Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-31
A LETTER Or SPEECH
EFFECT OF HILLS ANNOUNCE
MENT OF RETIREMENT.
Much Heard of Personal Differences at
Democratic Headquarters - 10
Modify Attacks on President.
corr.spopdepce of The Evening star

quarters without any purpose or propihs
into campaign secrets. But | got some IN
formation.
The last heard from Mr.. Cleveland was
after the St. Louis convention He lssueu d
proclamation to the democrats exhortihs
them to hold their craft steady lheh
ho won't fishing. Some OF those who don't
like the eX-President were unkind enough
10 saw that he himself was rocking the
boat 1t is certain that he helped TO I'M
bue Mr.. Bryan's followers with the feelhe
that the ship was going to upset
1t is just to say that this is not the leei-
ing of the managers of the Parker cam
n,tpn They are bothered about the best
way to secure the influence of both Cleve-
lind and Bryan. but they are going to take
no chances on the ex-President. They want
his active support and they are asSuieu
they will have it.
secret is that Mr. Cleveland Is held pach
with the reserves. The Skirmishers az out
with the vanguard now. but he Will come
numbering up with the heavy Dragons.
There will be another letter from Mr.
Cleveland, and possibly even speech or
two. l don't know whether the speech VIII
be made in New Jersey or in Illinois.
Mr. Cleveland is very fond or eS-'on
troller Jimmie ECkels. who is now bank
president in Chicago. Mr.. Eckels has po-
iitical ambition He wants to be Secretary
the task of raising funds for the DEMOCRATIC
campaign in the west 1t may be that IL
a speech under ECkels auspices Will furtheI
his prestige Mr.. Cleveland VIII go out "esl
to deliver it. The open question Is whether
the antagonism his presence IN Chcaso
would excite among the Bryan followers
and the labor unions would not DO more
harm than good to Parkers candiuac!.
This view may cause the pronunciamento
to be made in the east. yet as II Will De IN.
tended for the whole country Chicago would
have some advantages ana am ilicllntu
to the opinion that Mr.. Eckels Will be graf
filed by having the honor OF presenting
ex- President Cleveland to the country as
campaign talker. There IS no hurry
and the democratic campaign managers are
quite content that Mr. Cleveland should fish
or hunt or do whatever he is at present en-
gagged In for a while longer.
Hills Retirement.
What would be of most interest now
would be to have one ii the several New
York newspapers which are saving the coun-
try by shaping Judge Parker's campaign
get an interview from Mr.. Cleveland on the
retirement of David E. Hill from public
life. That retirement is one of the sw'ftest
episodes in political history. In three days
IL is all over and HillS enemies are abuS-
ing him worse than ever. If he had fixed
the date at September l instead of January
/ they would have been just as much dis
satisfied.
The truth about Hill is that he can't get
out of politics. This relates to his tempera-
ment and not to the selfish reasons he may
have for wanting to name the candidate for
governor Years ago VIXEN Hill was just
coming into national prominence close
student of New York politics called my at
tention to his peculiar abilities. There,
said this observer. is a man who will win
when Cleveland loses This happened af-
terward when Hill was elected governor
and Cleveland lost the presidency. My in
fcrmant went on to tell me about Hills
ni,a~ rot. vi ft ns bar ty.tn
him except politics In the off periods of
local state and national campaigns when
other people are ready to forget the SUBJ
ject. Hill figures away and talks away. AZ
ter January his corporation law practice
may keep him little buster than at pres
ent, but the chances are that he will still
be figuring on the precinct votes in Albany
and New York city. He can't be bowled
over now because the campaign contribu-
items of the brewers and the liquor dealers
are controlled by him
Differences of the Democrats.
IL Is a tiresome topic and has not much
bearing on the national issues, but even
a republican wishes that the democrats
around their national headquarters would
quit talking about their personal differ
ences. Everything is in sharp contrast TO
the republican headquarters. where Chair
man Cortelyous quiet personality has made
Itself very thoroughly felt. 1t is apparent to
any observer. whatever his own politics,
that the republican national campaign is
conducted on much broader plane than
that of the democrats. Whether Tom Tag
CART is in evidence the New York crowd
at the democratic headquarters, there Is al
ways the impression of narrowness. Tag
CART measures everything with an Indiana
yardstiCk. William +. Sheehan and De
Lancey Nicoll apply New York thumb
role to the whole country. However. no
republican should misunderstood the mean
ing of their prominence. Both Sheehan
I'D limo ltny tn yla n
big trusts and corporations which have so
much at stake in Albany and in New YORK
city.
Since 1892 the democrats by their own
story have had no national campaign and
no giants in management. Now that they
are reorganiZed the giants stu seem 10 De
In the background. Any one who had occa-
sion to follow the campaign OF 1S32 In
newspaper way recalls the personality OF
W c. Whitney, Don Dickinson, Senator
German and Chairman Harrity. No sucn
personality manfests itself in the present
campaign management. though the reor-
ganizers say the party is back on the SOLD
ground where 1t was twelve years ago.
| asked about Senator German who was
expected to have large share In an adj
visory way in the canvass. Probably his
advice Is being given. but his influence Is
not very apparent. One statement made to
me was that the situation in Maryland was
not very satisfactory, and was keeping him
busy and another intimation was that the
senator's health continues poor. But there
John X Mclean, Col GuHey OF fenn-
sylvania and other rich democrats. who 1t
was expected would be seen occasionally
around headquarters. and would be in fire.
quent conference with Judge Parker. i
have been assured that they will be In evil
deuce before the campaign is over. but for
the present they prefer to play modest
role The difficulty seems to be that their
check books are wanted rather than their
advice.
A Speech by August Belmont.
An item of current gossip is that August
Belmont is being urged to make speech
His friends think that he should show his
capacity in politics. They want him to
come before the public in a manner which
will prove that he Is something more than
a Wall street financier. Mr.. Belmont lends
a listening ear, yet hesitates, because he
fears that his lack of experience as a pub
lie orator would be against him. The news
paper reporters who have occasion to see
him say that while he Is choeric and auto
cratic he talks very well. His associates in
the campaign management do not appear to
De concerned about Mr. Belmont's making a
speech, and the mass of the party Is In the
same frame of mind. Money talks and that
IS the Kind OF talking that is wanted from
him