- ception room of the comfortable. old fashioned house in which he Is living. In the course of the conversation which followed, MT. Cleveland was given half a oozen opportunities to declare his atu- tude toward the presidential nomination in 1904. but skilifully parried all questions bearing directly upon his own political fu- | tu-e or that of his party. Hefrains from Direct Denials. If he regards himself as permanently out Of the field of available presidential candidates, he studiously refrained from saving so, or even from hinting that he prefers the classic retirement of his Princeton home to q re-entrance into the activities of public life.
 IT one is to judge by the expansive smile with which MT Cleveland greeted the frank reference to the words of for mer Senator Smith of New Jersey and Norman E. Mack of Buffalo as fairly the Democracy, then 1t is a fair infer ence that MT. Cleveland regards himself to use the time worn phrase of politics. as in the hands of his friends.
 MT. Cleveland spoke with sincere exposition that is to be, and of the hearty spontaniety of the reception accorded him there last Thursday.
 "Everywhere,' he said, II met with cordial reception, which, of course, could not but be gratifying to a man who long has been out of public life.'
 T remarked to Mir. Cleveland that here In the East the Democrats and Republi- cans alike had seen in the tremendous "a hotbed as it is, of the exploded doc trines of Bryanism-a political sgnifi- canoe greater in its meaning than mere tribute to his personality or to former President of the United States. You must have observed l said, that such a reception in Missouri now is being interpreted as making you formidable factor in the next presidential campaign.
 Gently Denies differences.
 The sage of Princeton acted as though the suggestion was not at all displeasing to him, but he was on guard in a mo- ment.
 70, I attach little of such significance to that" he said. It is natural for Americans to show their respect and ap- proval in these demonstrative ways when they meet one who has held high official posts of honor through their preferment. Of course, 1t Is pleasant and gratifying lO Dc lilS ODJSCl Ol SuCu welcome"
 next asked the former President if he hhad seen the papers in which he was hailed as d party leader and as the sun of the new Democracy" for 1904.
 Yes" said MT. Cleveland with anoth- CT of his gracious smiles, which seemed indicative of anything but displeasure, ''yes, l read that while on the train to- day. but surely you cannot expect me to discuss the flattering things that warm friends are partial enough to say about me.
 Tt will occur to many readers" I re-
 st-I pIOHlnenI Demo crats as former Senator Smith and Nor man E. Mack come out and openly ad- yocate your renomination next year as the one sensible thing for the party to do 1t will occur to many that that fairly places you in the field for the nomind- tion, and the public naturally will be in terested to know what you say about it."
 Cannot Possibly Talk Politics.
 MT. Cleveland laughed good naturedly, but raised his hand now in deprecation. as he said. 'Oh, no; l cannot consent to discuss politics, nor can 1 now say any thing about the future of the Democracy or the outlook for 1904 1 saw MT. Mack while out West. He is a personal friend and naturally entertains friendly senu- ments.
 MT. Cleveland" the interviewer ven- tured, 1t Is generally understood that you are happy in the quiet home life of your retirement here in Princeton, and by some it is doubted whether you would care to surrender these joys of private life for return to the whirl of politics, even should the call come to you to do so.'
 Is Happy at Home-But-.
 Again MT. Cleveland waved his hand deprecatingly, and then he replied: Tt is true that I am happy here" He did not add, however. that new summons to duty would find him unwilling to heed the call. It would havel been easy for him to have said that he is out of public life forever, but he neither said 1t nor hinted it. It was an interview significant rather from what MT. Cleveland refrain ed from saying than for what he actually said.
 I tried to induce him to speak of Bry- ans efforts to continue to direct the par ty policies. but he again warned me that l was trenching upon topics which he did not think it would be wise or timely to discuss now.