Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-16
RECEPTIVE CANDIDATE
Western Democrats Looking
to Cleveland.
ILLINOIS, CONDITION
HOPING FOR A BOOM FOR THE
Ex-PREsIDENT.
Republicans Must Fight Hard for the
State-A Possible Labor
Situation.
ence of The Evening Star.

Situation.
Special Correspondents of The Evening Star
CHICAGO, H., May IA. 1904.
Mr.. Clevelands western followers think
he Is a receptive candidate. They profess
that they have no inside information. They
Just think so.
was in doubt on this subject and did not
give heed to what one or two persons SAID
But when in the course OF three or four
days ten or twelve individuals all talked
the same way 1t was necessary to change
the unbelieving frame Of mind. Seemingly
there is no basis for Mr.. Cleveland's can
didacy and no definite movement yet when
the old guard, some of which held office ana
some of which did not. keeps itself in read
mess for the bugle call, its attitude cannot
be overlooked.
The probability, strengthened every day.
that Hearst will have the Illinois delega-
ton does not offer an inviting opportunity
for the ex-Presidents supporters The
Hearst managers claim. and with some JUS
tice. that they will pick up a bunch OF de.-
egates in Wisconsin and another bunch IN
Michigan. Both these states are supposed
to be Cleveland preserves Ex-senator
Villas is the factor In Wisconsin and Don
DICKINSON IN michigan. he SOSSip oAt Tins
way has been that Don Dickinson's ill-na-
tured fling at Parker and the charge that
he was treacherous in the New York cam
paign were due to resentment that any one
should come out into the field against Bryan
and Hearst when 1t was being held open
for Mr.. Cleveland.
The anti-Hearst forces may be able 10
work the unit rule In Wisconsin ana Mich
igan, though this will be contrary to the
traditions in the latter state. To do 1t thsy
would have to have a known candidate, and
yet the idea seems to be merely to hold the
delegates 50 as to create confusion at st.
Louis and then bring out the ex-President
Ground for Cleveland Feeling.
Without apparent concert on the part Of
Mr.. Cleveland's devoted following-and there
is no concert on the surface-it is hard to
solve the mystery Of his receptive candi-
dacy. However, that such a thing is, has to
be recognized and I have been trying to
find out the ground work. Some Of those
who in the past have enjoyed his confidence
will not talk anything except generaiitieS.
Reduced to its simplest elements their be-
lief is that what Is to be will be and that
those who have faith will reap the reward
Of their trust.
taneously manifest their opinion that Mr..
Cleveland is or will be candidate, / have
found that one reason Is their confidence
that he would be strong in Illinois, not be-
lore the nominating COuVeHtiOup Uut dltCi
the nomination has been made. In all the
west in past years Mr.. Cleveland's greatest
strength was IN the prairie state. There Is
a perceptible mugwump element in Chicago
which always supported him and some OF
it's opponents want chance to support him
again. The business democrats represented
by men such as Marshall Field are said to
be for him But that Is only the democrats.
have not heard of republican business men
In Chicago turning to Mr.. Cleveland.
Then there is the Iroquis Club. This Is
the most respectable and socially exclusive
Democratic organization in the west. At
times it has been so respectable that 1t mas
been lonesome. For many years II kept
high the banner of free trade and Jefferson
ian democracy. Its annual celebrations OF
Jefferson's birthday keeps 1t prominent. l
had heard that the members OF the lroquis
Club were so permeated with the Cleveland
sentiment that they wanted to change their
annual celebration from Jefferson's birth
day to that of Grover Cleveland.
One of the members whom asked ABOUT
It got mad, but when he cooled of he en-
tered into an elaborate argument with me
to prove that this was not SO. He insisted
that a good many of his associates did not
believe In the Cleveland receptive candi-
dacy. Though they are gold democrats.
Adlai Stevenson had been their guest at
the recent banquet and had been fully for
given for running on the Bryan ticket Some
of them. he declared, would pc glad 10 see
Mr. Stevenson nominated for president.
Still 1 am Of the belief that most OF the
Iroquis members are deep in the Cleveland
mystery.
Democrats Trying to Get Together.
In spite of their savage squabbles there
is a tendency among the Illinois democrats
to get together and try to have party
once more. The difference Is that the re-
organizers are much more conciliatory to
the Bryanites than is the same class in
other parts of the country I asked one
of them whether. in view of the way Mr..
Cleveland had split his party and the an
tagonisms he had caused. the ex-President
was really the man who could reunite 1t.
My informant thought he could on the
plain ground that party success was more
likely under Cleveland than under any other
candidate. There is a deep and genuine
yearning among the Illinois democrats for
party success and the offices.
Notwithstanding the existence of the
Cleveland sentiment, 1t is a very open ques-
ton for the democrats whether the ex-
President would improve their chances of
winning or rather lessen their chances of
losing. Yet the mysterious and receptive
movement is an interesting phase of the
den ocratic situation.
The republicans of Illinois know that they
may have to make fight this fall to keep
the state. That is, fight to hold what Is
their own. In 1900 Major Mckinley had a
majority of $1,000 and Illinois may be class
ed as normally republican by upwards of
10000. The successive elections of the
democratic mayor In Chicago do not mean
that the city Is really democratic. Like all
big cities, except Philadelphia, 1t Is po-
ltically unstable. The republicans know
this and in the midst of their own fractional
struggles they have kept in mind the need
of party unity in the campaign.
From what the closest observers say,
there Is no falling OF In President Roose-
velt's phenomenal popularity. The mug
wumps may not be for him, but the great
mass OF the party is hearty in its support.
There is. moreover. noticeable tendency
on the part of the foreign-born population,
which Is very large in Chicago, to go to
Roosevelt.
Possible Labor Situation.
What the republicans are looking to with
a shade Of anxiety Is the possible labor sit
uation. They know that the democrats
count on this as a means of stirring up
discomfort They do not believe that in the
fall the conditions will be unfavorable, yet
they realize the possibilities of temporary
duh times. Their fear, as openly confess
ed, relates chiefly to the iron and steel in
dustries. In the course of week in talk
ing over business subjects met number
of steel paople and their xriaWe ahonf tho