The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-05
NO MORE WESTERN
FRILS ARE WANTED
Former Congressman Catch
ings Discusses Politics
SAYS BRYAN IS ANXIOUS
Distinguished Msslssipian Thinks a
New York Man or Man Salts
factory to New York Should
Be Nominated.

ITO be successful the democratic party
will have to nominate a Presidential can
oidate from New York or a man who is
entirely satisfactory to New York. said
Gen. Thomas C. Catchngs, once promi-
rent in national politics as a member OF
the house of representatives from Mis-
| sissippi Gen. Catchings was in Birming-
ham yesterday enroute to vicksburg from
New York, where he has been on an inn
portant legal mission.
ut is very difficult to say who the
man should be-" continued General Catch
ings, but he must come from the east
| and New York should supply him. The
country and especially the democratic
party has had enough OF these western
frills and furbelows and conservative men
have found that they have to get down
to business These experiments with new
ideas don't pay. The party platform must
be based on conservative ideas to gain
| the confidence of the business world. In
other words we don't want to jump from
the frying pay into the fire.
Democratic Party Stronger.
Certainly the party is stronger now
than at any time since 1885, said Cen
eral Catchings in answer to question.
1T could not be much worse. On that
| momentous occasion when Bryan was
nominated for President and the party
went wild on his free silver talk the
democratic organization fell. into decay
and the conservative men must re-
build it,
General Catchings talked Interestingly
about his experience in congress and paid
a high tribute to Grover Cleveland. He
does not believe, however, that Cleveland
is a candidate for the nomination ana
has no idea that he will be nominated.
"Of course Cleveland could not refuse the
nomination." he said, "but he certainly
does not care for it and is making no
effort to secure it,
The general laughed while talking of
the ''ultimatum'' issued by Mr.. Bryan
since his return from Europe, referring
to the recent utterances of the Nebraskan
about returning to the Kansas City plat
form.
Bryan's Political Suicide.
II am glad to see him acting as he
does, said General Catchngs satirically.
TT will enable many of those who have
blindly followed his teachings to see how
much he has done to wreck the party.
Since Mr.. Bryan started the publication
of his paper out at Lincoln he has at
i tackled. nearly every, man who sspired to
higher honors in the party and. in fact
killed his own political chances"
do you really think Mr.. Bryan would
like to have the nomination AGAIN.? was
asked.
Most assuredly he would" replied the
general. THAT is what he is after. If the
Kansas City platform is reaffirmed l be-
lieve he should be nominated. The two
are synonymous and a separation would
not only be impossible but unkind."
General Catchings expressed the opinion
that the question of tariff would be the
one subject on which the democrats could
come nearest uniting. He said it was n
little early yet to make predictions as
to the main issue for many things are
liable to happen between now and the
beginning of the campaign.
John Sharp Williams.
Speaking of John Sharp Williams, the
new democratic leader in the house. Gen.
eral Catchings said he was a man Of
marked ability. From what have seen
in the newspapers" he said WILLIAMS
has been success so far, and there Is
no reason why he should not continue.
He is man of great talent and ! suppose
there Isl not man in either branch of
congress who is better educated. He has
always been a student, and his elevation
to the position of leader. of course, is
source of pride to the people of Missls-
sippi. l believe he is the best man the
democratic members could have selected.
"You certainly have great city here"
said the general when asked about Bir-
mingham, "and everywhere l go l hear
comments on your rapid growth Per-
sonally l am not familiar with Birming
ham as 1t does not come within the ter
ritory l usually traverse, but I pass
through the city frequently and / have
watched its wonderful growth with in
terest Reports / get from here are to
the effect that you have the coming city
of the south. I was in the First National
bank building this afternoon and it is
indeed a handsome structure I am told
largest banks In the south and 1 am not
surprised, as your financial institutions
have to handle an immense amount of
business"
Since his voluntary retirement from
congress in 1899 General Catchings has
been engaged in the legal profession and
is counsel for the Southern railway and
the Mobile and ~nio in Mississippi. He
was for many years close personal
friend of President Cleveland and was
very close to Speaker Crisp. He served
for long time on the rivers and har-
bors committee of the house and was
one of the leading spirits in the tariff
discussions of congress.
While the general is looking extremely
well he has been suffering several DAYS
from severe cold. He left last night
at 10 o'clock for Vicksburg, his home.