The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-12
LOOMING UP.
Cleveland Is Regarded as More
Formidable Than Ever
Among the Democratic Presi-
Dental Possibilities.
Friends of JudgeAlton B.Parker
Admit 1t.
JUDGE WILLING TO RUN
Supporters of Former President
Greatly Encouraged.
Threats of Voting for Roosevelt
Heard Already.

Chicago. Jan. IA Washington spe-
cial to the Chicago Chronicle says:
Grover Cleveland is looming up
stronger and more formidable than any
other Democrat whose name is being
mentioned in connection with the party
nomination for president. Judge Alton
B. Parker's friends admit that popular
sentiment for the ex-president is grow
ing so rapidly that it is difficult to keep
pace with it. That they are genuinely
alarmed was affirmed by former Lieu
tenant Governor William F. Sheehan,
who came to Washington as Judge
Parker's accredited representative.
Before Mr.. Sheehan decided to come
he visited Judge Parker and had a long
conference with him. At its conclusion
he was prepared to announce to Demo-
Gratis that the New York jurist was q
candidate and that the nomination
would be acceptable to him. Soon after
his arrival here, Mr.. Sheehan detected
the undercurrent of Cleveland sentiment
running SO strongly that he confessed
it might overwheim not only Judge
Parker. but all other Democrats who
are being groomed for the nomination.
1.-The Cleveland movement said Mr.
Sheehan, has many of the outward as
poets of the movement in 1892, that cul-
minated in Mr.. Cleveland's nomination
the Democratic organization in his own
state. 1t seems to be gaining strength
every day, and as a sincere friend of
Judge Parker confess that L do not
like it,
EX-PRESIDENTS FRIENDS RE
JOICE
Democrats from Chicago and .Illi-
nois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan,
Iowa and other middle western states
made similar discovery. None of
them was surprised and a majority was
clearly disposed to rejoice. Enlight-
ened Democratic belief in that part of
poll more votes in Illinois, Indiana
Wisconsin and Michigan than any other
Democrat.
Even Senator Stone of Missouri, who
is inplacably hostile to the ex-presi-
dent, and has said publicly that it
| would be difficult for him to make
choice between Cleveland and Roose-
VeIt, had to admit that Cleveland SEN
timent was growing and that it will
have to be reckoned with in the forth
coming convention. The politicians
who are here do not care to go on rec
ord for or against the ex-president,
with a few exceptions. They prefer to
await developments and let the future
decide what will be their course of ac-
tion. That is popular expedient with
professional politicians.
State Senator Patrick H. McCarren,
boss of Brooklyn, came over with Mr..
Sheehan and, while earnestly advocat-
ing acceptance of Judge Parker, is
missing no chance to say a good word
for Mr.. Cleveland. To his friends SEN
ator McCarren admits that the con-
servative forces of the east, especially
in the state of New York, regard Mr..
Cleveland's possible nomination by the
Democratic convention with manifes-
tations of satisfaction that are signifi-
cant.
GORMAN SENTIMENT is WEAK.
Thus far there has been no move
n1,f in hch Of for n Of
Maryland, and it is being taken for
granted that he is out of the contest.
The politicians would be glad enough
to make him the party's candidate be-
cause they are convinced that if he
was landed in the White House he
would more nearly fulfill their expec-
tationS of what a president ought to be
| than any man now in the public eye
But they admit with reluctance that
there is little sentiment for him among
the voters, that he is regarded with
more or less diStruSt by the average
American citizen who confines his po-
litical activities to casting a ballot and
that his nomination would be likely to
produce a repetition of the disasters
| that attended the nomination of Bryan
in 1896 and 1900.
! Senator German will attend the meet
! ing of the committee as the representa-
| tive of the state of Maryland. Judge
Parker's friends will urge him to join
forces with the New York 5urist. be-
| lieving that such union would Dr1ng
the entire south to Parker's aid Wheth-
er Mr.. German will consent to do this
is a matter of conjecture. His dispo-
!. sition would be to aid Judge Parker or
any other Democrat if by doing so he
could defeat the popular movement in
behalf of Mr.. Cleveland. He quarreled
bitterly with Mr.. Cleveland during his
last term as president, and SO far as
anybody Knows has not changed the
views about the ex-president to which
he gave free expression upon the floor
| of the senate.